Patent ID: 7953322
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: G02F,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical switch, comprising: a first polarization controller configured to control a polarization of a signal light; a second polarization controller configured to control a polarization of a control light; a coupler configured to multiplex the signal light outputted from the first polarization controller and the control light outputted from the second polarization controller; a nonlinear medium configured to generate an intensity correlation signal between the signal light and the control light, the nonlinear medium passing the signal light and the control light outputted from the coupler; a monitor configured to monitor polarization states of the signal light outputted from the nonlinear medium and the control light outputted from the nonlinear medium; a controller configured to control the first polarization controller and the second polarization controller on the basis of the polarization state monitored by the monitor so as to incline the polarization of the signal light and the polarization of the control light with respect to a predetermined polarization direction; and a blocking unit configured to block or pass, under control of the controller, the control light out of the signal light and the control light outputted from the nonlinear medium to the monitor so that polarization states of the signal light and the control light are adjusted, respectively.