Time delay assembly based on 2*2 magneto-optical switch and time delay array thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a time delay assembly based on a 2 * 2 magneto-optical switch. The time delay assembly comprises a magneto-optical switch unit, the magneto-optical switch unit comprises a first polarization splitting prism, a first wave plate, a magneto-optical crystal and a second polarization splitting prism which are arranged along the direction of an optical path; the first polarization splitting prism is used for combining two beams of polarized light with vertical polarization directions into a light beam; the second polarization splitting prism is used for decomposing the input light into two beams of polarized light with vertical polarization directions; a first compensating plate and a second compensating plate are respectively arranged on light paths of two output polarized lights of the second polarization splitting prism; the first compensation plate and the second compensation plate have different thicknesses so as to form a time delay unit. According to the invention, a multi-stage series structure and synchronous driving can be realized; the time delay amount can be accurately adjusted, and accurate adjustment of the time delay can be completed by using the number of series connection; the magneto-optical switch unit and the time delay unit are compact in structure and low in loss; and a 2 * 2 magneto-optical switch is combined, so that double-input and double-output effects can be conveniently realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical technology, and in particular to a time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch. Background Art

[0002] As human society gradually enters the 5G era, especially in the face of a large number of mobile terminals, the Internet of Things and real-time remote operations, the available frequency bands for existing wireless communications are already very crowded. Therefore, millimeter wave communications with larger bandwidth combined with more energy-efficient beam control and steering technology have been proposed and applied. As a key technology for 5G communications, beamforming and beam-steering millimeter wave communications will greatly increase wireless communication capacity to meet the increasing capacity demand. The most core technology among them is the millimeter wave phased array antenna system for beamforming and beam steering.

[0003] In this system, accurate, broadband time delay or phase shift is usually required to achieve phase control. The phase shift solution will cause beam deviation of broadband millimeter-wave signals, so the time delay solution has a higher technical advantage. Traditionally, millimeter-wave broadband time delay is completed in the electrical domain with the help of electronic integration technology. As the frequency rises to the millimeter wave band, traditional microelectronics integration technology faces technical challenges such as high loss and small bandwidth.

[0004] Currently, traditional optical delay arrays are usually single-ended input and single-ended output, so their functions are relatively simple and it is difficult to meet the needs of various applications. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the main technical solutions adopted by the present invention include:

[0007] A time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch includes a magneto-optical switch unit; the magneto-optical switch unit includes a first polarization beam splitter prism, a first wave plate, an optical rotation component, and a second polarization beam splitter prism arranged along the optical path; the first polarization beam splitter prism is used to synthesize two beams of polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions into one beam; the second polarization beam splitter prism is used to decompose input light into two beams of polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions; a first compensation plate and a second compensation plate are respectively arranged on the optical paths of two output polarized lights of the second polarization beam splitter prism; the first compensation plate and the second compensation plate have different thicknesses to form a time delay unit.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, it includes a plurality of magneto-optical switch units and time delay units that are alternately arranged.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of the magneto-optical switch units is one more than the number of the delay units.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first polarization splitting prism includes a first polarization splitting surface and a first reflection surface parallel to the first polarization splitting surface.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second polarization splitting prism includes a second polarization splitting surface and a second reflection surface parallel to the second polarization splitting surface.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first wave plate is a 22.5° wave plate.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical rotation component includes a magneto-optical crystal disposed in a magnetic element; the magnetic element generates a square magnetic field according to the direction of power supply to control the optical rotation direction of the magneto-optical crystal to be forward or reverse.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic element is a single coil or a state latching electromagnet.

[0015] The time delay array based on 2x2 magneto-optical switches is composed of the time delay component array based on 2x2 magneto-optical switches.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: a multi-stage series structure and synchronous drive can be realized; the delay amount can be accurately adjusted, and the accurate adjustment of the delay can be completed by utilizing the number of series connections; the structure of the magneto-optical switch unit and the delay unit is compact and the loss is small; combined with a 2x2 magneto-optical switch, the effect of dual input and dual output can be easily achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the structure of the present invention.

[0020] Description of reference numerals:

[0021] 100, magneto-optical switch unit; 110, first polarization beam splitter prism; 111, first polarization beam splitter surface; 112, first reflection surface; 120, first wave plate; 130, magneto-optical crystal; 131, magnetic element; 140, second polarization beam splitter prism; 141, second polarization beam splitter surface; 142, second reflection surface; 150, first birefringent crystal displacement plate; 160, second birefringent crystal displacement plate; 171, second wave plate; 172, third wave plate; 173, fourth wave plate; 174, fifth wave plate; 200, time delay unit; 210, first compensation plate; 220, second compensation plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents the selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "front end", "rear end", "two ends", "one end", "the other end" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "provided with", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0025] See also Figure 1The present invention provides a time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch, including a magneto-optical switch unit 100; the magneto-optical switch unit 100 is a 2x2 magneto-optical switch; specifically, the magneto-optical switch unit 100 includes a first polarization beam splitter prism 110, a first wave plate 120, an optical rotation component, and a second polarization beam splitter prism 140 arranged along the optical path; the first polarization beam splitter prism 110 can synthesize two polarized light beams with perpendicular polarization directions into one light beam, which is conducive to integrating optical signals with different polarization directions, realizing signal multiplexing, improving the efficiency and capacity of optical signal transmission, and allowing more information to be transmitted simultaneously in a limited optical path. In a multi-stage series structure, this synthesis function helps to simplify the optical path design, reduce the complexity of the optical path, and reduce the loss and interference of optical signals during transmission.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first wave plate 120 is a 22.5° wave plate; the first wave plate 120 can accurately adjust the polarization state of light, and provide suitable polarization conditions for the subsequent magneto-optical crystal to process the optical signal. By adjusting the polarization state, the magneto-optical effect can be better utilized to improve the performance and efficiency of the magneto-optical switch. Accurate polarization state adjustment makes the magneto-optical switch more precise in controlling the optical signal, and can achieve more stable and reliable optical path switching and signal processing.

[0027] In one embodiment, the optical rotation component includes a magneto-optical crystal 130 disposed in a magnetic element 131; the magnetic element 131 generates positive and negative magnetic fields according to the direction of power supply to control the optical rotation direction of the magneto-optical crystal 130 to be positive or negative. The magnetic element 131 is a single coil or a state latching electromagnet, which can generate an external positive saturation magnetic field or maintain an external positive saturation magnetic field or generate an external negative saturation magnetic field or maintain an external negative saturation magnetic field to the magneto-optical crystal 130. Under the action of the external positive saturation magnetic field, the optical rotation angle of the magneto-optical crystal 130 is 45° in the positive direction, and under the action of the external negative saturation magnetic field, the optical rotation angle of the magneto-optical crystal 130 is 45° in the negative direction.

[0028] The magneto-optical crystal 130 utilizes the magneto-optical effect and can change the propagation direction or polarization state of light by controlling the magnetic field, thereby realizing the switching of the optical path. This switching function is the key to realizing multi-stage series connection and synchronous drive, and can flexibly adjust the optical path according to actual needs, thereby improving the flexibility and adaptability of the system. The magneto-optical crystal 130 has a fast response speed, can realize fast optical path switching and signal processing, and is suitable for high-speed communication systems. At the same time, it can be dynamically regulated by changing parameters such as magnetic field strength to adapt to different communication environments and business needs.

[0029] The second polarization beam splitter 140 decomposes the input light into two polarized lights with perpendicular polarization directions, which facilitates the subsequent independent processing of optical signals with different polarization directions. In the delay unit, this decomposition function provides a basis for setting different optical paths, so that the delay of optical signals with different polarization directions can be controlled through different compensation plates. It helps to separate the synthesized optical signal, facilitates signal detection and analysis, and improves the accuracy and reliability of signal processing.

