Patent Description:
With rapid growth of network traffic and bandwidth, operators have an increasingly urgent requirement for an intelligent scheduling function of a bottom-layer wavelength division multiplexing network. As a result, an ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer, reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer) is gradually used in networks of more and more high-end operators. After the ROADM is introduced to a network, an operator can quickly provide a wavelength-level service, thereby facilitating network planning to reduce an operation cost, and facilitating maintenance to reduce a maintenance cost.

Atypical C (colorless, colorless) D (directionless, directionless) C (contentionless, contentionless) ROADM node includes a line-side module and a client-side module. The line-side module is formed by stacking and interconnecting a plurality of wavelength selective switches (Wavelength selective switch, WSS). With capacity expansion of the network and wireless meshing (MESH) of a network architecture, a dimension requirement on the ROADM node is increasing, and a quantity of ports of a wavelength selective switch is required to increase accordingly.

<CIT> discloses a spatial phase modulator and a method for producing a spatial phase modulator. The spatial phase modulator includes a first substrate and a second substrate that are meshed together, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the two substrates, where a transparent electrode layer and a first alignment and guiding layer are disposed.

<CIT> discloses wavelength selective switching and optical performance monitoring. Spatially separated wavelength channels of an optical signal are directed onto an optical detector array. The optical detector array is configured so that each wavelength channel is incident on a respective region of the optical detector array. The optical detector array is controlled so that, for one or more of the wavelength channels: i) a first portion of the region of the optical detector array upon which the wave channel is incident is configured to steer a first portion of the wavelength channel toward a switching output port, and ii) a second portion of the region is configured to steer a second portion of the wavelength channel toward a monitoring output port.

<CIT> discloses wavelength specific switching (WSS). Combinations of switchable polarisation grating (SPG) and LC cells and combinations of polymer polarisation grating (PPG) and LC cells to achieve 1xN WSS systems. An embodiment optical switch includes a liquid crystal cell and a SFG cell adjacent to the liquid crystal cell. The SPG includes liquid crystal material between two photo-alignment layers, an electrode layer overlying each photo-alignment layer, and a glass substrate overlying each electrode layer.

<CIT> discloses a wavelength selective switch (WSS) apparatus, which includes a liquid crystal on Silicon (LCOS) phase array configured for selectively diverting a certain wavelength component of light beams to continue to propagate and keeping another wavelength component of the light beams from propagating by controlling a voltage applied thereto and/or a polarisation of the light beams. The LCOS phase array is provided with a first liquid crystal (LC) domain, a second liquid crystal (LC) domain, and a reflection component. The reflection component is configured to reflect a light beam input through the first LC domain back to the first LC domain and reflect a light beam input through the second LC domain back to the second LC domain. The WSS further comprises a reflective element that is arranged to reflect the light beams output from the LCOS phase array back to the LCOS phase array.

However, currently, a loss value of a peripheral port of a wavelength selective switch based on a liquid crystal on silicon (Liquid Crystal on Silicon, LCOS) is far greater than a loss value of a central port, and an impact of the wavelength selective switch on performance of a system is mainly on a maximum insertion loss port. Consequently, performance of the wavelength selective switch is deteriorated, and a system loss is caused.

Embodiments of this application provide a wavelength selective switch according to appended claim <NUM> and a method for manufacturing the same according to appended claim <NUM>.

Advantageous features are defined in the dependent claims.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the following technical solutions are used in implementations of this application.

According to a first aspect, this disclosure provides a liquid crystal on silicon, applied to a wavelength selective switch. The liquid crystal on silicon is used to diffract an incident beam in a linear polarization state to form a deflected beam. As an optical switching engine of the wavelength selective switch, the liquid crystal on silicon device is used to implement a phase modulation effect, to independently control diffraction and deflection directions of beams that are incident to different areas of the liquid crystal on silicon device. In the following description, the "liquid crystal on silicon device" is also referred to as "liquid crystal on silicon" for short.

The wavelength selective switch further includes at least one input port, at least one output port group corresponding to the input port, a polarization conversion unit, a wavelength division demultiplexer (for example, a diffraction grating), and a lens. Each output port group includes at least two output ports (for example, output optical fibers). A multi-wavelength signal forms an input beam through the input port. The polarization conversion unit converts the input beam into linearly polarized light corresponding to a working polarization state of the liquid crystal on silicon. The linearly polarized light is incident to the wavelength division demultiplexer, the wavelength division demultiplexer scatters wavelengths at different angles, and then the lens changes scattered beams into parallel beams to be incident to different positions of the liquid crystal on silicon. Beams of different wavelengths are focused on the different areas of the liquid crystal on silicon and are diffracted and deflected, the diffracted beams are restored to an original polarization state by using the polarization conversion unit, and the beams of different wavelengths are coupled to target output ports thereof. Because diffraction and deflection directions of the beams of different wavelengths are separately controlled in the different areas on the liquid crystal on silicon, the liquid crystal on silicon can switch any combination of wavelengths to any output port. The wavelength selective switch further includes a reflector, and the reflector is used to reflect a light ray.

The liquid crystal on silicon is used to diffract an incident beam in a linear polarization state to form a deflected beam. The liquid crystal on silicon includes a first panel, a second panel, a liquid crystal layer, a drive circuit, and two layers of alignment films. The first panel and the second panel are oppositely disposed, and the first panel is parallel to the second panel. The first panel may be a silicon backplane, and the second panel may be a translucent glass substrate. The liquid crystal layer is located between the first panel and the second panel. The drive circuit is configured to generate an electric field to control deflection of a liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer. The two layers of alignment films are located on two opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer. To be specific, one layer of alignment film is located between the liquid crystal layer and the first panel, and the other layer of alignment film is located between the liquid crystal layer and the second panel. The alignment film is used to enable the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer to have an initial orientation.

Optionally, the drive circuit includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is located between the liquid crystal layer and the first panel, and the second electrode layer is located between the liquid crystal layer and the second panel. Specifically, the first electrode layer is formed on one side of the first panel facing the liquid crystal layer, the second electrode layer is formed on one side of the second panel facing the liquid crystal layer, and the two layers of alignment films are located between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. When the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are energized, the deflection of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is controlled in a vertically-aligned drive manner.

When voltages are loaded to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and when an electric field is formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is deflected.

A liquid crystal long axis of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is deflected from a direction approximately parallel to the first panel to a direction approximately perpendicular to the first panel. A liquid crystal long axis in the liquid crystal layer may be alternatively deflected from a direction approximately perpendicular to the first panel to a direction approximately parallel to the first panel. Because the liquid crystal is a birefringent material, the deflection of the liquid crystal may bring a change of an equivalent refractive index, thereby achieving a phase modulation effect. In addition, an angle by which a liquid crystal molecule is deflected is related to values of the voltages loaded to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. Therefore, different phase modulation amounts may be implemented by loading different voltages.

