| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To simplify the constitution of an optical switch and to switch the optical path nonmechanically by forming an electrode near the center of the side face of a rod-shaped lens along the optical axis of the lens. CONSTITUTION:The optical switch consists of an input-side optical fiber 1, output-side optical fibers 2 and 3, and a rod-shaped lens 4 which connects input and output optical fibers and has an electrode 5 on the side face. The electrode 5 is formed near the center of the side face of the rod-shaped lens along the optical axis of the lens. In a state (a) where power is not supplied to the electrode 5, the light from the fiber 1 is made incident to the fiber 3, and fibers 1 and 3 are in the connection state. When power is supplied to the electrode 5, the temperature near the electrode rises, and therefore, the refractive index is changed by this heating, and the light from the fiber 1 is deflected and is made incident to the fiber 2, and fibers 1 and 2 are in the connection state. Thus, the constitution of the optical switch is simplified, and the optical path is switched nonmechanically. |
