Jds Uniphase Corporation

Jds Uniphase Photonics C.v.

Albert Borreman

Tsjerk Hans Hoekstra

Berend Hendriksen

Anthony J Ticknor

Kornelis Propstra

The invention pertains to a thermo-optical switch comprising a cascade of 1&times;M optical switches, gates for selectively blocking and unblocking the output paths of the cascaded switch, and means for driving the 1&times;M switches and the gates, which means are arranged to switch a data signal from an input path of the cascaded switch to one of the output paths, wherein the said means are also arranged to switch an unwanted signal, by means of a number of the remaining 1&times;M switches, to at least one of the remaining output paths. In the cascaded switch according to the invention, the generated heat is distributed evenly over the area of the switch and the overall amount of heat generated is reduced.

Thermo-optical cascaded switch comprising gates

The invention pertains to a thermo-optical switch comprising at least one input channel, one output channel, one switching channel, and one heating element, where for at least part of the cross-sections of the switch the position of the heating element has been selected such that the difference in effective refractive index, in the switched state, between two of the output channels in said cross-section is at least 80% of the maximally attainable difference. As a result, the load on the switches can be reduced substantially, increasing their lifespan.

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Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Albert Borreman