THIN FILM TYPE OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

PURPOSE:To realize not only the miniaturization but the integration for a thin film type optical switch, by electrically controlling a mobile dielectric bar mounted on a region of low refractive index of an optical wave guide film and varying the distance between the dielectric bar and the wave guide film to switch the travelling direction of the incident guide light. CONSTITUTION:An optical wave guide film 2 having a refractive index n2 is laminated on a substrate 1 having a refractive index n1. A low refractive index region 2' having a refractive index n2' (n2>n2') is formed to the film 2. A transparent flexible dielectric thin plate 4 is provided on the region 2' by sandwiching an air layer 3, and an end of the plate 4 is fixed by an adhesive 6 with the intervention of a spacer 5. a protective sheet 7 is provided on the fixed plate 4. A ball 8 for press- contact use adhered to a voltage bimorph plate 21 is provided on the sheet 7. When the voltage is applied to the plate 21 via a switch 23 from a power supply 24, the plate 21 warps downward. As a result, the plate 4 is press-fixed to the region 2' to switch the travelling path of the wave guide light. Thus both the miniaturization and the integration can be attained for an optical switch.