Integrated-optical M x N (M=4 N=8) space switch consisting of phased array optical beam steering devices in electro-optic polymer

摘要

Electro-optic waveguide arrays have been exploited to demonstrate a compact and low loss integrated optical M multiplied by N (M equals 4, N equals 8) space switch. The device is constructed with four units of 1 multiplied by N optical space switches aligned in parallel, which in turn comprises 1 multiplied by 2N beam splitter, 2N electro-optic phase shifters, and lens. The switching in each 1 multiplied by N space switch can be carried out in the lens focal plane by introducing an equal phase increment or decrement between the adjacent waveguides in the array, which results in the optical beam steering of the diffracted light. The number of input/output channels can be easily extended without sacrificing the device length by increasing the dimension of waveguide array in lateral direction.