MULTICHANNEL FIBRE-OPTICAL COMMUTATOR Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: optical communication systems. SUBSTANCE: invention is related to active elements of fibre-optical communication systems, elements of integrated optics, signal optical processing systems. Commutator makes it possible to switch luminous fluxes from K inputs of optical connectors to M outputs of optical connectors. In this case inputs of group 1 of waveguide channels I are connected in turn to inputs I of optical connectors and outputs 4 of waveguide channels related to given group 1 are connected to optical connector 1. Luminous fluxes are fed to K outputs of connectors and further on over fibre-optical cables to inputs of waveguide channels made in plate from lithium niobate. With supply of controlling voltages to proper contacts voltage is fed to controlling electrodes which results in execution of conditions of total internal reflection in waveguide channel and luminous flux is obtained across output of channel. EFFECT: improved functional reliability and efficiency. 3 dwg