CN105467628A - Hybrid integrated electric-control liquid-crystal optical switch array - Google Patents
Hybrid integrated electric-control liquid-crystal optical switch array Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN105467628A CN105467628A CN201510897626.1A CN201510897626A CN105467628A CN 105467628 A CN105467628 A CN 105467628A CN 201510897626 A CN201510897626 A CN 201510897626A CN 105467628 A CN105467628 A CN 105467628A
- Authority
- CN
- China
- Prior art keywords
- liquid crystal
- light
- controlled liquid
- array
- optical switch
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 203
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 117
- 230000010363 phase shift Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000000149 argon plasma sintering Methods 0.000 claims description 24
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 201000009310 astigmatism Diseases 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 abstract description 31
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 abstract description 7
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 21
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008033 biological extinction Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012792 core layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004377 microelectronic Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003595 spectral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/1313—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells specially adapted for a particular application
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/13306—Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Nonlinear Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Liquid Crystal (AREA)
Abstract
The invention discloses a hybrid integrated electric-control liquid-crystal optical switch array. The hybrid integrated electric-control liquid-crystal optical switch array comprises a hybrid integrated electric-control liquid-crystal optically-focused microlens array and an electric-control liquid-crystal optically-diffused microlens array, and the optical axis of each liquid-crystal optically-focused microlens unit is coincident with that of each liquid-crystal optically-diffused microlens unit. When being powered up, optically-focused microlenses carry out internal-focusing optically-focused operations to a light beam under the effect of electric-control signals of different mean square amplitudes. and optically-diffused microlenses carry out controllable operations with a controllable diffusion degree to a light beam under the effect of electric-control signals of different mean square amplitudes. When being powered off, the liquid-crystal optically-focused microlenses and the optically-diffused microlenses are converted into liquid-crystal phase-shift plates which only delay light wave phases, and the liquid-crystal phase-shift plates which are formed after the liquid-crystal optically-focused microlenses and the optically-diffused microlenses are powered off form the opening state of the optical switch. The hybrid integrated electric-control liquid-crystal optical switch array can complete electric-control light beam on-off operations, and is suitable for optical fiber or optical cable systems which are wide in spectrum scope and large in wave beam intensity change scope.
Description
Technical Field
The invention belongs to the technical field of optical communication, and particularly relates to a hybrid integrated electronic control liquid crystal optical switch array.
Background
Currently, widely used optical fiber communication technology is used, in which light is used as an information carrier, optical fibers are used as transmission media, and light wave signals are transmitted in the optical fibers to transport voice, image and data information. The method has the characteristics of large transmission capacity, good confidentiality and the like, and becomes the most important wire communication means in the world. The optical switch is an important functional component in an optical fiber communication system, is provided with one or more selectable transmission windows and channels, and mainly completes the ordered access, the connection and disconnection and the interconnection of optical signals among optical fibers or optical cables and performs the mutual switching operation on the optical signals in an optical transmission link. To date, optical switches have become the fundamental functional component in optical transmission and optical interface networks. Currently, commonly used optical switches include: mechanical optical switch, micro-electromechanical (MEMS) optical switch, and functional optical modulation optical switch. Key parameters characterizing optical switches include: insertion loss, optical signal return loss, optical isolation, optical crosstalk, extinction ratio, and the like. Practical optical switches generally have the characteristics of relatively low cost and power consumption, small structural size, as low as possible requirements on optical transport indexes of optical fibers and the like. The application shows that the mechanical optical switch has relatively low insertion loss and high optical isolation, is not influenced by the polarization and spectral characteristics of light beams, has gradually stabilized performance indexes, generally has relatively large structural size, and is mainly used in non-communication optical networks. Due to the rapid development of microelectronic technology in recent years, the MEMS optical switch, which is still continuously advanced, is mainly used in optical path switching, optical splicing, or beam-oriented routing links. Its optical switching is mainly based on the insertion or directional tilting of electromagnetically actuated micro-mirrors to guide light beams into output waveguides or optical fibers in a multidirectional discrete configuration. By densely arranging a plurality of independently controlled micro-reflector groups, incident beams are guided to a specific direction, and the on-off of a link is realized. The optical fiber has the advantages of relatively low insertion loss, high optical isolation and extinction ratio, high coupling efficiency and microsecond-level switch response time with an optical fiber or waveguide at an input end, easiness in packaging and certain degree of optical crosstalk. Typical optical (waveguide) modulation optical switches are mostly found in some high-end applications, the switching time has the development potential of picoseconds, but the insertion loss, the extinction ratio, the polarization loss, the crosstalk and the like cannot be optimized simultaneously. In summary, the performance index of the present optical switch is still further improved in terms of the above-mentioned performance index for different application requirements and economic endurance.
