Patent ID: 8131124
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An optical guided mode spatial switch comprising: an electrooptic substrate material that exhibits a refractive index change responsive to application of an electric field, a first optical single mode waveguide in said electrooptic substrate, with a proximal end of said first optical single mode waveguide being an incidence port into which an optical guided fundamental mode is launched, and a distal end of said first optical single mode waveguide further comprising a first output of said switch, a second optical single mode waveguide in said electrooptic substrate, said second optical single mode waveguide contiguous with and branching from said first optical single mode waveguide at an angle θ, said angle θ selected according to magnitude of said refractive index change in said first optical single mode waveguide, said second optical single mode waveguide and said electrooptic substrate, with a distal end of said second optical single mode waveguide comprising a second output of said switch, an axis A-A′ equally bisecting said angle θ, a buffer layer over at least said first optical single mode waveguide and said second optical single mode waveguide, a first electrode overlying said buffer layer and comprising: a second portion distal to said first portion and having a second front edge overlying said second optical single mode waveguide at said angle θ a first refractive index boundary selectively established under said first front edge by a first selectively established electrical field from said first electrode, a second refractive index boundary selectively established under said second front edge by said first selectively established electrical field, said first refractive index boundary and said second refractive index boundary cooperating to totally reflect said optical guided fundamental mode launched in said first optical single mode waveguide into said second optical single mode waveguide, a second electrode further comprising: a ground electrode covering at least portions of a bottom, sides and top of said buffer layer and extending proximate to said first and said second electrodes.