The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 23, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Tsjerk Hans Hoekstra, Dieren, NL;
Kornelis Propstra, Carleton Place, CA;
Albert Borreman, Apeldoorn, NL;
Assignee:
JDS Uniphase Photonics C.V., Arnhem, NL;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/35 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/35 ;
Abstract
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.