Switching apparatus for directional switching of light

摘要

The switching apparatus includes one input arm, two output arms and a switching element. The switching element contains a deflection element (22,24) which contains a material (23) whose refractive index can be switched above that of an electrically driven electrode (25,26) in the corresponding transmission refractive index or the deflection refractive index value. In one embodiment the material is formed from liquid crystals (23). In a further embodiment the material is an optical isotropic liquid. The electrodes may be electrically low-loss conductive layers formed on both sides of the material.