| 摘要 |
<p><P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical switch having optical characteristics which are not different at least from those of a conventional optical switch without necessitating high technology. <P>SOLUTION: Magneto-optical optical switches of 1×2 and 2×2 type constitute a polarization independent type optical circulator provided with: first and second polarization separation elements 1 and 2 disposed on upper and lower sides and in the same plane; first and second 22.5°Faraday rotators 3 and 4 positioned on the left and right sides symmetrically with the polarization separation elements 1 and 2 as a center; first and second reflection mirrors 5 and 6 adjacent to the rotators 3 and 4, respectively; first and second light incidence ports 7 and 9 and first and second light emission ports 8 and 10. The switches are provided with a direction switching means. The light emission port of light made incident from the first and the second light incidence ports 7 and 9 can be switched between the first and the second light emission ports 8 and 10 by switching the direction of a current by the means to change the rotation directions of the Faraday rotators 3 and 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO</p> |
