| 摘要 |
Our invention relates generally to an optical switch ( 31 ) and an optical router ( 10 ) to rapidly route signals from particular channels ( 22, 24 ) within an optical band by using optical switches ( 20 ) which utilize a controlled whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonance of dielectric microspheres (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 ) to optically switch signals. Another invention relates to optical filters which use a WGM resonate structure ( 150 ) to isolate and switch specific optical signals between waveguides (F 1 , F 2 ). In other inventions, the filter ( 100 ) is switched "on/off" by signal loss within a WGM resonate structure ( 150 ) which disrupts the WGM resonance; the filter ( 100 ) isolates and switches a specific wavelength signal from among a group of signals of different wavelengths; and is switched "off" by adjusting the index of refraction of the resonate structure to become substantially similar to the index of refraction of the surrounding medium.
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