In summary, the existing mainstream optical switch technology still has defects in dealing with the current high-intensity large data transport beam, which mainly appears in the following aspects: the mechanical optical switch has overlong millisecond-level switching time, still large insertion loss and insufficient isolation; the MEMS optical switch needs to adjust beam transmission through mechanical movement of a micro-functional structure, so that the problems of relatively slow switching action, long period, incomplete insertion loss under ideal conditions, insufficient isolation and the like caused by mechanical movement inertia exist; the conventional electro-optical switch generally changes the refractive index, the light beam phase or the polarization state of the conventional electro-optical switch under the action of an electric field by utilizing the electro-optical or electric absorption effect of materials, changes the light intensity or bends the light path based on light interference, diffraction or polarization and the like, has complex modulation and solidification of an optical structure and parameters, relatively high control difficulty, uneven parameters of different types of switches, difficulty in overall consideration and high cost; the directional coupling type optical switch generally implements periodic conversion of optical power through a coupling waveguide, such as typical M-Z type and waveguide type M-Z interferometric optical switches, which are complex in structure and configuration, have many control and variation factors, and have problems in cost; (V) the polarization modulation type photoswitch mainly aims at the transmission wave field with higher polarization degree, and comprises a conventional liquid crystal polarization photoswitch and the like; sixthly, the typical thermo-optic switch enables the refractive index of a transmission medium to be changed and the optical phase to be delayed based on the dependence of the physical property and the temperature of the medium caused by the thermal effect, has larger thermal inertia and is commonly used in steady-state or slowly-varying occasions; (seventhly) a typical acousto-optic switch forms a bragg grating to diffract a specific wavelength beam based on a periodic variation of a refractive index of an acoustic wave due to a mechanical strain in a material, and is mainly used for a beam on-off operation of a long wavelength in view of a low frequency characteristic of the acoustic wave. In a word, the development of an optical switch framework which is suitable for stronger beam transmission power, small in structure/miniaturization, low in insertion loss, high in optical isolation and extinction ratio and relatively low in price is still a hot spot and a difficult problem in further developing an optical switch technology, and is widely concerned and paid attention to.
Disclosure of Invention
In order to overcome the defects in the prior art, the invention provides a hybrid integrated electric control liquid crystal optical switch array, which aims to complete electric control on and off of transmission channels of light beams with different intensities through an on-state and an off-state respectively formed by a liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array and a liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lens array which are formed by sequentially loading electric drive control signals and a liquid crystal phase-shifting plate.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array, which comprises an electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array and an electrically controlled liquid crystal diffusing microlens array, wherein the electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array performs a focusing light condensing operation on an incident light beam under the action of electric driving control signals with different mean square amplitudes, and is a liquid crystal phase shift plate for delaying the phase of a light wave in a power-off state; the liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array performs astigmatism operation with controllable divergence degree on incident beams under the action of electric drive control signals with different mean square amplitudes, and the liquid crystal microlens array is a liquid crystal phase shift plate for delaying light wave phases in a power-off state; the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array and the liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lens array are switched into the liquid crystal phase shift plate after being powered off to form the on state of the optical switch, and the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lens array and the liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array are switched into the liquid crystal phase shift plate after being powered off to form the off state of the optical switch; the switching of the opening and closing of transmission channels of beams with different intensities is completed by respectively electrically controlling and modulating the light condensing and light dispersing effects of the liquid crystal light condensing micro-lens array and the liquid crystal light dispersing micro-lens array.
Preferably, the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-gathering microlens array and the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-scattering microlens array are both M × N elements, wherein M, N are both integers greater than 1; the filling coefficients of the liquid crystal condenser micro-lenses and the liquid crystal light-dispersing micro-lenses of all the units are lower than 40 percent, namely the ratio of the area of a light action area of each unit of liquid crystal micro-lens, which only carries out convergence or divergence operation on light beams projected around the optical axis of each unit of liquid crystal micro-lens, to the light incident area of the micro-lens is lower than 40 percent.
