Y-branch digital optical switch

摘要

In a digital optical switch an input waveguide and two divergent output waveguides constitute a guide structure. A median gap between the two output waveguides constitutes a guide gap. Electrodes control the refractive indices of the two output waveguides to couple the input waveguide and one or both output waveguides depending on the value of a control signal. The width of the guide gap is increased in input and output transition areas to render the variation of this width more progressive therein. This is achieved by means of a median aperture at the end of the input waveguide and a progressive variation in the inclination of the facing edges of the output waveguides.