The wavelength selective switch needs to switch an output port for beams of different wavelengths, and when the beams of different wavelengths are incident to a surface of the liquid crystal on silicon, the beams of different wavelengths occupy different areas. When voltage information is loaded to the drive circuit, voltage information of pixel areas corresponding to different wavelength channels in a port switching direction is different, to form phase gratings with different phase periods. The phase grating is a reflective blazed grating with a 2π step change, so that diffracted light energy of a beam is concentrated in a predetermined direction, that is, concentrated in a spectral order (for example, + <NUM> order). When detected from this direction, spectral intensity is the greatest. Due to a diffraction effect of a grating, gratings of different phase periods may implement different diffraction angles, so that corresponding signals are output at different ports. A diffraction principle of the liquid crystal on silicon is: It may be learned according to a grating equation Λ<NUM> (sinθ + sinBm) = mλ that a diffraction angle Bm of signal light (m = + <NUM> order) may be implemented by controlling a phase period Λ<NUM>, where θ is an incident angle. The output port group includes N output ports (N is an integer greater than or equal to <NUM>), and diffraction angles required by deflected beams corresponding to the N output ports are different. For example, a diffraction angle required by a deflected beam corresponding to an output port located in a central area is relatively small, while a diffraction angle required by a deflected beam corresponding to an output port located in a peripheral area is large. A more peripheral port requires a larger diffraction angle, and corresponds to a smaller phase grating period. Due to a twisted effect of the liquid crystal molecule, when a phase grating period is very small and a voltage gradient is very large, the liquid crystal molecule in the liquid crystal layer not only is deflected in a plane perpendicular to the first panel, but also is rotated in a plane parallel to the first panel. As a result, rotation occurs in a polarization state of the deflected beam, and the deflected beam is further enabled to generate a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss. This increases a loss of the wavelength selective switch.

The liquid crystal on silicon has a first pixel area. There are a plurality of first sub-pixel areas in first pixel area, and incident beams of different wavelengths are incident to different sub-pixel areas. The liquid crystal layer includes a first liquid crystal located in the first pixel area. The first liquid crystal is all liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer located in the first pixel area. Under control of the electric field, the first liquid crystal is deflected in the plane perpendicular to the first panel. In this case, the liquid crystal on silicon forms a plurality of first phase gratings with different phase periods in the first pixel area, the plurality of first phase gratings are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first sub-pixel areas, and the plurality of first phase gratings are used to diffract the incident beams of different wavelengths. In this way, the incident beams of different wavelengths are deflected to form deflected beams with different diffraction and deflection directions. Under the control of the electric field, the first liquid crystal is further deflected towards a first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this case, because phase periods and voltage gradients are different, deflection angles of different parts of the first liquid crystal that are located in the different first sub-pixel areas are different, but deflection directions are the same, to be specific, all the different parts are deflected towards the first direction. The alignment film includes a first partial alignment film located in the first pixel area. An alignment direction of the first partial alignment film is deflected towards a second direction relative to a polarization direction of the incident beam. The second direction is opposite to the first direction to reduce a loss of the deflected beam.

In this example, the alignment direction of the first partial alignment film of the alignment film is deflected towards the second direction relative to the polarization direction of the incident beam, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon is energized and when the first liquid crystal is deflected towards the first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film and that of the first liquid crystal offsets at least a part of a deflection angle of the first liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this way, a deflection angle between the first liquid crystal and the polarization direction of the incident beam is reduced, and a rotation angle of a polarization state of the deflected beam is reduced, so that a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss of the deflected beam are relatively low, a loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

It may be understood that the alignment direction of the alignment film may be implemented by using an existing alignment process (for example, rubbing alignment, chemical alignment, or optical alignment), and any hardware device does not need to be added. Therefore, there is no additional cost. In addition, a preparation process of the liquid crystal on silicon does not need to be changed, and only a parameter in an alignment process needs to be changed. Therefore, an alignment method has strong implementability, a low cost, and a wide application scope. The alignment direction is an orientation of a polymer molecule in the alignment film. The alignment direction influences the initial orientation of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer. The first partial alignment film of the alignment film may be s aligned in a rubbing alignment manner. A rubbing advancing direction of a rubbing roller (rubbing roller) that uses the rubbing alignment manner is the same as the alignment direction of the first partial alignment film. That the second direction is opposite to the first direction means that deflection trends of the two directions are opposite. For example, if the second direction is anti-clockwise deflection, the first direction is clockwise deflection, or if the second direction is clockwise deflection, the first direction is anti-clockwise deflection.

Optionally, when a working voltage is applied to the liquid crystal on silicon, the first liquid crystal is deflected in a plane perpendicular to the first panel, and is deflected towards a first direction in a plane parallel to the first panel, so that a plurality of first phase gratings with different phase periods are formed in the first pixel area. The working voltage corresponds to phase periods of the plurality of first phase gratings. A testing liquid crystal on silicon is provided, where a difference between the testing liquid crystal on silicon and the liquid crystal on silicon lies in that alignment directions of alignment films are different. An alignment film of the testing liquid crystal on silicon is aligned along an initial direction, where the testing liquid crystal on silicon has a testing liquid crystal. A testing voltage the same as the working voltage is applied to the testing liquid crystal on silicon, so that the testing liquid crystal performs a deflection action the same as that of the first liquid crystal. A deflection direction of the testing liquid crystal is detected to obtain a second direction opposite to the direction. The alignment direction of the first partial alignment film is designed based on the second direction.

Specifically, the first liquid crystal forms a plurality of first phase gratings under the control of the electric field, and an alignment direction obtaining method of the first partial alignment film includes:.

The first liquid crystal optionally forms a plurality of first phase gratings under the control of the electric field. A phase grating with a minimum phase period in the plurality of first phase gratings is a first peripheral phase grating. In the plurality of first phase gratings, a diffraction angle of the deflected beam corresponding to the first peripheral phase grating is the largest, to input the deflected beam to the most peripheral output port. Under the electric field of the drive circuit, a liquid crystal for forming the first peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a first peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the first liquid crystal) is deflected by a first angle towards the first direction. A liquid crystal for forming another first phase grating other than the first peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a first non-peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the first liquid crystal) is deflected by an angle less than the first angle towards the first direction. A second angle is formed between the alignment direction of the first partial alignment film and the polarization direction of the incident beam. The second angle is designed based on the first angle, and the second angle is close to the first angle. In an embodiment, a A ratio of the second angle to the first angle may be <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the second angle is equal to the first angle.