Preferably, the electrically-controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens is made of a micron-sized liquid crystal material with thickness packaged between the top surface micropore electrode and the bottom surface common electrode, the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-scattering microlens is made of a micron-sized liquid crystal material with thickness packaged between the top surface common electrode and the bottom surface annular micropore electrode, and the central vertical lines of the micropores, the annular micropores and the surface electrodes are superposed with the optical axes of the corresponding liquid crystal condensing microlens and the corresponding liquid crystal light-scattering microlens.
Preferably, the electrically-controlled liquid crystal optical switch array formed by mixing and integrating the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array and the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lens array is also an M × N element.
Preferably, the liquid crystal display device further comprises a ceramic shell, wherein the electrically-controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens array is positioned in front of the electrically-controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array and coaxially and sequentially arranged in the ceramic shell, and the optical axis of each unit of liquid crystal condenser microlens coincides with the optical axis of each unit of liquid crystal astigmatism microlens; the light incidence surface of the electric control liquid crystal condensing micro-lens array is exposed outside through the front opening of the ceramic shell, and the light emergent surface of the electric control liquid crystal diffusing micro-lens array is exposed outside through the back opening of the ceramic shell.
Preferably, a first port and a first indicator light are arranged on the electrically-controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens array, the first port is used for accessing an electric driving control signal input by an external device to the liquid crystal condenser microlens array, and the first indicator light is used for indicating whether the electrically-controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens array is in a normal electric driving control signal input state;
preferably, a second port and a second indicator light are arranged on the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light dispersing micro lens array, the second port is used for accessing an electric driving signal input by an external device to the liquid crystal light dispersing micro lens array, and the second indicator light is used for indicating whether the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light dispersing micro lens array is in a normal electric driving signal input state.
Preferably, a small triangle symbol is arranged at one end of the upper right side combining part of the ceramic shell, which is close to the upper side of the light emitting surface, so as to indicate the position of the light emitting surface of the optical switch.
Compared with the prior art, the technical scheme of the invention has the following beneficial effects:
1. the on-off of the optical transmission path is controlled based on the electric drive control signal, and the optical transmission system has the advantages of flexible and various electronic control modes and easy coupling with other optical, photoelectric or electronic structures;
2. the polarization adaptability of the beam is good due to the modulation effect on the polarized or non-polarized light beam;
3. because the electric control bending of the light beam is executed by the functionalized thin film liquid crystal, the liquid crystal display has the characteristics of being suitable for a wider wave spectrum and a larger beam intensity variation range;
4. the miniaturized integrated structure and the plane end face of the switch show better structural adaptability and can be flexibly inserted into an optical path or integrated into an optical link;
5. the manufacturing cost is low, and the price is relatively low.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a front surface (light incident surface) of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rear surface (light emitting surface) structure of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of coupling of optical fiber bundles and switching of optical beam channels of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements or structures, wherein:
1-ceramic housing, 2-first port, 3-first indicator light, 4-second port, 5-second indicator light, 6-light emitting surface indicator symbol, 7-light incident surface, 8-light emitting surface.
Detailed Description
In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the embodiments of the present invention described below may be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a front side (light incident side) structure of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a back side (light emitting side) structure of the hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array and the electrically controlled liquid crystal diffusing microlens array are mixed and integrated with the same optical axis and then are placed in the ceramic housing 1, wherein the electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array is positioned in front of the electrically controlled liquid crystal diffusing microlens array, the light incident surface of the electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array is exposed outside through the front opening of the ceramic housing 1, and the light emergent surface of the electrically controlled liquid crystal diffusing microlens array is exposed outside through the back opening of the ceramic housing 1.
