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Abstract

An apparatus is described for multimode electro-optic switching with reduced switching voltages. A main optical channel is formed by providing a guiding electrode on an electro-optic substrate which is bounded on either side by barrier electrodes to which voltages are applied that possess polarities opposite to the polarity of the voltage applied to the guiding electrode. Quadratic behavior of Snell's law at glancing incidence is utilized to produce, via voltage excitation, a relatively large change in critical angle over a short section of barrier electrodes, which comprises a coupling region, to allow some portion of the guided light energy to couple from the main channel to a similar branch channel positioned in a coupling relationship thereto. Since the polarity of the barrier electrode is opposite to that of the guiding electrode, the guiding voltage is significantly reduced from that required by the prior art. By designing the coupling elements to produce voltage dependent barriers lying parallel to the main channel guiding electrodes, the required switching voltages are reduced to a minimum.

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First Claim