PURPOSE: To make it possible that an optical waveguide itself functions as an optical directional coupler or an optical switch, by arranging plural optical waveguides in parallel on the surface of a substrate and forming a transparent material having the optically induced refractive index changing characteristics instead of a part of the clad layer interposed between core layers of adjacent optical waveguide.
CONSTITUTION: A part of a clad layer 12 interposed between core layers 11 and 14 of two optical waveguides provided on a substrate 10 is eliminated, and a transparent material 13 having the optically induced refractive index changing characteristics is formed in this part. When a signal light A is made incident to the core layer 11, the light A is led out partially as an output light A' as it is but the light propagated through the core layer 11 is coupled to the core layer 14 of the adjacent waveguide partially by the transparent material 13 to lead out an output light B. Since the refractive index of the transparent material 13 is changed by the light irradiation, the degree of coupling to the adjacent waveguide 14 is controlled by a light C' irradiated to the transparent material 13.
KATOU MITSUTAKA
YASUDA HIROHIKO
| JPS5177259A | 1976-07-05 | |||
| JPS5298459A | 1977-08-18 |