Patent ID: 6215918
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
A thermo-optical switch, comprising:a substrate;a waveguide layer supported by the substrate;first and second waveguides in the wave guide layer, the waveguides being of predetermined width and refractive indices of a predetermined state of at least one of thermal and geometric symmetry and having interactive sections of predetermined length extending closely adjacent to each other;at least one heating electrode comprising first and second interconnected lamellate arms respectively disposed in superposition over the length and at least part of the width of the interactive sections of the first and second waveguides, the first and second arms being of a configuration substantially similar to the first and second waveguides and provided with free ends extending in the same direction;means for electrically energizing at least one of the electrode arms thereby to adjust the state of symmetry of the refractive indices.