Apparatus and method for differential thermal optical switch control

摘要

Embodiments are provided for an apparatus and method for differential thermal optical switch control. The optical switch is operated based on the interferometric principle by modifying the optical phase between waves propagating in waveguides via refractive index change in the waveguides using the thermo-optic effect. A heat pump designed as part of the optical switch is used to generate a temperature difference across the waveguides based on the thermo-electric effect. The thermo-electric effect is obtained using thermo-electric material or elements, also referred to as Peltier elements. An embodiment apparatus includes a dielectric base, a pair of waveguides extended in parallel on the dielectric base, and on the dielectric base a thermo-electric material in contact with the pair of waveguides. Additionally, a pair of electrodes extended, on the thermo-electric material, next to and along the length of the waveguides.

主权项

1. An apparatus for an optical device based on differential thermal control, the apparatus comprising:
a dielectric base; a pair of waveguides on the dielectric base, the waveguides having substantially similar lengths and extending in parallel for their lengths; on the dielectric base, a single continuous layer of a thermo-electric material in contact with the pair of waveguides, wherein the continuous layer of the thermo-electric material is extended at least between outer sides of the waveguides across both waveguides, and along the length of the waveguides; and on the thermo-electric material, a pair of electrodes extended next to the waveguides and along the length of the waveguides.