[0030] In one embodiment, a first compensation plate 210 and a second compensation plate 220 are respectively provided on the optical paths of the two output polarized lights of the second polarization beam splitter prism 140; the first compensation plate 210 and the second compensation plate 220 have different thicknesses to form a time delay unit 200; through the cooperation of the magneto-optical switch unit 100 and the time delay unit 200, a multi-stage series connection structure can be conveniently performed, and synchronous driving can be achieved; and the time delay amount can be accurately adjusted due to the series structure, by increasing or decreasing the number of the time delay units 200; the magneto-optical switch unit 100 is small in size, and when it cooperates with the time delay unit 200, the structure is compact, and the optical loss is also small;

[0031] The first compensation plate 210 and the second compensation plate 220 have different thicknesses, and the delay function is realized by the optical path difference between them. This delay control method based on thickness difference is very accurate and can meet application scenarios with high requirements for delay accuracy, such as millimeter wave communication. By increasing or decreasing the number of delay units 200, accurate adjustment of the delay amount can be easily achieved. This flexibility enables the system to quickly adjust the delay parameters according to different communication requirements and environmental conditions, thereby improving the adaptability and performance of the system.

[0032] The magneto-optical switch unit 100 and the delay unit 200 can be conveniently connected in a multi-stage series connection structure, which greatly enhances the scalability of the system. The number of series connections can be increased or decreased according to actual needs to meet the requirements of communication systems of different scales and complexities. Synchronous drive can also be achieved to ensure that signal processing and delay control between each level are carried out synchronously, avoiding signal confusion and delay, and improving the stability and reliability of the entire system.

[0033] The magneto-optical switch unit 100 is small in size and has a compact structure when combined with the delay unit 200, which reduces the space occupied by the system and facilitates integration and installation. At the same time, the optical loss is also very small, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency of optical signals and reduce the energy consumption and cost of the communication system. Through the cooperation of multiple delay units 200, a variety of delay combinations can be achieved to meet the diverse requirements of delays in different application scenarios. For example, in the beam forming and beam steering of millimeter wave communications, the delay parameters can be flexibly adjusted according to different beam directions and communication distances to improve communication quality and coverage.

[0034] The working principle of the delay unit is as follows:

[0035] The optical path difference between the first compensation plate 210 and the second compensation plate 220 is ΔL;

[0036] ΔL=|L2-L1|

[0037] The thickness of the first compensation sheet 210 is L1, and the thickness of the second compensation sheet 220 is L2;

[0038] C is the speed of light;

[0039] The above is the delay of one delay unit. Multiple delay combinations can be achieved by cooperating with multiple delay units.

[0040] In one embodiment, a plurality of magneto-optical switch units 100 and time delay units 200 are alternately arranged, such as Figure 1 As shown, the magneto-optical switch unit 100 and the delay unit 200 are alternately arranged to meet different delay amounts; each delay unit 200 can provide a specific delay amount. By alternately arranging multiple such units, different numbers of delay units can be flexibly combined according to actual needs to achieve fine adjustment of the delay amount. In complex communication scenarios, different services and signal transmission requirements may require different delays. For example, real-time voice communication requires extremely low delays, while some data storage and batch transmission services have relatively high tolerance for delays. This alternating structure can easily meet these diverse delay requirements, allowing the system to flexibly adjust the delay according to specific circumstances and optimize communication performance. Taking beamforming in millimeter wave communication as an example, different beam directions and angles may require precise control of the signal delay to achieve accurate phase adjustment. By alternately arranging the magneto-optical switch unit 100 and the delay unit 200, the required delay units can be accurately selected and combined according to specific beam requirements, thereby achieving fine control of the beam and improving the signal directivity and communication quality.

[0041] The alternating arrangement of multiple delay units 200 enables the system to cover a wider range of delays. This structure can easily achieve a wide range of adjustments from extremely small delays to larger delays by increasing or decreasing the number of delay units, adapting to different communication environments and application requirements.

[0042] The alternating arrangement can also realize multiple processing and optimization of the signal. After the signal passes through a magneto-optical switch unit 100 and a delay unit 200, it can pass through subsequent units again for further delay adjustment and signal processing, thereby improving the quality and stability of the signal.

[0043] The alternating structure has good scalability. When the system needs to add new functions or improve performance, more magneto-optical switch units 100 and delay units 200 can be easily added. This modular design allows the system to be flexibly expanded according to actual needs without the need for large-scale transformation of the entire system. For example, with the growth of communication services and the upgrading of technology, it is necessary to increase the delay adjustment range or improve the signal processing capability. The system can be expanded by simply adding corresponding units to the existing alternating structure.

[0044] Due to its flexible delay adjustment and signal processing capabilities, the alternating structure is compatible with a variety of different communication protocols and standards. Different communication protocols and standards have different requirements for signal delay, bandwidth, modulation, etc. This structure can meet these diverse requirements by adjusting the parameters and combination of the magneto-optical switch unit and the delay unit.

[0045] In one embodiment, the number of the magneto-optical switch units 100 is one more than the number of the delay units 200, that is, the two ends of the delay assembly composed of multiple magneto-optical switch units 100 and the delay units 200 are magneto-optical switch units 100, which facilitates the input and output of two beams of polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions; the magneto-optical switch units 100 are located at both ends of the delay assembly, which can more conveniently process the input of two beams of polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions. The magneto-optical switch unit at the first end can flexibly integrate, modulate, and perform other operations on the two input polarized lights according to specific needs. For example, in some complex optical communication systems, the polarized lights generated by different data sources may have different characteristics, and the magneto-optical switch unit at the head end can pre-process them so that they enter the subsequent delay units in a more suitable state, thereby improving the transmission quality and processing efficiency of the signal.

[0046] The magneto-optical switch unit at the end is responsible for outputting the signal after the delay processing. It can make final adjustments and optimizations to the signal according to the output requirements of the system, such as adjusting the polarization state and intensity of the signal, to ensure that the output signal meets the receiving standards of the subsequent equipment or system. This is crucial to maintaining the stability and reliability of the entire communication link, and can effectively reduce the distortion and loss of the signal during the output process.

[0047] The structural design of magneto-optical switch units at both ends makes it easier to cascade the delay components. Multiple such delay components can be connected through magneto-optical switch units to achieve more complex signal processing and a wider range of delay adjustment. In large optical communication networks or high-performance signal processing systems, this cascade expansion capability can meet the growing business needs and technological development requirements.

[0048] The magneto-optical switch units at both ends can effectively isolate and protect the input and output signals, reducing the impact of external interference on the internal signal processing of the delay component. When there are interference sources such as electromagnetic interference and optical noise in the external environment, the magneto-optical switch unit can prevent the interference signal from entering or leaking out of the delay component by adjusting its own state, thereby improving the system's anti-interference ability and stability.

[0049] In one embodiment, the first polarization beam splitter prism 110 includes a first polarization beam splitting surface 111 and a first reflection surface 112 parallel to the first polarization beam splitting surface 111; the input end of the first polarization beam splitter prism 110 is used to input two beams of P polarized light and S polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions, wherein the P polarized light passes through the first polarization beam splitting surface 111, and the S polarized light is first reflected by the first reflection surface 112 and then reflected by the first polarization beam splitting surface 111, and then combined with the P polarized light for further transmission; through the synergistic effect of the first polarization beam splitting surface 111 and the first reflection surface 112, the two beams of P polarized light and S polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions can be efficiently combined into one beam of light. This light combining method utilizes the polarization characteristics of light and avoids energy loss and signal interference problems that may occur in traditional light combining methods. In optical communication systems, efficient light combining means that more information can be transmitted simultaneously in limited optical fibers or optical paths, thereby improving the capacity and efficiency of communication systems. The P-polarized light directly passes through the first polarization splitting surface 111, and the S-polarized light is combined with the P-polarized light after being reflected by the first reflecting surface 112 and the first polarization splitting surface 111. This optical path design reduces the number of reflections and refractions of light during transmission, thereby reducing the energy loss of the optical signal. Compared with some complex light combining structures, this design is simpler and can effectively maintain the intensity and quality of the optical signal, thereby improving the overall performance of the system. This structure can ensure the stability of the polarization state of the P-polarized light and the S-polarized light during the light combining process. Since the design of the first polarization splitting surface 111 and the first reflecting surface 112 is based on the polarization characteristics of light, they accurately process light of different polarization states, so that the polarization state of the optical signal after light combining can remain relatively stable.