In this example, the second angle is close to the first angle. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon is energized and when the first liquid crystal is deflected towards the first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film and that is used for the first peripheral liquid crystal completely or almost completely offsets a deflection angle of the first peripheral liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. Rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of a deflected beam diffracted by the first peripheral phase grating, and consequently, generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the most peripheral output port of the wavelength selective switch is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports of the wavelength selective switch are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

It may be understood that, alignment directions of the first partial alignment film of the alignment film are the same, all angles by which the first non-peripheral liquid crystal is deflected towards the first direction are less than the first angle. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon is energized and when the first liquid crystal is deflected towards the first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel, the initial orientation that is brought by the first partial alignment film of the alignment film and that is of the first non-peripheral liquid crystal not only offsets a deflection angle of the first non-peripheral liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel, but also forms an angle between a liquid crystal long axis direction of the first non-peripheral liquid crystal and a deflection direction of the incident beam. Rotation occurs in a polarization direction of the deflected beam diffracted by the another first phase grating other than the first peripheral phase grating, thereby generating a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss. In addition, a polarized beam with a smaller required diffraction angle has a larger loss generated by the alignment film. However, a beam further has another loss (for example, a diffraction loss of the liquid crystal on silicon, a system coupling loss, a transmission loss of each component, or a module assembly loss) in a transmission process of the wavelength selective switch, and a loss of a peripheral output port (corresponding to the first peripheral liquid crystal) requiring a larger diffraction angle is much larger than a loss of an intermediate output port (corresponding to the first non-peripheral liquid crystal) requiring a smaller diffraction angle. Therefore, even if a beam output from the intermediate output port has a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss, total losses of the beam output from the intermediate output port in the wavelength selective switch is also less than or substantially equal to total losses of a beam output from the peripheral output port in the wavelength selective switch. Losses of ports of the wavelength selective switch are balanced, thereby achieving optimal system performance. The liquid crystal on silicon can equalize losses of beams corresponding to the output ports of the wavelength selective switch. Therefore, this helps to design a plurality of output ports of the wavelength selective switch.

The liquid crystal on silicon optionally further has a second pixel area. In this case, there are at least two input ports, and there are at least two output port groups, and after diffracted and deflected in the first pixel area and the second pixel area, beams of the two input ports enter different output ports of the two output port groups. There are a plurality of second sub-pixels in the second pixel area, and incident beams of different wavelengths are incident to the different sub-pixel areas. The liquid crystal layer further includes a second liquid crystal located in the second pixel area. The second liquid crystal is all liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer located in the second pixel area. Under control of the electric field, the second liquid crystal is deflected in the plane perpendicular to the first panel. In this case, the liquid crystal on silicon forms a plurality of second phase gratings with different phase periods in the second pixel area, the plurality of second phase gratings are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of second sub-pixel areas, and the plurality of second phase gratings are used to diffract the incident beams of different wavelengths. In this way, the incident beams of different wavelengths are deflected to form the deflected beams with different diffraction and deflection directions. Under the control of the electric field, the second liquid crystal is deflected towards a third direction in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this case, because phase periods and voltage gradients are different, deflection angles of different parts of the second liquid crystal that are located in different second sub-pixel areas are different, but deflection directions are the same, to be specific, the different parts are deflected towards the third direction. The alignment film further includes a second partial alignment film located in the second pixel area. An alignment direction of the second partial alignment film is deflected towards a fourth direction relative to a polarization direction of the beam. The fourth direction is opposite to the third direction to reduce a loss of the deflected beam.

In this example, the alignment direction of the second partial alignment film of the alignment film is deflected towards the fourth direction relative to the polarization direction of the incident beam, and the fourth direction is opposite to the third direction. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon is energized and when the second liquid crystal is deflected towards the third direction in the plane parallel to the first panel, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film and that is of the second liquid crystal offsets at least a part of a deflection angle of the second liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this way, a deflection angle between the second liquid crystal and the polarization direction of the incident beam is reduced, and a rotation angle of a polarization state of the deflected beam is reduced, so that a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss of the deflected beam are relatively low, a loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

It may be understood that the liquid crystal on silicon can diffract and deflect incident beams generated from the two input ports (for example, a first input port and a second input port), to form two parts of deflected beams. The deflected beams are input into the two output port groups (for example, a first output port group and a second output port group). The first partial alignment film of the alignment film is designed based on deflection of the first liquid crystal in the first pixel area, and the second partial alignment film is designed based on deflection of the second liquid crystal in the second pixel area. Therefore, the first partial alignment film and the second partial alignment film can meet initial orientation requirements of the liquid crystals in the pixel areas thereof, and do not affect each other. In this way, the liquid crystal on silicon can meet a requirement on a larger quantity of output port groups.

The second liquid crystal optionally forms a plurality of second phase gratings under the control of the electric field. A phase grating with a minimum phase period in the plurality of second phase gratings is a second peripheral phase grating. In the plurality of second phase gratings, a diffraction angle of the deflected beam corresponding to the second peripheral phase grating is the largest, to input the deflected beam to the most peripheral output port. Under the electric field of the drive circuit, a liquid crystal for forming the second peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a second peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the second liquid crystal) is deflected by a third angle towards the third direction. A liquid crystal for forming another second phase grating other than the second peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a second non-peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the second liquid crystal) is deflected by an angle less than the third angle towards the third direction. A fourth angle is formed between the alignment direction of the second partial alignment film and the polarization direction of the beam. The fourth angle is designed based on the third angle, and the fourth angle is close to the third angle. A ratio of the fourth angle to the third angle maybe <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the fourth angle is equal to the third angle.

In this example, the fourth angle is close to the third angle. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon is energized and when the second liquid crystal is deflected towards the third direction in the plane parallel to the first panel, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film and that is used for the second peripheral liquid crystal completely or almost completely offsets a deflection angle of the second peripheral liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. Rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of a deflected beam diffracted by the second peripheral phase grating, and consequently, generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the most peripheral output port of the wavelength selective switch is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports of the wavelength selective switch are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

In an optional example, the third direction is opposite to the first direction. For example, a beam input from the first input port performs upward diffraction and deflection on the plurality of first phase gratings generated in the first pixel area, to output a formed deflected beam to the first output port group. A beam input from the second input port performs downward diffraction and deflection on the plurality of second phase gratings generated in the second pixel area, to output a formed deflected beam to the second output port group. In this example, the liquid crystal on silicon can meet diffraction requirements of different deflection directions.

When the first partial alignment film and the second partial alignment film of the alignment film are aligned in a rubbing alignment manner, a rubbing advancing direction of a rubbing roller (rubbing roller) that uses the rubbing alignment manner and that is on the first partial alignment film is the same as the alignment direction of the first partial alignment film, and a rubbing advancing direction of the second partial alignment film is the same as the alignment direction of the second partial alignment film.

In an optional example, the third direction is the same as the first direction. The second liquid crystal forms a plurality of second phase gratings under the control of the electric field. A phase grating with a minimum phase period in the plurality of second phase gratings is a second peripheral phase grating, and a liquid crystal for forming the second peripheral phase grating is deflected by a third angle towards the third direction, where the third angle is the same as the first angle, and the alignment direction of the second partial alignment film is the same as the alignment direction of the first partial alignment film. In this example, a design of the first output port group corresponding to the first pixel area and a design of the second output port group corresponding to the second pixel area may be the same or different. For example, when required maximum diffraction angles are the same, quantities of output ports may be different. Alternatively, when required maximum diffraction angles are the same, and quantities of output ports are also the same, diffraction angles required by some ports are different. It may be understood that, because the alignment direction of the second partial alignment film and the alignment direction of the first partial alignment film are the same, an alignment process of the alignment film can be simplified, and an alignment cost of the alignment film can be reduced.

In an optional example, the liquid crystal on silicon may further include a third pixel area, to meet diffraction and deflection requirements of a third input port and a third output port group. For a design method of a third partial alignment film of an alignment film corresponding to the third pixel area, refer to a design method of the first partial alignment film and/or a design method of the second partial alignment film. Certainly, the liquid crystal on silicon may further include more pixel areas.

