Patent ID: 6205267
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising:a source optical waveguide and an output optical waveguide aligned end-to-end and having adjacent ends spaced apart to define a gap therebetween;and a MEMS device including an actuator formed by a pair of spaced plates, the first of the two plates fixed and the second suspended over the first plate to be moved by a voltage applied between the two plates, a lever arm that at one end is flexibly coupled to the second plate and at the other end supports a shutter whose position in or out of the gap is determined by the voltage between the two plates, the shutter when in the gap reflecting an incident optical signal from the source fiber back into the source fiber; andhinge means that connect the lever arm to the movable plate of the pair of spaced plates whereby movement of the movable plate deflects the lever arm to control the shutter position in the gap relative to the waveguides.