OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical switch which can be realized with a simple structure without requiring high-level micromachining technology and eliminates the need for complicated control. SOLUTION: The optical switch is provided with: an input optical waveguide 102; first and second output optical waveguides 104 and 105; an input-side sphere 109 and an output-side sphere 110 which are arranged near or close to each other between the input optical waveguide 102 and the first and second output optical waveguides 104 and 105 and transparent to use wavelengths; and first and third electrodes 106 and 108 and a second electrode (common electrode) 107 to which voltage is applied for changing the angle of the axis connecting the centers of the input-side sphere 109 and output-side sphere 110 relative to the traveling direction of light exiting from the input optical waveguide 102. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO