US Patent 11181694 Integrated optical switches using deuterated liquids for increased bandwidth

An electro-wetting optical device includes an optical switch that uses a coupling region proximate a waveguide in a substrate. The device uses two optical liquids, providing first and second refractive indices respectively. At least one of the optical liquids is deuterated. Under a first switching configuration the first optical liquid is positioned at the coupling region so as to provide a first effective refractive index for light propagating along the first waveguide and under a second switching configuration the second optical liquid is positioned at the coupling region so as to provide a second effective refractive index for light propagating along the first waveguide.