OPTICAL SWITCH HAVING OPTICAL PATH CONVERSION FUNCTION USING LIQUID CRYSTAL

摘要

PURPOSE: An optical switch having an optical path conversion function using a liquid crystal is provided to minimize a volume by integrating constituent parts of a liquid crystal optical switch and to compensate a phase error according to a path difference of an optical signal. CONSTITUTION: The first polarizing beam splitter(20) is installed in a housing, and passes S-polarization of an optical signal incident from an input terminal(11) while reflecting P-polarization. The first reflection mirror(30) is installed at a reflection path of the first polarizing beam splitter(20) and reflects the P-polarization reflected from the first polarizing beam splitter(20). The first liquid crystal pair(40) is installed at an optical penetration path of the first polarizing beam splitter(20) and converts the S-polarization into P-polarization. The second liquid crystal pair(50) is installed at an optical penetration path of the first reflection mirror(30) and converts the P-polarization from the first reflection mirror(30) into S-polarization. The second reflection mirror(60) reflects the P-polarization from the first liquid crystal pair(40). The second polarizing beam splitter(70) switches the P- and S-polarization into the first or second output terminal(12 or 13) according to whether a power is applied.