Patent ID: 6768573
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04Q

Abstract:
A polarization control optical space switch comprising:a plurality of polarization control optical switches cascaded together; wherein each polarization control optical switch comprises: a first polarization controller that is capable of changing the polarization of light incident thereon by one of applying voltage thereto and not applying voltage thereto; a first element to change the optical path of light from said first polarization controller; a delay plate to change the polarization of light incident thereon from said first element; and a second element to change the optical path of light from said delay plate; and a final polarization control optical switch comprising: a second polarization controller that is capable of changing the polarization of light incident thereon by one of applying voltage thereto and not applying voltage thereto; and a third element to change the optical path of light from said second polarization controller, wherein said polarization control optical space switch has a plurality of inputs and the same number of outputs, and wherein switching light from one input to one output requires controlling only one of said first, second and third elements.