According to a second aspect, this disclosure further provides a wavelength selective switch including the foregoing liquid crystal on silicon. Losses of output ports of the wavelength selective switch are relatively low, the losses of the output ports are relatively balanced, and a system loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively low.

According to a third aspect, this disclosure further provides an alignment direction obtaining method, applied to an alignment film of a liquid crystal on silicon. Alignment directions of the first partial alignment film, the second partial alignment film, and the third partial alignment film of the alignment film in the foregoing examples can be obtained by using the alignment direction obtaining method.

The alignment direction obtaining method includes:.

In this example, the deflection direction of the deflected beam is detected to obtain the alignment direction of the alignment film. The obtaining method is highly-efficient and highly-accurate, and obtaining alignment directions corresponding to the alignment films based on different diffraction and deflection requirements has high flexibility and a wide application range.

The testing liquid crystal on silicon may have a plurality of phase gratings with a same diffraction steering direction, and phase periods of the plurality of phase gratings form a phase period range. To be specific, the testing liquid crystal on silicon is used to form a plurality of phase gratings with a same diffraction steering direction, and phase periods corresponding to these phase gratings jointly form the phase period range, and a phase period of the testing phase grating is a minimum value in the phase period range. According to a grating equation, a larger diffraction angle indicates a smaller phase period. Therefore, the minimum value in the phase period range corresponds to a phase grating that generates a maximum diffraction angle. The phase grating corresponding to the maximum diffraction angle is selected as the testing phase grating. In this way, the polarization direction and a deflection angle of the deflected beam can be obtained more accurately, thereby helping to improve accuracy of the alignment direction obtaining method.

In an optional example, a first angle is formed between the testing direction and the initial direction, a second angle is formed between the alignment direction and the initial direction, and the second angle is close to the first angle. In an embodiment, a ratio of the second angle to the first angle is <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the second angle is equal to the first angle. Because the second angle is close to the first angle, with the use of the alignment film in the alignment direction, the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal on silicon can have a better initial orientation, to offset a deflection angle of the liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this way, rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of the deflected beam with a maximum diffraction angle, and generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the output port at the most peripheral of the wavelength selective switch is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports of the wavelength selective switch are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

According to a fourth aspect, this disclosure further provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal on silicon. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal on silicon may be used to manufacture the liquid crystal on silicon in the foregoing example. The liquid crystal on silicon is used to diffract an incident beam in a linear polarization state to form a deflected beam. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal on silicon includes:.

In this example, the alignment direction of the first layer of alignment film and the alignment direction of the second layer of alignment film are deflected towards the second direction relative to the polarization direction of the incident beam, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon is energized and when the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is deflected towards the first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel, an initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film and that is of the liquid crystal layer offsets at least a part of a deflection angle of the liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this way, a deflection angle between the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer and the polarization direction of the incident beam is reduced, and a rotation angle of a polarization state of the deflected beam is reduced, so that a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss of the deflected beam are relatively low, a loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

The liquid crystal layer may be filled after the first panel and the second panel are laminated. Alternatively, a liquid crystal filling area may be defined on the first panel by using a plastic frame, and then the first panel and the second panel are laminated after a liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal filling area to form the liquid crystal layer.

In an optional example, an alignment direction obtaining method of the first layer of alignment film includes:.

In this example, the deflection direction of the deflected beam is detected to obtain the alignment direction of the first layer of alignment film. The obtaining method is highly-efficient and highly-accurate, and obtaining alignment directions corresponding to the alignment films based on different diffraction and deflection requirements has high flexibility and a wide application range.

The testing liquid crystal on silicon has a plurality of phase gratings with a same diffraction steering direction, phase periods of the plurality of phase gratings form a phase period range, and a phase period of the testing phase grating is a minimum value in the phase period range. According to a grating equation, a larger diffraction angle indicates a smaller phase period. Therefore, the minimum value in the phase period range corresponds to a phase grating that generates a maximum diffraction angle. The phase grating corresponding to the maximum diffraction angle is selected as the testing phase grating. In this way, the polarization direction and a deflection angle of the deflected beam can be obtained more accurately, thereby helping to improve accuracy of the alignment direction obtaining method.

A first angle is formed between the testing direction and the initial direction, a second angle is formed between the alignment direction and the initial direction, and a ratio of the second angle to the first angle is <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the second angle is equal to the first angle. Because the second angle is close to the first angle, with the use of the alignment film in the alignment direction, the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal on silicon can have a better initial orientation, to offset a deflection angle of the liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel. In this way, rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of the deflected beam with a maximum diffraction angle, and generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the output port at the most peripheral of the wavelength selective switch is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports of the wavelength selective switch are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

Referring to <FIG>, an embodiment of this application provides a wavelength selective switch (Wavelength selective switch, WSS) <NUM>. The wavelength selective switch <NUM> may be applied to an ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer, reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer). The wavelength selective switch <NUM> includes a liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>. The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> (Liquid Crystal on Silicon, LCOS) is used as an optical switching engine of the wavelength selective switch <NUM>, and is used to achieve a phase modulation effect, to independently control diffraction and deflection directions of beams incident to different areas of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>.

The wavelength selective switch <NUM> further includes at least one input port <NUM> (for example, an input optical fiber), at least one output port group corresponding to the input port <NUM>, a polarization conversion unit <NUM>, a wavelength division demultiplexer <NUM> (for example, a diffraction grating), and a lens <NUM>. Each output port group includes at least two output ports <NUM> (for example, output optical fibers). As shown in <FIG>, a beam transmission path in the figure is a reciprocal path. A multi-wavelength signal forms an input beam through the input port <NUM>. The polarization conversion unit <NUM> converts the input beam into linearly polarized light corresponding to a working polarization state of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>. The linearly polarized light is incident to the wavelength division demultiplexer <NUM>, the wavelength division demultiplexer <NUM> scatters wavelengths at different angles, and then the lens <NUM> changes scattered beams into parallel beams to be incident to different positions of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>. The beams of different wavelengths are focused on the different areas of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> and are diffracted and deflected, the diffracted beams are restored to an original polarization state by using the polarization conversion unit <NUM>, and the beams of different wavelengths are coupled to target output ports <NUM> thereof. Because diffraction and deflection directions of the beams of different wavelengths are separately controlled in the different areas on the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can switch any combination of wavelengths to any output port <NUM>. The wavelength selective switch <NUM> further includes a reflector <NUM>, and the reflector <NUM> is used to reflect a light ray.

Referring to <FIG>, this application further provides a liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, applicable to the wavelength selective switch <NUM>. The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is used to diffract an incident beam in a linear polarization state to form a deflected beam. The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is a polarization sensitive device, and can work in only one polarization direction (that is, a working polarization direction), and a polarization direction of the incident beam is the working polarization direction of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>. The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> includes a first panel <NUM>, a second panel <NUM>, a liquid crystal layer <NUM>, a drive circuit <NUM>, and two layers of alignment films (Alignment Film) <NUM>. The first panel <NUM> and the second panel <NUM> are oppositely disposed, and the first panel <NUM> is parallel to the second panel <NUM>. The first panel <NUM> may be a silicon backplane (silicon backplane), and the second panel <NUM> may be a translucent glass substrate (glass substrate). The liquid crystal layer <NUM> is located between the first panel <NUM> and the second panel <NUM>. The drive circuit <NUM> is configured to generate an electric field to control deflection of a liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM>. The two layers of alignment films <NUM> are located on two opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer <NUM>. To be specific, one layer of alignment film <NUM> is located between the liquid crystal layer <NUM> and the first panel <NUM>, and the other layer of alignment film is located between the liquid crystal layer <NUM> and the second panel <NUM>. The alignment film <NUM> is used to enable the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> to have an initial orientation.

Optionally, the drive circuit <NUM> includes a first electrode layer <NUM> and a second electrode layer <NUM>. The first electrode layer <NUM> is located between the liquid crystal layer <NUM> and the first panel <NUM>, and the second electrode layer <NUM> is located between the liquid crystal layer <NUM> and the second panel <NUM>. Specifically, the first electrode layer <NUM> is formed on one side of the first panel <NUM> facing the liquid crystal layer <NUM>, the second electrode layer <NUM> is formed on one side the second panel <NUM> facing the liquid crystal layer <NUM>, and the two layers of alignment films <NUM> are located between the first electrode layer <NUM> and the second electrode layer <NUM>. When the first electrode layer <NUM> and the second electrode layer <NUM> are energized, the deflection of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> is controlled in a vertically-aligned (Vertically-aligned, VA) drive manner.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when voltages are loaded to the first electrode layer <NUM> and the second electrode layer <NUM>, and when an electric field is formed between the first electrode layer <NUM> and the second electrode layer <NUM>, the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> is deflected (a deflection plane is an XY plane in <FIG>, that is, a plane perpendicular to the first panel <NUM>). The liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> is deflected from a state in the left diagram in <FIG> to a state in the right diagram in <FIG>, to be specific, a liquid crystal long axis is deflected from a direction approximately parallel to the first panel <NUM> to a direction approximately perpendicular to the first panel <NUM>. This is used as an example for description in this application. A liquid crystal long axis in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> may be alternatively deflected from a direction approximately perpendicular to the first panel <NUM> to a direction approximately parallel to the first panel <NUM>. Because the liquid crystal is a birefringent material, the deflection of the liquid crystal may bring a change of an equivalent refractive index, thereby achieving a phase modulation effect. In addition, an angle by which a liquid crystal molecule is deflected is related to values of the voltages loaded to the first electrode layer <NUM> and the second electrode layer <NUM>. Therefore, different phase modulation amounts may be implemented by loading different voltages.

Referring to <FIG>, the wavelength selective switch <NUM> needs to switch an output port <NUM> for beams of different wavelengths, and when the beams of different wavelengths are incident to a surface of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, the beams of different wavelengths occupy different areas. As shown in <FIG>, a wavelength channel corresponding to an incident beam A1 occupies pixels in an area B1, a wavelength channel corresponding to an incident beam A2 occupies pixels in an area B2, and a wavelength channel corresponding to an incident beam A3 occupies pixels in an area B3, where wavelengths of the incident beam A1, the incident beam A2, and the incident beam A3 are different from each other. When voltage information is loaded to the drive circuit <NUM>, voltage information of pixel areas corresponding to different wavelength channels in an Z direction (a port switching direction) is different, to form phase gratings with different phase periods in the Z direction. The phase grating is a reflective blazed (blaze) grating with a 2π step change, so that diffracted light energy of a beam is concentrated in a predetermined direction, that is, concentrated in a spectral order (for example, + <NUM> order). When detected from this direction, spectral intensity is the greatest. A phase grating of the area B1 is shown in <FIG>, a phase grating of the area B2 is shown in <FIG>, and a phase grating of the area B3 is shown in <FIG>. Periods of the three phase gratings are different, and blazed angles are different. Due to a diffraction effect of a grating, gratings of different phase periods may implement different diffraction angles, so that corresponding signals are output at different ports. As shown in <FIG>, the incident beam A1 forms a deflected beam C1 after being diffracted, the incident beam A2 forms a deflected beam C2 after being diffracted, and the incident beam A3 forms a deflected beam C3 after being diffracted. Diffraction angles of the deflected beam C1, the deflected beam C2, and the deflected beam C3 are different. A diffraction principle of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is: It may be learned according to a grating equation Λ<NUM> (sinθ + sinBm) = mλ, that a diffraction angle Bm of signal light (m = + <NUM> order) may be implemented by controlling a phase period Λ<NUM>, where θ is an incident angle. The output port group includes N output ports <NUM> (N is an integer greater than or equal to <NUM>), and diffraction angles required by deflected beams corresponding to the N output ports <NUM> are different. For example, a diffraction angle required by a deflected beam corresponding to an output port <NUM> located in a central area is relatively small, while a diffraction angle required by a deflected beam corresponding to an output port <NUM> located in a peripheral area is large. A more peripheral port requires a larger diffraction angle, and corresponds to a smaller phase grating period. Due to a twisted effect of the liquid crystal molecule, when a phase grating period in the Z direction is very small and a voltage gradient is very large, the liquid crystal molecule in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> not only is deflected in an XY plane, but also is rotated in an XZ plane (namely, a plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>). As a result, rotation occurs in a polarization state of the deflected beam, and the deflected beam is further enabled to generate a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss. This increases a loss of the wavelength selective switch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> has a first pixel area <NUM>. There are a plurality of first sub-pixel areas <NUM> in first pixel area <NUM>, and incident beams <NUM> of different wavelengths are incident to the different first sub-pixel areas <NUM>. The liquid crystal layer <NUM> includes a first liquid crystal <NUM> located in the first pixel area <NUM>. The first liquid crystal <NUM> is all liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer <NUM> located in the first pixel area <NUM>. Under control of the electric field, the first liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected in the plane perpendicular to the first panel <NUM>. In this case, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> forms a plurality of first phase gratings with different phase periods in the first pixel area <NUM>, the plurality of first phase gratings are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first sub-pixel areas <NUM>, and the plurality of first phase gratings are used to diffract the incident beams <NUM> of different wavelengths. In this way, the incident beams <NUM> of different wavelengths are deflected to form the deflected beams <NUM> with different diffraction and deflection directions. As shown in <FIG>, under the control of the electric field, the first liquid crystal <NUM> is further deflected towards a first direction D1 in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this case, because phase periods and voltage gradients are different, deflection angles of different parts of the first liquid crystal <NUM> that are located in the different first sub-pixel areas <NUM> are different, but deflection directions are the same, to be specific, all the different parts are deflected towards the first direction D1. The alignment film <NUM> includes a first partial alignment film <NUM> located in the first pixel area <NUM>. An alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM> is deflected towards a second direction D2 relative to a polarization direction P1 of the incident beam <NUM>. The second direction D2 is opposite to the first direction D1 to reduce a loss of the deflected beam <NUM>.

Here, the alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> is deflected towards the second direction D2 relative to the polarization direction P1 of the incident beam <NUM>, and the second direction D2 is opposite to the first direction D1. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is energized and when the first liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected towards the first direction D1 in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film <NUM> and that is of the first liquid crystal <NUM> offsets at least a part of a deflection angle of the first liquid crystal <NUM> in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this way, a deflection angle between the first liquid crystal <NUM> and the polarization direction of the incident beam <NUM> is reduced, and a rotation angle of a polarization state of the deflected beam <NUM> is reduced, so that a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss of the deflected beam <NUM> are relatively low, a loss of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is optimized.

It may be understood that the alignment direction of the alignment film <NUM> may be implemented by using an existing alignment process (for example, rubbing alignment, chemical alignment, or optical alignment), and any hardware device does not need to be added. Therefore, there is no additional cost. In addition, a preparation process of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> does not need to be changed, and only a parameter in an alignment process needs to be changed. Therefore, an alignment method has strong implementability, a low cost, and a wide application scope. The alignment direction is an orientation of a polymer molecule in the alignment film <NUM>. The alignment direction influences the initial orientation of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> may be aligned in a rubbing alignment manner. A rubbing advancing direction of a rubbing roller (rubbing roller) that uses the rubbing alignment manner is the same as the alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM>, and an angle is formed between the rubbing advancing direction and the polarization direction P1 of the incident beam <NUM>. That the second direction D2 is opposite to the first direction D1 means that deflection trends of the two directions are opposite. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, if the first direction D1 is anti-clockwise deflection, the second direction D2 is clockwise deflection, or if the first direction D1 is clockwise deflection, the second direction D2 is anti-clockwise deflection.

Optionally, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when a working voltage V is applied to the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, the first liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected in a plane perpendicular to the first panel <NUM>, and is deflected towards a first direction D1 in a plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, so that a plurality of first phase gratings with different phase periods are formed in the first pixel area <NUM>. The working voltage V corresponds to phase periods of the plurality of first phase gratings. A testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is provided, where a difference between the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> and the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> lies in that alignment directions of alignment films are different. An alignment film of the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is aligned along an initial direction, where the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> has a testing liquid crystal. A testing voltage V' the same as the working voltage V is applied to the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, so that the testing liquid crystal performs a deflection action the same as that of the first liquid crystal <NUM>. A deflection direction of the testing liquid crystal is detected to obtain a second direction opposite to the direction. The alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM> is designed based on the second direction.

Specifically, the first liquid crystal <NUM> forms a plurality of first phase gratings under the control of the electric field, and an alignment direction obtaining method of the first partial alignment film <NUM> includes:.

Optionally, referring to <FIG>, the first liquid crystal <NUM> forms a plurality of first phase gratings under the control of the electric field. A phase grating with a minimum phase period in the plurality of first phase gratings is a first peripheral phase grating. In the plurality of first phase gratings, a diffraction angle of the deflected beam <NUM> corresponding to the first peripheral phase grating is the largest, to input the deflected beam to the most peripheral output port <NUM>. Under the electric field of the drive circuit <NUM>, a liquid crystal for forming the first peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a first peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the first liquid crystal <NUM>) is deflected by a first angle α (shown in <FIG>) towards the first direction. A liquid crystal for forming another first phase grating other than the first peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a first non-peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the first liquid crystal <NUM>) is deflected by an angle less than the first angle α towards the first direction. A second angle β (shown in <FIG>) is formed between the alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM> and the polarization direction P1 of the incident beam <NUM>. The second angle β is designed based on the first angle α, and the second angle β is close to the first angle α. In an example, a ratio of the second angle β to the first angle α is <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the second angle β is equal to the first angle α.

In this example, the second angle β is close to the first angle α. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is energized and when the first liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected towards the first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film <NUM> and that is used for the first peripheral liquid crystal completely or almost completely offsets a deflection angle of the first peripheral liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. Rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of a deflected beam <NUM> diffracted by the first peripheral phase grating, and consequently, generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the most peripheral output port <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is optimized.

It may be understood that, alignment directions of the first partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> are the same, all angles by which the first non-peripheral liquid crystal is deflected towards the first direction are less than the first angle α. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is energized and when the first liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected towards the first direction D1 in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, the initial orientation that is brought by the first partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> and that is of the first non-peripheral liquid crystal not only offsets a deflection angle of the first non-peripheral liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, but also forms an angle between a liquid crystal long axis direction of the first non-peripheral liquid crystal and a deflection direction of the incident beam <NUM>. Rotation occurs in a polarization direction of the deflected beam <NUM> diffracted by the another first phase grating other than the first peripheral phase grating, thereby generating a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss. In addition, a polarized beam with a smaller required diffraction angle has a larger loss generated by the alignment film <NUM>. However, a beam further has another loss (for example, a diffraction loss of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, a system coupling loss, a transmission loss of each component, or a module assembly loss) in a transmission process of the wavelength selective switch <NUM>, and a loss of a peripheral output port <NUM> (corresponding to the first peripheral liquid crystal) requiring a larger diffraction angle is much larger than a loss of an intermediate output port <NUM> (corresponding to the first non-peripheral liquid crystal) requiring a smaller diffraction angle. Therefore, even if a beam output from the intermediate output port has a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss, total losses of the beam output from the intermediate output port <NUM> in the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is also less than or substantially equal to total losses of a beam output from the peripheral output port <NUM> in the wavelength selective switch <NUM>. Losses of ports of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> are balanced, thereby achieving optimal system performance. The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can equalize losses of beams corresponding to the output ports <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM>. Therefore, this helps to design a plurality of output ports <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM>. For example, the wavelength output port <NUM> may be <NUM> (input) x <NUM> (output), <NUM> (input) x <NUM> (output), or the like.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> optionally further has a second pixel area <NUM>. In this case, there are at least two input ports <NUM>, and there are at least two output port groups, and after diffracted and deflected in the first pixel area <NUM> and the second pixel area <NUM>, beams of the two input ports enter different output ports <NUM> of the two output port groups. There are a plurality of second sub-pixel areas <NUM> in the second pixel area <NUM>, and incident beams <NUM> of different wavelengths are incident to the different sub-pixel areas <NUM>. The liquid crystal layer <NUM> further includes a second liquid crystal <NUM> located in the second pixel area <NUM>. The second liquid crystal <NUM> is all liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer <NUM> located in the second pixel area <NUM>. Under control of the electric field, the second liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected in the plane perpendicular to the first panel <NUM>. In this case, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> forms a plurality of second phase gratings with different phase periods in the second pixel area <NUM>, the plurality of second phase gratings are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of second sub-pixel areas <NUM>, and the plurality of second phase gratings are used to diffract the incident beams <NUM> of different wavelengths. In this way, the incident beams <NUM> of different wavelengths are deflected to form the deflected beams <NUM> with different diffraction and deflection directions. As shown in <FIG>, under the control of the electric field, the second liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected towards a third direction D3 in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this case, because phase periods and voltage gradients are different, deflection angles of different parts of the second liquid crystal <NUM> that are located in different second sub-pixel areas <NUM> are different, but deflection directions are the same, to be specific, the different parts are deflected towards the third direction D3. The alignment film <NUM> further includes a second partial alignment film <NUM> located in the second pixel area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an alignment direction R2 of the second partial alignment film <NUM> is deflected towards a fourth direction D4 relative to a polarization direction P2 of the incident beam <NUM>. The fourth direction D4 is opposite to the third direction D3 to reduce a loss of the deflected beam <NUM>.