Fig. 3 is a working schematic diagram of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the basic functional unit of the optical switch is formed by mixing and integrating the upper and lower layers of liquid crystal micro-optical structures. The upper liquid crystal micro-optical structure is formed by micron-sized liquid crystal materials which are packaged between the top surface micro-hole-shaped electrode and the bottom surface common electrode, the lower liquid crystal micro-optical structure is formed by micron-sized liquid crystal materials which are packaged between the top surface common electrode and the bottom surface annular micro-hole-shaped electrode, and the central vertical lines of the micro-holes and the annular micro-holes are superposed with the optical axes of the corresponding liquid crystal condensing micro-lenses and the corresponding liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lenses. The electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-focusing micro-lens array performs focusing light-focusing operation on incident light beams under the action of electric drive control signals with different mean square amplitudes, and is a liquid crystal phase shift plate for delaying light wave phases in a power-off state; the electrically controlled liquid crystal light scattering microlens array performs light scattering operation with controllable divergence degree on incident light beams under the action of electric drive control signals with different mean square amplitudes, and the electrically controlled liquid crystal light scattering microlens array is a liquid crystal phase shift plate for delaying light wave phases in a power-off state; the electrically controlled liquid crystal light-gathering micro lens array and the liquid crystal light-scattering micro lens array are switched into the liquid crystal phase shift plate after being powered off to form the on state of the optical switch, and the electrically controlled liquid crystal light-scattering micro lens array and the liquid crystal light-gathering micro lens array are switched into the liquid crystal phase shift plate after being powered off to form the off state of the optical switch; the switching of the transmission paths of the beams with different intensities in an electric control opening and closing way is completed by respectively modulating the light condensing and light dispersing effects of the electric control liquid crystal light condensing micro-lens array and the electric control liquid crystal light dispersing micro-lens array.
The electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array and the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lens array are both M multiplied by N elements, wherein M, N is an integer larger than 1. The electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array formed by mixing and integrating the electrically controlled liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array and the electrically controlled liquid crystal light-scattering micro-lens array is also M multiplied by N element. For example, the electrically controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens array, electrically controlled liquid crystal diffuser microlens array, or electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array may be a 3 x 3, 4 x 4, 3 x 4 or even larger scale array. The electric control liquid crystal optical switch array is placed between two optical fibers or two optical fiber clusters to complete the switching-on or switching-off operation of the optical fiber pairs or the light beam transmission path between the optical fiber clusters; each unit electric control liquid crystal light switch is coupled with each access optical fiber on the light incident surface and the light emergent surface thereof in the same optical axis, and the connection transmission or the channel cut-off of the light wave among the optical fibers is completed. The beam bending conditions of the electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing micro lens and the electrically controlled liquid crystal diffusing micro lens are equivalently displayed by using the conventional refraction condensing and refraction diffusing micro lens with the curved surface profile.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array coupled with an optical fiber cluster to switch on and off an optical path according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the upper and lower optical fiber clusters of the 6 × 6 path are respectively optically coupled with the optical switch of the 6 × 6 path, and at this time, each corresponding optical fiber in the upper and lower optical fiber clusters and the corresponding optical switch are arranged on the same optical axis. In the state that the light path is switched on, the light beam in the top end optical fiber is guided into the bottom end optical fiber; in the closed state of the light path, the light beam in the top end optical fiber is scattered by the electrically controlled liquid crystal light scattering micro lens and cannot enter the bottom end optical fiber.
The electric control liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array is provided with a first port 2 and a first indicator light 3, wherein the first port 2 is used for inputting an electric driving signal loaded on the liquid crystal structure, the first indicator light 3 is used for displaying whether the electric driving signal is effectively accessed, if the electric driving signal is normally accessed, the first indicator light 3 flickers, otherwise, the electric driving signal is turned off; the second port 4 and the second indicator light 5 are arranged on the electric control liquid crystal light scattering micro-lens array, wherein the second port 4 is used for inputting an electric driving signal loaded on the liquid crystal structure, the second indicator light 5 is used for displaying whether the electric driving signal is effectively connected, if the electric driving signal is normally connected, the second indicator light 5 flickers, and if not, the electric driving signal is turned off.
The first port 2, the second port 4, the first indicator lamp 3, and the second indicator lamp 5 are exposed to the outside through the side openings of the ceramic case 1.
The operation of a hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3.
First the first port 2 and the second port 4 are connected with parallel signal lines. The electric drive control signal of the liquid crystal structure is sent into the liquid crystal structure through the parallel signal wire through the first port 2 and the second port 4, at the moment, the first indicator light 3 and the second indicator light 5 are switched on to flash, the first indicator light 3 and the second indicator light 5 are turned off after the self-checking is passed, and the liquid crystal micro-optical structure in the electric control liquid crystal optical switch enters a working state.
