STATIC ELECTRICAL POWER DRIVING OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a static electrical power driving optical switch which neads no mechanism for the movement of refractive index compatible materials and is easily miniaturized. CONSTITUTION:A refractive index compatible material is poured into a groove 1 provided across optical waveguides A and B while remaining a space. When the material is present on one side of the groove 1, the material fills between the waveguides A and B. When the material is present on the other side, the space is present between the waveguides A and B. A pair of electrodes 3 opposed to each other while holding the groove 1 therebetween constitutes a capacitor. Two sets of capacitors are arranged on the both sides of the groove 1 in a longitudinal direction. By applying a voltage to the electrodes 3, the material is moved to either of sides and performs a switching operation.