Optical switch having a phase change region therein

摘要

An optical switch for switching light from one leg of an optical circuit to another leg is characterized by an arrangement for altering the index of refraction of one of the legs with respect to the other leg. This results in a disparity in light velocity and a change in phase relationship for the light being propagated through the legs. When the legs are brought into a coupling region, there occurs a predetermined transfer of light from one leg to the other, depending upon the magnitude of the alteration in phase relationship between the light propagated in the legs.