The electric drive signal is sent into by the first port 2 through the signal line, and the drive and control liquid crystal micro-optical structure presents the automatically controlled liquid crystal spotlight microlens array for assembling the light beam, and first pilot lamp 3 switches on the scintillation this moment, and meanwhile, the drive and control liquid crystal micro-optical structure's that loads on the second port 4 signal is cut off, and liquid crystal micro-optical structure is converted into the liquid crystal phase shift board of delay light wave, and automatically controlled liquid crystal optical switch begins to carry out the light path switch-on operation between the front and back fibre light beam. The electric drive signal is sent into through the signal line by the second port 4, and the drive and control liquid crystal micro-optical structure presents the automatically controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array for diverging beam, and the scintillation is switched on to second pilot lamp 5 this moment, and meanwhile, the drive and control liquid crystal micro-optical structure's of loading on first port 2 signal is cut off, and liquid crystal micro-optical structure is converted into the liquid crystal phase shift board of delay light wave, and the light switch begins to carry out the light path between the front and back fine beam and closes the operation.
As shown in fig. 3, the unit hybrid integrated electric control liquid crystal optical switch performs the light gathering operation of the incident light beam by the electric control liquid crystal light gathering microlens disposed at the top end of the electric control liquid crystal light dispersing microlens, the gathered light beam passes through the liquid crystal micro optical structure which is converted into the liquid crystal phase shift plate by the liquid crystal light dispersing microlens after being powered off, and the opening operation of the light beam transmission path of the electric control liquid crystal optical switch is completed; after the electric drive control signal loaded on the electric control liquid crystal condensing micro lens is removed, the liquid crystal condensing micro lens is converted into a liquid crystal phase shift plate, and meanwhile, the liquid crystal structure at the bottom end is restored and electrified to be converted into the electric control liquid crystal light scattering micro lens; the light beam incident from the top end passes through the liquid crystal phase shift plate and then enters the electric control liquid crystal light scattering micro lens at the bottom end, and cannot enter the optical fiber core layer coupled at the light emergent end of the electric control liquid crystal light scattering micro lens due to the divergence, so that the closing operation of the optical transmission channel is completed.
The hybrid integrated electric control liquid crystal optical switch array of the invention adopts a mode that an electric control liquid crystal condensing micro-lens array and an electric control liquid crystal diffusing micro-lens array are hybrid integrated to carry out coupling connection with optical fibers or optical fiber clusters. The opening and closing operation of the light beam transmission path is carried out by carrying out orderly power-on and power-off operation on the liquid crystal micro-optical structure. The device has the characteristics of good polarization adaptability to transmission light waves and suitability for electrically controlled opening and closing among optical fibers or optical cables with wide spectrum range and large beam intensity variation range.
Generally speaking, compared with the prior art, the technical scheme of the invention has the advantages that the electrically-controlled liquid crystal condensing micro-lens array and the electrically-controlled liquid crystal diffusing micro-lens array are mixed and integrated, and the liquid crystal micro-lens array is orderly powered on or off to execute optical switch operation; the liquid crystal light-gathering and light-scattering micro-lens array constructed under the excitation of the electric drive control signal is converted into a liquid crystal phase shift plate in a power-off state; the electric control liquid crystal micro lens array is coupled with the liquid crystal phase shift plate to form a light control actuating mechanism of the optical switch, so that the on-off of an arrayed optical channel is realized. The switch system has the function of switching the on-off of the optical transmission path based on the electric drive control signal, and is suitable for optical fiber or optical cable systems with wide spectrum range and large beam intensity variation range. The larger the array size of the liquid crystal condensing or light dispersing micro lens, the larger the number of optical fibers that can be coupled by the optical switch.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the invention, and that any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.
