Resistive heater including wire resistor

Abstract

A resistor heater includes an anode ( 10 ) arranged along one side and a cathode ( 20 ) arranged along the other side of a thin-line-shaped resistor ( 30 ). The anode ( 10 ) is connected to the resistor ( 30 ) at connections points (P 2 , P 3 ) by a plurality of branches ( 13, 14 ) arranged at a certain interval along the resistor ( 30 ). The cathode ( 20 ) is connected to the resistor ( 30 ) at connection points (P 1 , P 4 ) by branches ( 23, 24 ) arranged at a certain interval along the resistor ( 30 ). The connection points (P 1 , P 4 ) are located at positions shifted from one another along the resistor ( 30 ). A portion ( 31 ) of the resistor ( 30 ) located between the connections points (P 1 , P 2 ) and a portion ( 32 ) of the resistor ( 30 ) located between the connection points (P 3 , P 4 ) function as effective regions of the resistor ( 30 ).

1 . A thermooptic phase shifter comprising: 
 an optical waveguide; and    a resistive heater comprising:    a wire resistor;    a first electrode, placed on a side of the resistor, extending along the resistor; and    a second electrode, placed on the side opposite to the first electrode, extending along the resistor,    wherein the first electrode is connected to a plurality of first nodes placed on the resistor with branches spaced along the resistor,    the second electrode is connected to a plurality of second nodes placed on the resistor with branches spaced along the resistor,    the second nodes are spaced from the first nodes in the longitudinal direction of the resistor, and the resistor has effective regions each sandwiched between one of the first nodes and one of the second nodes that is adjacent to the first connection,    for heating the optical waveguide,    wherein the resistor included in the resistive heater extends along the optical waveguide.    
   
   
       2 . A thermooptic phase shifter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said resistive heater further comprising the first,    wherein the first and second nodes are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the resistor.