[0050] In one embodiment, the second polarization beam splitter prism 140 includes a second polarization beam splitting surface 141 and a second reflection surface 142 parallel to the second polarization beam splitting surface 141; the second polarization beam splitter prism 140 is used to decompose the input light into two polarized lights with perpendicular polarization directions; after the combined light in the previous embodiment is further transmitted into the second polarization beam splitting surface 141 of the second polarization beam splitter prism 140, the P polarized light is further transmitted through the second polarization beam splitting surface 141, and the S polarized light is reflected by the second polarization beam splitting surface 141 and then reflected by the second reflection surface 142 and output in parallel with the P polarized light, and enters the first compensation plate 210 and the second compensation plate 220 respectively, generating a time delay. The synergistic effect of the second polarization beam splitting surface 141 and the second reflection surface 142 can efficiently decompose the input light into P polarized light and S polarized light. This light splitting method is based on the polarization characteristics of light. Compared with other light splitting methods, it can more accurately separate light of different polarization states, reducing energy loss and signal interference in the light splitting process. In optical communication systems, efficient light splitting helps to accurately extract information carried by different polarization states and improve the data transmission and processing capabilities of the system.

[0051] The decomposed P-polarized light and S-polarized light are output in parallel and enter the first compensation plate 210 and the second compensation plate 220 respectively, which enables the two beams to generate delays independently. In applications such as beam forming and beam steering of millimeter-wave phased array antenna systems, signals in different polarization states may require different delays to achieve precise phase control. Through this independent delay control method, the delays of P and S polarized light can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs, thereby achieving more precise beam control and improving signal directivity and communication quality.

[0052] Since the P and S polarized light enter the compensation plate through a fixed optical path (the P polarized light passes through the second polarization splitting surface 141, and the S polarized light is output after reflection), the stability and accuracy of the delay generation are guaranteed. This stable optical path design reduces the impact of external factors on the light propagation path, so that the delay amount can be accurately predicted and controlled. In application scenarios with extremely high requirements for delay accuracy, such as high-precision optical measurement and synchronization control in high-speed optical communications, the performance and reliability of the system can be ensured.

[0053] The structural design of the second polarization beam splitter prism 140 makes it highly resistant to external interference. It can effectively shield the influence of external non-polarized light or other interfering light, and only allow light of a specific polarization state to enter the subsequent delay unit. The structure of the second polarization beam splitter prism 140 is relatively simple, and it is easy to integrate with other optical elements such as the first compensation plate 210 and the second compensation plate 220.

[0054] In one embodiment, the delay array is formed by arranging the above-mentioned delay components. Each delay component in the delay array can independently process the input signal to realize parallel processing of the signal. Different delay components can set different delay parameters according to specific needs, so as to carry out targeted processing of different types of signals. In a complex communication environment, there may be signals with multiple modulation modes, different bandwidths and frequencies. The delay array can allocate appropriate delay components for each signal for processing according to the characteristics of the signal, realize diversified signal processing strategies, and improve the system's adaptability and processing effect for different signals. In the millimeter wave phased array antenna system, the delay array plays a key role in beam forming and beam steering. Through the array arrangement, the signal delay of each antenna unit can be accurately controlled, thereby realizing more flexible and more accurate beam control. Compared with a single delay component, the delay array can produce more complex beam shapes, improve the directivity and coverage of the beam, enhance the strength and quality of the signal, reduce signal interference and fading, and improve the performance of the entire communication system. The delay array composed of multiple delay components has a certain redundancy. If one of the delay components fails, the other components can still work normally, ensuring that some functions of the system are not affected. At the same time, the array arrangement can also improve the system's anti-interference ability through reasonable design and optimization, reduce the impact of external factors on signal processing, and thus improve the stability and reliability of the system.