Claims (7)
1. A hybrid integrated electric control liquid crystal optical switch array comprises an electric control liquid crystal light-gathering micro lens array and an electric control liquid crystal light-scattering micro lens array, and is characterized in that,
the electric control liquid crystal light-gathering micro-lens array performs the focusing light-gathering operation of incident light beams under the action of electric drive control signals with different mean square amplitudes;
the electric control liquid crystal condensing micro-lens array is converted into a liquid crystal phase shift plate for delaying the phase of light waves in a power-off state;
the electrically-controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array performs astigmatism operation of controllable divergence degree of incident beams under the action of electric drive control signals with different mean square amplitudes;
the electrically-controlled liquid crystal light scattering micro-lens array is converted into a liquid crystal phase shift plate for delaying the phase of light waves in a power-off state;
the electrically-controlled liquid crystal condensing micro lens and the liquid crystal diffusing micro lens are converted into a liquid crystal phase shift plate after being powered off to form an open state of the optical switch;
the electrically controlled liquid crystal light scattering micro lens and the liquid crystal phase shift plate converted by the electrically controlled liquid crystal light gathering micro lens after power failure form the closing state of the optical switch.
2. The hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to claim 1, wherein the switching between the electrically controlled on and off of the light beams of different intensities is accomplished by modulating the light condensing and light dispersing performance of the electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array and the electrically controlled liquid crystal dispersing microlens array, respectively.
3. The hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to claim 1, wherein said electrically controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens array and said electrically controlled liquid crystal diffuser microlens array are both M x N-ary, wherein M, N are both integers greater than 1, and the fill factor of each unit electrically controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens and electrically controlled liquid crystal diffuser microlens is less than 40%.
4. A hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to claim 1, wherein said electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array formed by hybrid integration of electrically controlled liquid crystal condensing microlens array and electrically controlled liquid crystal dispersing microlens array is also M x N-ary.
5. A hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a ceramic housing; wherein,
the automatically controlled liquid crystal spotlight microlens array with automatically controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array is in arranging ceramic package in with the optical axis order, wherein, automatically controlled liquid crystal spotlight microlens array is located the place ahead of automatically controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array, and the coincidence of the optical axis of automatically controlled liquid crystal spotlight microlens of every unit and every unit automatically controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens, the light incident plane of automatically controlled liquid crystal spotlight microlens array passes through ceramic package's openning in the front exposes outside, automatically controlled liquid crystal astigmatism microlens array's emergent surface passes through ceramic package's back trompil exposes outside.
6. A hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to claim 5, wherein said electrically controlled liquid crystal condenser microlens array is provided with a first port and a first indicator light, and said electrically controlled liquid crystal diffuser microlens array is provided with a second port and a second indicator light;
the first port is used for accessing an electric driving signal input to the liquid crystal condenser micro-lens array by external equipment;
the first indicating lamp is used for indicating whether the liquid crystal condenser micro-lens array is in a normal electric driving signal input state or not;
the second port is used for accessing an electric driving signal input to the liquid crystal light dispersing micro-lens array by an external device;
the second indicator light is used for indicating whether the liquid crystal light dispersing micro lens array is in a normal electric driving signal input state or not.
7. A hybrid integrated electrically controlled liquid crystal optical switch array according to claim 6, wherein a small triangular symbol is provided at the upper side surface of the upper right side surface combining portion of the ceramic housing near the light emitting surface to indicate the position of the light emitting surface of the optical switch.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN201510897626.1A CN105467628B (en) | 2015-12-07 | 2015-12-07 | A kind of hybrid integrated electrically-controlled liquid crystal array of photoswitch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN201510897626.1A CN105467628B (en) | 2015-12-07 | 2015-12-07 | A kind of hybrid integrated electrically-controlled liquid crystal array of photoswitch |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN105467628A true CN105467628A (en) | 2016-04-06 |
