Title:
OPTICAL FUNCTION ELEMENT
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JPH03261926
Kind Code:
A
Abstract:
PURPOSE:To use the optical function element for an optical memory, a fully optical switch, etc., while obtaining optical bistability by forming part of one branch-side optical waveguide of a Y-branch optical waveguide or its peripheral part by using a nonlinear optical material. CONSTITUTION:On a substrate 1 which is made of a compound semiconductor, the optical function element is composed of an incidence-side optical waveguide 2 and two branch-side optical waveguides 3 and 4 which branch from a branch point A at a specific angle theta. Part or the whole of one optical waveguide 3 between those two branch-side optical waveguides 3 and 4 or its peripheral part of the optical waveguide 3 is formed of the nonlinear optical material, and the remaining part other than the part made of the nonlinear optical material is made of a linear optical material including the other branch-side optical waveguide 4. Consequently, the optical bistability is obtained without using any external resonator and the element operates even with incoherent light and is useful as an optical bistable element, a fully optical switch, and a high- reliability optical LAN tap; and the element has a self-holding function and functions as the optical memory.
Inventors:
IZUTSU MASAYUKI
SUEDA TADASHI
MURATA HIROSHI
SUEDA TADASHI
MURATA HIROSHI
Application Number:
JP6180590A
Publication Date:
November 21, 1991
Filing Date:
March 13, 1990
Export Citation:
Assignee:
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD
IZUTSU MASAYUKI
SUEDA TADASHI
IZUTSU MASAYUKI
SUEDA TADASHI
International Classes:
G02B6/02; G02B6/10; G02F1/35; G02F3/02; (IPC1-7): G02B6/10; G02F1/35; G02F3/02
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Koji Nagato