초록 ▼

Cores of an optical waveguide forming a Y-branch structured thermo-optic switch are stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, and a heater is disposed on a clad right above an area where the cores overlap, thereby utilizing a large temperature gradient by the heater in the direction perpe

Cores of an optical waveguide forming a Y-branch structured thermo-optic switch are stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, and a heater is disposed on a clad right above an area where the cores overlap, thereby utilizing a large temperature gradient by the heater in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. The resulting stacked thermo-optic switch is low in power consumption and signal loss and high in extinction ratio.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A stacked thermo-optic switch, comprising:a clad;a substrate;a plurality of cores extending in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, one of the cores coupling to another one of the cores:via at least one contact surface of the respective cores, orvia a gap layer of

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A stacked thermo-optic switch, comprising:a clad;a substrate;a plurality of cores extending in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, one of the cores coupling to another one of the cores:via at least one contact surface of the respective cores, orvia a gap layer of the clad, the gap layer being provided between the cores, having a predetermined thickness, rein one of the cores overlaps another one of the cores in a predetermined area to switch an optical path, the optical path being switched by inducing a thermo-optic refractive index change in the vicinity of the predetermined area; anda heater heating the cores and lying above a vicinity of the predetermined area, wherein at least a portion of the clad is situated between the heater and the cores.