DIGITAL OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

An optical switch includes a plurality of optical interferometric structures (10,20,30,90) serially connected between at least one optical input node (101) and two optical output nodes (199, 299). A primary waveguide (100) directly connects an optical input node (101) and a first optical output node (199). A complementary waveguide (200), which is directly connected to a second optical output node (299), is evanescently coupled with the primary waveguide (100) in a pair of optically coupled sections (18,28,38,98) provided in each optical interferometric structure. Each optical interferometric structure also includes a pair of decoupled sections (12,22,32,92), which includes a primary decoupled section (112,122,132,192) embedding a portion of the primary waveguide (100) and a complementary decoupled section (212,222,232,292) which includes a portion of the complementary waveguide (200). The complementary decoupled section is embedded in a phase tuning structure (13,23,33,93) that allows modulation of the phase of the optical signal passing through. The phase tuning structure can be a PIN diode or a heater. The optical switch provides less insertion loss, less crosstalk, and wider bandwidth than prior art optical switches.