OPTICAL SWITCH, OPTICAL SWITCH ARRAY, AND MULTI-PORT OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

PURPOSE:To miniaturize an optical switch and to facilitate the integration by composing the two-input, two-output optical switch with 1st-3rd polarization beam spliters, an optical path converter, and a polarization plane control means. CONSTITUTION:When a 1st and a 2nd signal light beam which are polarized linearly are made incident on an S wave and an ON control signal is inputted, the 1st signal light has its plane of polarization rotated by 90 deg. and is polarized linearly into a P wave in the case of passing through a polarization plane control means 5-13. The 1st signal light is transmitted through a 2nd polarization beam splitter 4-10 and emitted from a 1st output port 01. Further, the 2nd signal light has its plane of polarization rotated by 90 deg. and is polarized linearly into a P wave in the case of passing through a polarization plane control means 5-13. Then the 2nd signal light is transmitted through 1st and 3rd polarization beam splitters 4-9 and 4-11 and emitted from a 2nd output port 02. Consequently, the number of components is decreased to miniaturize the optical switch and easily integrate the optical switch.