Patent ID: 6741775
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising;a cladding layer and a core disposed in an interior of the cladding layer for light propagating in such a way that a width of the core is enlarged at a branching section formed at a portion along a length of the core to provide plural branched cores to enable an alteration of propagation path of inputted light by selective heating of portions of the branching section and the plural branched cores, and first and second branching section heaters at opposite sides of the branching section for heating different portions of the branching section and at least first and second branched core heaters for heating the plural branched cores, the first branching section heater and the first branched core heater being controlled separately and permitting individual heating conditions of the branching section and a selected branched core, the second branching section heater and the second branched core heater controlled separately and permitting individual heating conditions of the branching section and another selected branch core, each branched core heater having distances from the other selected branched core and a portion of the branching section facing the other selected branched core so as not to disturb a light-branching operation.