Optical waveguide device with two predetermined wavelength, polarization independent, directional coupler switches

• US 5,148,507 A
• Filed: 07/08/1991
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tanisawa, Yasuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US07/726,793
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.11, 350/96.12, 350/96.13, 350/96.14, 370/1, 370/2, 370/3, 370/4, 385/11, 385/14, 385/16, 385/24, 385/40, 385/41, 385/129, 385/130, 359/117, 359/122, 359/124, 359/128
• US Class Current: 385/41
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/3154 Details of the opto-mechanical connection, e.g. connector or repeater
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3132 of directional coupler type

Abstract

In an optical waveguide device, a plurality of optical directional coupler switches are provided on a substrate, and light input and output terminals are also provided to be coupled to the optical directional coupler switches. Each of the optical directional coupler switches is provided with a pair of parallel waveguides. One of the optical directional coupler switches operates independently of the polarization of light having a first predetermined wavelength by defining a width of the parallel waveguides and a distance therebetween to be first predetermined values, and one of the optical directional coupler switches operates independently of the polarization of light having a second predetermined wavelength by defining a width of the parallel waveguides and a distance therebetween to be second predetermined values. The parallel waveguides of the first and second ones of the optical directional coupler switches are provided by diffusing films of the same thickness deposited in a predetermined pattern on the substrate thereinto by a predetermined diffusing condition.

Claims

1. An optical waveguide device, comprising:

a plurality of optical directional coupler switches provided on a substrate, each of said optical directional coupler switches being provided with a pair of parallel waveguides;

means for applying a voltage across said parallel waveguides; and

light input and output terminals coupled to said optical directional coupler switches, wherein;

at least a first one of said optical directional coupler switches operates independently of a polarization of light having a first predetermined wavelength by defining a width of said parallel waveguides and a distance therebetween being equal to first predetermined values, and at least a second one of said optical directional coupler switches operates independently of the polarization of light having a second predetermined wavelength by defining a width of said parallel waveguides and a distance therebetween being equal to second predetermined values, said parallel waveguides of said first and second one of said optical directional coupler switches being provided by diffusing films of the same thickness deposited in a predetermined pattern on said substrate thereinto by a predetermined diffusing condition.

2. An optical waveguide device, according to claim 1, further comprising:

dividing means for dividing a wavelength multiplexing light to at least two lights having said first and second predetermined wavelengths, said dividing means being positioned on a light input side relative to said first and second ones of said optical directional couplers.

3. An optical waveguide device, according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least first and second ones of said optical directional coupler switches include two serially connected optical directional coupler switches.

4. An optical waveguide device, according to claim 2, wherein:

said dividing means functions as an optical divider for lights of said first and second predetermined wavelenghts, and functions as an optical directional coupler switch for one of said lights of said first and second predetermined wavelengths.

5. An optical waveguide device, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined wavelength is equal to 1.3 μ

m and said second predetermined wavelength is equal to 1.55 μ

m.