Liquid-crystal fiber-optic switch

Abstract

An adjustable access coupler for multimode fiber-optic networks has been constructed, based on the voltage-tunable total-internal-reflection effect in nematic liquid crystals. Fibers are coupled via graded-index rod lenses at normal incidence to flint-glass prisms in contact with a 6-μm liquid-crystal layer. The achromatic four-port switch has a 1.6-dB optical insertion loss, a tap ratio controllable from −4.6 to −48 dB, a directionality of 44 dB, and an operating voltage of 5 to 20 V rms.