In this paper we report a novel optical fiber coupler-switch based on a thermo-responsive polymer. The operation principle of this device consists on transmittance changes induced by the temperature changes in a new synthesized hydrogel. This new hydrogel is made of poly-N-isopropylacrilamide (polyNIPAAm). At certain temperature, known as LCST, the termo-responsive hydrogel shows a conformational transition. To achieve coupling, two U-shaped bent plastic optical fibesr are embedded in a plastic block. Preliminar experimental results are shown and future applications, such as a dynamic optical switch and control systems, are discussed.
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