Integrated optical high-voltage sensor based on a polymeric Y-branch digital optical switch

An integrated optical high-voltage sensor is realized by fabricating a Y-branch digital optical switch in an electrooptic polymer. The measurement of ac high voltage is accomplished by using the linear transfer characteristics of the switch at zero bias voltage. Furthermore, the logarithmic ratio between the optical powers of two output ports may be used to remove the noise caused by the power fluctuations of a light source. The polymeric high-voltage sensor requires no electrical dc biases and no voltage dividers. It is also wavelength insensitive and fabrication-tolerant due to its use of mode evolution effects instead of interference. The measured sensing voltage range is as large as ac 500-V peak-to-peak.