Patent ID: 7577357
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An optical switch comprising: an optical waveguide loop circuit for dividing a signal light, propagating the divided signal lights in opposite directions along a loop-form light path formed from an optical nonlinear medium, and then re-multiplexing the divided signal lights; control light input means disposed at a point on said optical waveguide loop circuit for inputting a control light into said optical nonlinear medium to alter the refractive index of said optical nonlinear medium, thereby serving as phase control means for controlling the phase of the signal light propagating through said optical waveguide loop circuit; and a wavelength demultiplexing/multiplexing circuit provided at a point on said optical waveguide loop circuit for equalizing the respective contributions made by two orthogonal polarization components of said control light to a phase control amount of said signal light through said refractive index alteration of said optical nonlinear medium, wherein said optical waveguide loop circuit is formed using polarization-maintaining single-mode fiber as said optical nonlinear medium, wherein said optical waveguide loop circuit comprises: wherein said wavelength demultiplexing/multiplexing circuit comprises: