Patent ID: 7428384

Claim:
An optical router comprising: a multiplexed light input port to which a multiplexed light inputs, the multiplexed light comprises a signal light of a signal wavelength, and a first route control light of a first route control wavelength different from the signal wavelength or a second route control light of a second route control wavelength different from the signal wavelength and the first route control wavelength; a demultiplexer to demultiplex the signal light of the signal wavelength, the first route control light, and the second route control light from the multiplexed light; and an interferometer optical switch having a first arm, a second arm, a first optical phase modulator disposed on the first arm, a second optical phase modulator disposed on the second arm, a first output port, and a second output port, wherein the interferometer applies the signal light and the first route control light from the demultiplexer to the first optical phase modulator, applies the signal light and the second route control light from the demultiplexer to the second optical phase modulator, outputs the signal light through the first output port according to the first route control light, and outputs the signal light through the second output port according to the second route control light, wherein the interferometer optical switch comprises: a signal light splitter to split the signal light from the demultiplexer into first and second portions and to apply the first portion to the first optical phase modulator and the second portion to the second optical phase modulator; a first optical coupler to apply the first route control light from the demultiplexer to the first optical phase modulator in an opposite direction to that of the first portion of the signal light from the signal light splitter; a second optical coupler to apply the second route control light from the demultiplexer to the second optical phase modulator in an opposite direction to that of the second portion of the signal light from the signal light splitter; and a coupler/splitter to couple a first light of the signal wavelength from the first optical phase modulator and a second light of the signal wavelength from the second optical phase modulator into a coupled light, to split the coupled light into split lights, and to apply one portion of the split lights to the first output port and another portion of the split lights to the second output port.