Patent ID: 6904207

Claim:
A waveguide type liquid-crystal optical switch comprising an optical waveguide including a pair of first and second cores close to each other for, switching an optical path between said pair of first and second cores, said switching further comprising: a third core made of nematic liquid crystal enclosed in between a pair of oriented films and oriented in a predetermined direction by said pair of oriented films, said third core being disposed in any one of a space covering said first and second cores in a parallel with a plane containing optical axes of said first and second cores, a space sandwiched between said first and second cores and a space covering upper surfaces of said first and second cores so as to be laid over said first and second cores; a first electrode disposed on a surface of said third core opposite to said first and second cores so as to cover a gap portion between said first and second cores; second and third electrodes disposed as a pair, between which electrodes said first electrode is put, said second and third electrodes being provided for orienting liquid crystal molecules in a direction perpendicular to the direction of orientation of said oriented films; and a clad for collectively surrounding said first, second and third cores and said first, second and third electrodes.