Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An optical switch comprising: a planar optical waveguide having an index of refraction profile such that propagating light is confined within the planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide having an input side and an output side; a plurality of parallel input optical fiber waveguides being coupled into the planar optical waveguide at the input side thereof, each fiber waveguide being adapted to guide a different optical signal; a like plurality of parallel output optical fiber waveguides being coupled out of the planar optical waveguide at the output side thereof; a separate beam deflection element being formed on the planar optical waveguide adjacent to each separate one of each of the pluralities of input and output optical fiber waveguides, each beam deflection element being capable of deflecting a ray of light incident thereon through a like plurality of deflection angles, each such deflection angle for a selected beam deflection element being associated with a separate one of the other kind of input and output optical fiber waveguides; and means for energizing selected pairs of the beam deflection elements, the pair members being respectively adjacent to an input and an output optical fiber waveguide so that selected input optical signals may be independently and simultaneously routed into respectively selected output optical fiber waveguides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An optical switch comprising: a planar optical waveguide having an index of refraction profile such that propagating light is confined within the planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide having an input side and an output side; a plurality of parallel input optical fiber waveguides being coupled into the planar optical waveguide at the input side thereof, each fiber waveguide being adapted to guide a different optical signal; a like plurality of parallel output optical fiber waveguides being coupled out of the planar optical waveguide at the output side thereof; a separate beam deflection element being formed on the planar optical waveguide adjacent to each separate one of each of the pluralities of input and output optical fiber waveguides, each beam deflection element being capable of deflecting a ray of light incident thereon through a like plurality of deflection angles, each such deflection angle for a selected beam deflection element being associated with a separate one of the other kind of input and output optical fiber waveguides; and means for energizing selected pairs of the beam deflection elements, the pair members being respectively adjacent to an input and an output optical fiber waveguide so that selected input optical signals may be independently and simultaneously routed into respectively selected output optical fiber waveguides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the input and output sides of the planar optical waveguide are parallel and opposing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical switch according to claim 2, wherein there is further included means for coupling the input and output optical fiber waveguides to the planar optical waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical switch according to claim 3, wherein each beam deflection element is an acoustic surface wave beam deflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical switch according to claim 4, wherein each acoustic surface wave beam deflector is aligned to its respective waveguide at essentially the Bragg angle for a selected acoustic surface wave frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical switch according to claim 5, wherein the means for energizing is a variable frequency rf generator which is coupled to each individual acoustic surface wave beam deflector and supplied appropriate rf signals to selected combinations of input and output optical fiber waveguides to cause optical coupling therebetween to be accomplished.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical switch according to claim 6, wherein the input and output sides of the planar optical waveguide are essentially parallel thereby causing the rf signals applied to the selected combinations of individual acoustic surface wave beam deflectors to be identical.