Patent ID: 7689069

Claim:
A semiconductor optical switch comprising: an optical waveguide that comprises a branching point, a first incoming path and first and second outgoing paths; a first electrode provided at the branching point, the first electrode giving carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point reflects an optical signal that is propagating through the first incoming path so that the reflected optical signal propagates through the second outgoing path, the first electrode giving no carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point allows the optical signal to transmit through the branching point and propagate through the first outgoing path; and a first reflector provided on the first outgoing path, the first reflector reflecting a leakage of light that has propagated from the branching point, the leakage of light being generated upon carrier injection into the branching point; wherein the first reflector adjusts its first transmission wavelength so as to control whether the first transmission wavelength is identical to or different from the wavelength of the leakage of light.