[0055] like Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment, the input end of the magneto-optical switch unit 100 is provided with a first birefringent crystal shift plate 150; the input end of the first birefringent crystal shift plate 150 is provided with a dual-fiber collimator (not shown in the figure), and the two beams of light output by the dual-fiber collimator are divided into four beams by the first birefringent crystal shift plate 150, and the polarization schematic diagram thereof is shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown in S1 in the figure; the output end of the first birefringent crystal displacement plate 150 is provided with a second wave plate 171 and a third wave plate 172 in sequence, the second wave plate 171 is arranged on the optical path corresponding to the upper half of the light beam, and the polarization schematic diagram of the four light beams after passing through the second wave plate 171 is shown in S2, the third wave plate 172 is arranged on the optical path corresponding to the right half of the light beam, and the polarization schematic diagram of the four light beams after passing through the third wave plate 172 is shown in S3, and further four light beams are coupled into the magneto-optical switch unit 100 in the time delay component, and the output end of the time delay component is provided with a fourth wave plate 173, a fifth wave plate 174, The second birefringent crystal shift plate 160; the fourth wave plate 173 is arranged on the optical path corresponding to the left half of the light beam, and the polarization diagram of the four light beams after passing through the fourth wave plate 173 is shown in S4; the fifth wave plate 174 is arranged on the optical path corresponding to the upper half of the light beam, and the polarization diagram of the four light beams after passing through the fifth wave plate 174 is shown in S5; the further four light beams enter the second birefringent crystal shift plate 160 for light combination and are coupled into the dual-fiber collimator at the output end; it should be noted that the second wave plate 171, the third wave plate 172, the fourth wave plate 173, and the fifth wave plate 174 all act on two light beams at the same time when in use; Figure 2 The second wave plate 171 , the third wave plate 172 , the fourth wave plate 173 , and the fifth wave plate 174 all include solid line parts and dotted line parts. The dotted line parts do not include the actual wave plate structure, but are only for the convenience of illustrating the relative positions of the wave plates. The solid line parts represent the wave plate structure.

[0056] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied in related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch, characterized in that: The invention comprises a magneto-optical switch unit (100); the magneto-optical switch unit (100) comprises a first polarization beam splitter prism (110), a first wave plate (120), an optical rotation component, and a second polarization beam splitter prism (140) arranged along the optical path; the first polarization beam splitter prism (110) is used to combine two beams of polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions into one beam; the second polarization beam splitter prism (140) is used to decompose input light into two beams of polarized light with perpendicular polarization directions; a first compensation plate (210) and a second compensation plate (220) are respectively arranged on the optical paths of two output polarized lights of the second polarization beam splitter prism (140); the first compensation plate (210) and the second compensation plate (220) have different thicknesses to form a time delay unit (200).

2. The time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: It comprises a plurality of magneto-optical switch units (100) and time delay units (200) which are arranged alternately.

3. The time delay component based on 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the magneto-optical switch units (100) is one more than the number of the time delay units (200).

4. The time delay component based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first polarization beam splitting prism (110) comprises a first polarization beam splitting surface (111) and a first reflection surface (112) parallel to the first polarization beam splitting surface (111).

5. The time delay component based on 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second polarization splitting prism (140) comprises a second polarization splitting surface (141) and a second reflecting surface (142) parallel to the second polarization splitting surface (141).

6. The time delay component based on 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first wave plate (120) is a 22.5° wave plate.

7. The time delay component based on 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical rotation component comprises a magneto-optical crystal (130) arranged in a magnetic element (131); the magnetic element (131) generates magnetic fields in positive and negative directions according to the direction of power supply to control the optical rotation direction of the magneto-optical crystal (130) to be positive or negative.

8. The time delay component based on 2x2 magneto-optical switch according to claim 7, characterized in that: The magnetic element (131) is a single coil or a state latching electromagnet.

9. A time delay array based on a 2x2 magneto-optical switch, characterized in that: It is composed of an array arrangement of delay components based on 2x2 magneto-optical switches as described in any one of claims 1-4.

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