Broadband 2×2 free-space optical switch using electronically controlled liquid lenses

Riza, Nabeel A.; Marraccini, Philip J.

doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2009.12.058

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Because of direct voltage actuation, electrowetting and dielectrophoretic effects become the two promising approaches. Based on two approaches, many optical switches have been designed to achieve the function of light‐on and light‐off in recent years . For example, one of the devices employs a clear liquid droplet surrounded by dyed liquid .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Owing to the optical isotropy and high transmittance, liquid optical devices including tunable focus lenses, 1-6 beam steering, 7-10 and optical switches [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] have found a wide range of applications in imaging, communications, and displays. 11 In particular, liquid optical switches can get more attention from designers owing to their merits of light shutters, telecommunications, and variable optical attenuators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on two approaches, many optical switches have been designed to achieve the function of light-on and light-off in recent years. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] For example, one of the devices employs a clear liquid droplet surrounded by dyed liquid. 13 By deforming the shape of the liquid droplet, a light channel can be opened or closed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electrowetting optical switch with large aperture tuning range

Yuan

et al. 2017

J Soc Info Display

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In this paper, we propose an optical switch by deforming the shape of the liquid droplet. The optical switch consists of two immiscible liquids. The dye‐doped water is conductive, while the clear liquid is insulating. In the voltage‐off state, incident light can pass through the circular aperture formed of clear liquid. When the voltage is applied to the liquids, the surrounding dye‐doped water pushes to the side wall because of the effect of electric field force. So, the diameter of the circular aperture is rapidly reduced, and the incident light is absorbed by the dye‐doped water. Our results show that the device can obtain an optical attenuation (~350:1) and reasonable response time (~320 ms). The diameter of the aperture can be largely tuned from ~0.5 to ~6.2 mm as the applied voltage is changed from ~25 to ~65 V. The proposed optical switch has potential applications in light shutters, tunable irises, and variable optical attenuators.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electrowetting optical switch with large aperture tuning range

Yuan

et al. 2017

J Soc Info Display

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“…Although the devices driven by mechanical systems can have a reasonable stability, they are lacking advantages of portability and low power consumption. According to the realization mechanisms, optical switches can be classified into three types: employing a dyed liquid to absorb the light [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16], changing of the liquid-liquid interface to diffuse the light [17][18][19][20], and changing the shapes of the microchannels or the refractive indices of injected liquids [21][22][23][24]. The device which employs a dyed liquid to block the light passing through has the advantages of fast response time and maintaining a favorable aperture shape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrowetting-actuated optical switch based on total internal reflection

Wang

Luo

et al. 2015

Appl. Opt.

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In this paper we demonstrate a liquid optical switch based on total internal reflection. Two indium tin oxide electrodes are fabricated on the bottom substrate. A conductive liquid (Liquid 1) is placed on one side of the chamber and surrounded by a density-matched silicone oil (Liquid 2). In initial state, when the light beam illuminates the interface of the two liquids, it just meets the conditions of total internal reflection. The light is totally reflected by Liquid 2, and the device shows light-off state. When we apply a voltage to the other side of the indium tin oxide electrode, Liquid 1 stretched towards this side of the substrate and the curvature of the liquid-liquid interface changes. The light beam is refracted by Liquid 1 and the device shows light-on state. So the device can achieve the functions of an optical switch. Because the light beam can be totally reflected by the liquid, the device can attain 100% light intensity attenuation. Our experiments show that the response time from light-on (off) to light-off (on) are 130 and 132 ms, respectively. The proposed optical switch has potential applications in variable optical attenuators, information displays, and light shutters.

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“…Liquid optical switches have been intensive studied in recent years owing to the wide applications in spatial light modulators, microscopies, telecommunications, variable optical attenuators and electronic displays [1][2]. According to the realization mechanisms, optical switches can be classified into three types: employing a dyed liquid to absorb the light [3][4][5][6][7], changing of the liquid-liquid interface to diffuse the light [8][9][10], and changing the shapes of the microchannels or the refractive indices of injectedliquids [11][12][13]. The device which employs a dyed liquid to block the light pass through has the advantages of fast response time and keeping a favorable aperture shape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Optical Switch Based on Total Internal Reflection

Wang

Luo

et al. 2015

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett.

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In this paper we demonstrate a liquid optical switch based on total reflection. In initial state, the light meets the conditions of total reflection and it shows light-off state. When applying a voltage to the device, the liquid stretches with the changing of the liquid-liquid interface. The light beam is refracted by the liquids. The device shows light-on state. The device can attain 100% intensity attenuation.

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Broadband 2×2 free-space optical switch using electronically controlled liquid lenses

Cited by 14 publications

References 16 publications

Electrowetting optical switch with large aperture tuning range

Electrowetting optical switch with large aperture tuning range

Electrowetting-actuated optical switch based on total internal reflection

Liquid Optical Switch Based on Total Internal Reflection

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