Optical waveguide device, optical and electrical elements combined device, method of driving the same, and electronic equipment using the same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical waveguide device having a configuration adapted to selectively receive a desired signal of optical signals propagated through an optical waveguide, an optical and electrical elements combined device, a method of driving the optical and electrical elements combined device, and an electronic equipment using the optical and electrical elements combined device.
According to the present invention, there is provided an optical waveguide device including an optical waveguide, and optical input and output ports for inputting and outputting an optical signal to and from the optical waveguide, characterized in that the optical input port receives an optical signal inputted from the optical output port to the optical waveguide in accordance with a timing control signal inputted as an electrical signal to the optical input port.
According to the optical waveguide device of the present invention, the light input port (light receiving unit) can selectively receive only a necessary signal.
Moreover, in a case where a plurality of light input ports are connected to the above-mentioned optical waveguide, it becomes possible to provide the optical waveguide device with which the above-mentioned timing control signal is used to thereby enable an optical waveguide device to be provided in which a method of optically connecting an optical signal between the light input and output ports is reconstitutable.
With this constitution, a configuration of the optical connection through the optical waveguide is not substantially changed, and hence a reconfigurable wiring for a light is established in accordance with the control for an electrical signal which can be transmitted at a lower speed than that of an optical signal.
Consequently, the optical waveguide device can be realized at a relatively low cost with a structure requiring no accurate control, but making use of an advantage of the optical connection while suppressing a disadvantage of the electrical connection