In this example, the alignment direction R2 of the second partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> is deflected towards the fourth direction D4 relative to the polarization direction P2 of the incident beam <NUM>, and the fourth direction D4 is opposite to the third direction D3. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is energized and when the second liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected towards the third direction D3 in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film <NUM> and that is of the second liquid crystal <NUM> offsets at least a part of a deflection angle of the second liquid crystal <NUM> in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this way, a deflection angle between the second liquid crystal <NUM> and the polarization direction P2 of the incident beam <NUM> is reduced, and a rotation angle of a polarization state of the deflected beam <NUM> is reduced, so that a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss of the deflected beam <NUM> are relatively low, a loss of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is optimized.

It may be understood that, as shown in <FIG>, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can diffract and deflect incident beams generated from the two input ports <NUM> (for example, a first input port <NUM> and a second input port <NUM>), to form two parts of deflected beams. The deflected beams are input into the two output port groups (for example, a first output port group <NUM> and a second output port group <NUM>). A pixel area that is of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> and that is occupied by a beam from the first input port <NUM> is different from a pixel area that is of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> and that is occupied by a beam from the second input port <NUM>.

The first partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> is designed based on deflection of the first liquid crystal <NUM> in the first pixel area <NUM>, and the second partial alignment film <NUM> is designed based on deflection of the second liquid crystal <NUM> in the second pixel area <NUM>. Therefore, the first partial alignment film <NUM> and the second partial alignment film <NUM> can meet initial orientation requirements of the liquid crystals in the pixel areas thereof, and do not affect each other. In this way, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can meet a requirement on a larger quantity of output port groups.

Optionally, referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the second liquid crystal <NUM> forms a plurality of second phase gratings under the control of the electric field. A phase grating with a minimum phase period in the plurality of second phase gratings is a second peripheral phase grating. In the plurality of second phase gratings, a diffraction angle of the deflected beam <NUM> corresponding to the second peripheral phase grating is the largest, to input the deflected beam to the most peripheral output port <NUM>. Under the electric field of the drive circuit <NUM>, a liquid crystal for forming the second peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a second peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the second liquid crystal <NUM>) is deflected by a third angle γ towards the third direction D3. A liquid crystal for forming another second phase grating other than the second peripheral phase grating (hereinafter referred to as a second non-peripheral liquid crystal, which is a part of the second liquid crystal <NUM>) is deflected by an angle less than the third angle γ towards the third direction D3. A fourth angle δ is formed between the alignment direction R2 of the second partial alignment film <NUM> and the polarization direction P2 of the beam. The fourth angle δ is designed based on the third angle γ, and the fourth angle δ is close to the third angle γ. In an example, a ratio of the fourth angle δ to the third angle γ is <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the fourth angle δ is equal to the third angle γ.

In this example, the fourth angle δ is close to the third angle γ. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is energized and when the second liquid crystal <NUM> is deflected towards the third direction D3 in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, the initial orientation that is brought by the alignment film <NUM> and that is used for the second peripheral liquid crystal completely or almost completely offsets a deflection angle of the second peripheral liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. Rotation does not occur in a polarization direction P2 of a deflected beam <NUM> diffracted by the second peripheral phase grating, and consequently, generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the most peripheral output port <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is optimized.

In <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> to <FIG>, the third direction D3 is opposite to the first direction D1. For example, a beam <NUM> input from the first input port <NUM> performs upward diffraction and deflection on the plurality of first phase gratings generated in the first pixel area <NUM>, to output a formed deflected beam <NUM> to the first output port group <NUM>. A beam <NUM> input from the second input port <NUM> performs downward diffraction and deflection on the plurality of second phase gratings generated in the second pixel area <NUM>, to output a formed deflected beam <NUM> to the second output port group <NUM>. In this example, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can meet diffraction requirements of different deflection directions.

As shown in <FIG>, when the first partial alignment film <NUM> and the second partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> are aligned in a rubbing alignment manner, a rubbing advancing direction of a rubbing roller (rubbing roller) that uses the rubbing alignment manner and that is on the first partial alignment film <NUM> is the same as the alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM>, and a rubbing advancing direction of the second partial alignment film <NUM> is the same as the alignment direction R2 of the second partial alignment film <NUM>.

In another example, the third direction D3 is the same as the first direction D1. The second liquid crystal <NUM> forms a plurality of second phase gratings under the control of the electric field. A phase grating with a minimum phase period in the plurality of second phase gratings is a second peripheral phase grating, and a liquid crystal for forming the second peripheral phase grating is deflected by a third angle γ towards the third direction D3, where the third angle γ is the same as the first angle α, and the alignment direction R2 of the second partial alignment film <NUM> is the same as the alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM>. In this example, a design of the first output port group <NUM> corresponding to the first pixel area <NUM> and a design of the second output port group <NUM> corresponding to the second pixel area <NUM> may be the same or different. For example, when required maximum diffraction angles are the same, quantities of output ports <NUM> may be different. Alternatively, when required maximum diffraction angles are the same, and quantities of output ports <NUM> are also the same, diffraction angles required by some ports are different. It may be understood that, because the alignment direction R2 of the second partial alignment film <NUM> and the alignment direction R1 of the first partial alignment film <NUM> are the same, an alignment process of the alignment film <NUM> can be simplified, and an alignment cost of the alignment film <NUM> can be reduced.

The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> may further include a third pixel area <NUM>, to meet diffraction and deflection requirements of a third input port and a third output port group. For a design method of a third partial alignment film <NUM> of an alignment film <NUM> corresponding to the third pixel area <NUM>, refer to a design method of the first partial alignment film <NUM> and/or a design method of the second partial alignment film <NUM>. Certainly, the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> may further include more pixel areas.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, this application further provides an alignment direction obtaining method, applied to an alignment film <NUM> of a liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>. Alignment directions of the first partial alignment film <NUM>, the second partial alignment film <NUM>, and the third partial alignment film <NUM> of the alignment film <NUM> in the foregoing examples can be obtained by using the alignment direction obtaining method.

The alignment direction obtaining method includes the following steps.

S01: Provide a testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, where an alignment film of the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is aligned along an initial direction, where an example in which the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> corresponding to a <NUM> × <NUM> wavelength selective switch is used, and a maximum diffraction angle required for the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is <NUM>°.

S02: Load a testing voltage to the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> to form a testing phase grating, where the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> to which the testing voltage is loaded forms a blazed grating with a period of <NUM>, and the blazed grating corresponds to a diffraction angle of <NUM>°.

S03: Transmit a linearly polarized incident beam <NUM> to the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, where a polarization direction of the incident beam <NUM> is the same as the initial direction, an input beam is adjusted by using a polarizer <NUM> to form an incident beam <NUM> in a linear polarization state, and a polarization direction of the polarizer <NUM> is the same as the initial direction.

S04: Detect that a polarization direction of a deflected beam <NUM> diffracted by the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is a testing direction, record, by using a rotary analyzer <NUM>, an angle at which + <NUM> order diffractive light intensity is the largest, and obtain the testing direction at the angle.

S05: Obtain an alignment direction of the alignment film <NUM> of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM>, where a deflection direction of the alignment direction relative to the initial direction is opposite to a deflection direction of the testing direction relative to the initial direction. To be specific, if the testing direction is deflected towards a first direction relative to the initial direction, the alignment direction is deflected towards a second direction relative to the initial direction, where the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

In this alignment direction obtaining method, the deflection direction of the deflected beam <NUM> is detected to obtain the alignment direction of the alignment film <NUM>. The obtaining method is highly-efficient and highly-accurate, and obtaining alignment directions corresponding to the alignment films <NUM> based on different diffraction and deflection requirements has high flexibility and a wide application range.

The testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> optionally has a phase period range with a same diffraction steering direction. To be specific, the testing liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is used to form a plurality of phase gratings with a same diffraction steering direction, and phase periods corresponding to these phase gratings jointly form the phase period range. A phase period of the testing phase grating is a minimum value in the phase period range. According to a grating equation, a larger diffraction angle indicates a smaller phase period. Therefore, the minimum value in the phase period range corresponds to a phase grating that generates a maximum diffraction angle. The phase grating corresponding to the maximum diffraction angle is selected as the testing phase grating. In this way, the polarization direction and a deflection angle of the deflected beam <NUM> can be obtained more accurately, thereby helping to improve accuracy of the alignment direction obtaining method.

Optionally, a first angle is formed between the testing direction and the initial direction, a second angle is formed between the alignment direction and the initial direction, and the second angle is close to the first angle. In an example, a ratio of the second angle to the first angle is <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the second angle is equal to the first angle. Because the second angle is close to the first angle, with the use of the alignment film <NUM> in the alignment direction, the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can have a better initial orientation, to offset a deflection angle of the liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this way, rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of the deflected beam <NUM> with a maximum diffraction angle, and generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the output port <NUM> at the most peripheral of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports <NUM> of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch <NUM> is optimized.

In the alignment direction obtaining method, a collimating lens <NUM>, a spherical lens <NUM>, and a space detector <NUM> may be used to perform auxiliary testing, to obtain a more accurate alignment direction.

Referring to <FIG>, this application further provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal on silicon. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal on silicon may be used to manufacture the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> in the foregoing example.

The liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is used to diffract an incident beam in a linear polarization state to form a deflected beam. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal on silicon includes:.

In this example, the alignment directions of the first layer of alignment film and the second layer of alignment film are deflected towards the second direction relative to the polarization direction of the incident beam, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction. Therefore, when the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> is energized and when the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> is deflected towards the first direction in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>, initial orientations that are brought by the first layer of alignment film and the second layer of alignment film and that are of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> offset at least a part of a deflection angle of the liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this way, a deflection angle between the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer <NUM> and the polarization direction of the incident beam is reduced, and a rotation angle of a primary polarization state of the deflected beam is reduced, so that a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss of the deflected beam are relatively low, a loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

The liquid crystal layer <NUM> may be filled after the first panel <NUM> and the second panel <NUM> are laminated. Alternatively, a liquid crystal filling area may be defined on the first panel <NUM> by using a plastic frame, and then the first panel <NUM> and the second panel <NUM> are laminated after a liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal filling area to form the liquid crystal layer <NUM>.

In an optional example, referring to <FIG>, an alignment direction obtaining method of the first layer of alignment film includes:.

In this example, the deflection direction of the deflected beam <NUM> is detected to obtain the alignment direction of the first layer of alignment film. The obtaining method is highly-efficient and highly-accurate, and obtaining alignment directions corresponding to the alignment films based on different diffraction and deflection requirements has high flexibility and a wide application range.

The testing liquid crystal on silicon has a plurality of phase gratings with a same diffraction steering direction, phase periods of the plurality of phase gratings form a phase period range, and a phase period of the testing phase grating is a minimum value in the phase period range. According to a grating equation, a larger diffraction angle indicates a smaller phase period. Therefore, the minimum value in the phase period range corresponds to a phase grating that generates a maximum diffraction angle. A phase grating corresponding to the maximum diffraction angle is selected as the testing phase grating. In this way, the polarization direction and a deflection angle of the deflected beam can be obtained more accurately, thereby helping to improve accuracy of the alignment direction obtaining method.

A first angle is formed between the testing direction and the initial direction, a second angle is formed between the alignment direction and the initial direction, and a ratio of the second angle to the first angle is <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the second angle is equal to the first angle. Because the second angle is close to the first angle, with the use of the first layer of alignment film and the second layer of alignment film in the alignment direction, the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal on silicon <NUM> can have a better initial orientation, to offset a deflection angle of the liquid crystal in the plane parallel to the first panel <NUM>. In this way, rotation does not occur in a polarization direction of the deflected beam with a maximum diffraction angle, and generation of a polarization loss and an insufficient diffraction loss is avoided, so that a loss of the output port at the most peripheral of the wavelength selective switch is reduced. In this way, losses of output ports of the wavelength selective switch are balanced, an overall loss of the wavelength selective switch is relatively small, and performance of the wavelength selective switch is optimized.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application.

Claim 1:
A wavelength selective switch (<NUM>) including a liquid crystal on silicon device (<NUM>) and a polarization conversion unit (<NUM>) configured to convert an input beam into linearly polarized light with a defined polarization direction (P1), wherein the liquid crystal on silicon device (<NUM>) is configured to diffract an incident beam (A1, A2, A3) in a linear polarization state with said defined polarization direction (P1) to form a deflected beam (C1, C2, C3), and the liquid crystal on silicon device (<NUM>) comprises:
a first panel (<NUM>) and a second panel (<NUM>), that are oppositely disposed;
a liquid crystal layer (<NUM>), located between the first panel (<NUM>) and the second panel (<NUM>);
a drive circuit (<NUM>), configured to generate an electric field to control a rotation of a liquid crystal (<NUM>) in the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>); and
two alignment films (<NUM>), wherein the two alignment films are located on two opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>), wherein
the liquid crystal on silicon device (<NUM>) has a first pixel area (<NUM>), the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>) comprises a first liquid crystal (<NUM>) located in the first pixel area (<NUM>), and each of the two alignment films (<NUM>) comprises a first partial alignment film (<NUM>) located in the first pixel area (<NUM>), wherein under control of the electric field, the first liquid crystal (<NUM>) is rotated in a plane perpendicular to the first panel (<NUM>), and is also rotated in a first direction (D1) in a plane parallel to the first panel (<NUM>) relative to an alignment direction (R1) of the first partial alignment film (<NUM>), and said alignment direction (R1) of the first partial alignment film (<NUM>) is further at an angle β with said polarization direction (P1) of the incident beam (A1, A2, A3) in a second direction (D2), and the second direction (D2) is opposite to the first direction (D1) to reduce a loss of the deflected beam.