| CN105467628B CN105467628B (en) | 2018-12-28 |
Family
ID=55605493
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN201510897626.1A Active CN105467628B (en) | 2015-12-07 | 2015-12-07 | A kind of hybrid integrated electrically-controlled liquid crystal array of photoswitch |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN105467628B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109782496A (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2019-05-21 | 黑芝麻国际控股有限公司 | The unrelated liquid crystal microlens array of the polarization of electric tunable |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6885414B1 (en) * | 2000-09-29 | 2005-04-26 | Kent Optronics, Inc. | Optical router switch array and method for manufacture |
| CN101236314A (en) * | 2008-03-06 | 2008-08-06 | 北京超多维科技有限公司 | Polarization rotation switch light jiggle device comprising same and display apparatus |
| CN102221763A (en) * | 2010-04-16 | 2011-10-19 | 点晶科技股份有限公司 | Double-layer liquid crystal lens device |
| CN104181640A (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2014-12-03 | 华中科技大学 | Optical switching module based on liquid crystal variable-focus lens |
| CN104298047A (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2015-01-21 | 华中科技大学 | Dual-mode composite infrared electric control liquid crystal micro-lens array chip |
| CN104298022A (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2015-01-21 | 华中科技大学 | Graphene-based double-mold hybrid integrated electronic control liquid crystal micro lens array chip |
-
2015
- 2015-12-07 CN CN201510897626.1A patent/CN105467628B/en active Active
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6885414B1 (en) * | 2000-09-29 | 2005-04-26 | Kent Optronics, Inc. | Optical router switch array and method for manufacture |
| CN101236314A (en) * | 2008-03-06 | 2008-08-06 | 北京超多维科技有限公司 | Polarization rotation switch light jiggle device comprising same and display apparatus |
| CN102221763A (en) * | 2010-04-16 | 2011-10-19 | 点晶科技股份有限公司 | Double-layer liquid crystal lens device |
| CN104181640A (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2014-12-03 | 华中科技大学 | Optical switching module based on liquid crystal variable-focus lens |
| CN104298047A (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2015-01-21 | 华中科技大学 | Dual-mode composite infrared electric control liquid crystal micro-lens array chip |
| CN104298022A (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2015-01-21 | 华中科技大学 | Graphene-based double-mold hybrid integrated electronic control liquid crystal micro lens array chip |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109782496A (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2019-05-21 | 黑芝麻国际控股有限公司 | The unrelated liquid crystal microlens array of the polarization of electric tunable |
| CN109782496B (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2022-02-22 | 黑芝麻智能科技有限公司 | Electrically tunable polarization independent liquid crystal microlens array |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN105467628B (en) | 2018-12-28 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Cheng et al. | Photonic switching in high performance datacenters | |
| Yoo | Prospects and challenges of photonic switching in data centers and computing systems | |
| US7277640B2 (en) | Optical add/drop multiplexing systems | |
| JPS623786Y2 (en) | ||
| CN103281153B (en) | A kind of Reconfigurable Optical Add/drop Multiplexer of the M × N port based on liquid crystal on silicon | |
| CN102590953B (en) | Wavelength-selective optical switch | |
| US7003181B2 (en) | Switchable optical components | |
| Sohma et al. | Silica-based PLC type 32 x 32 optical matrix switch | |
| CA2300170A1 (en) | Switchable optical components | |
| CN106772820A (en) | High port number wavelength-selective switches and its control method based on optical beam-expanding unit | |
| CN105739026B (en) | High port number wavelength selective switch | |
| Doerr et al. | Eight-wavelength add-drop filter with true reconfigurability | |
| Watanabe et al. | Silica-based PLC 1/spl times/128 thermo-optic switch | |
| CN105467628B (en) | A kind of hybrid integrated electrically-controlled liquid crystal array of photoswitch | |
| CN205176448U (en) | Mix integrated automatically controlled liquid crystal light switch matrix | |
| CN104181640B (en) | Optical switching module based on liquid crystal variable-focus lens | |
| CN206248886U (en) | A kind of high port number wavelength-selective switches based on optical beam-expanding unit | |
| CN105182473B (en) | A kind of wavelength selective optical disabler | |
| Wu et al. | Large scale silicon photonics switches based on MEMS technology | |
| Okuno | Highly integrated PLC-type optical switches for OADM and OXC systems | |
| CN207502772U (en) | A kind of multiple port wavelength selecting switch based on polarization beam splitting double diffraction grating | |
| CN206515510U (en) | A kind of mems optical switch module of N × N channel | |
| Wu et al. | Large-scale silicon photonic switches | |
| CN103558666B (en) | Improve optical device and the manufacture method thereof of wavelength-selective switches interchannel isolation | |
| JP2014197154A (en) | Optical operation device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| C06 | Publication | ||
| PB01 | Publication | ||
| C10 | Entry into substantive examination | ||
| SE01 | Entry into force of request for substantive examination | ||
| GR01 | Patent grant | ||
| GR01 | Patent grant |