Energy-saving thermo-optical switch

摘要

The switch provides thermo-optical switching of received optical signals, using a switch element applied to the surface of a silicon substrate (S). The switch element has at least one heating element (HE), the opposite side of the substrate having a recess in alignment with the heating element, for reducing the heat flow through the substrate. Pref. the optical signals are supplied to and from the switch by silicon dioxide optical conductor paths, the heating element pref. formed from polycrystalline silicon and controlled by an integrated control element.