| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To obtain an optical switch which is inexpensive and has high responsiveness and reliability by disposing a polarization plate and a liquid crystal on the incident side of a beam splitter. CONSTITUTION:The incident light (a) emitted from a connector 1 is made into linearly polarized light by a polarization plate 5, and the plane of polarization is rotated 0 deg. or 90 deg. by a liquid crystal 6. If the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized light is perpendicular to the plane of the figure (s-polarized light), and when the plane of polarization is rotated 90 deg. by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal 6, said light is made into p-polarized light which is made incident to a connector 4 by passing a beam splitter 7. When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, the light is made into s-polarized light which is reflected by the splitter 7 and is made incident to a connector 3. The incident light (b) from a connector 2 passes a polarization plate 9 and is made into s-polarized light. When a voltage is applied to a liquid crystal 9, the light is made into p-polarized light which is made incident to the connector 3 by passing the splitter 7. When no voltage is applied thereto, the light is made into s-polarized light which is reflected by the splitter 7 and is made incident to the connector 4. The inexpensive optical switch having high responsiveness and high reliability is thus obtd. |
