Patent ID: 6445842
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A microelectromechanical optical cross-connect switch that switches optical energy from an input of the microelectromechanical optical cross-connect switch to an output of the microelectromechanical optical cross-connect switch, the microelectromechanical optical cross-connect switch comprising:a substrate a plurality of reflectors, on the substrate, wherein the each of the plurality of reflectors is movable to at least one of a respective first reflector position along an optical beam path from an input of the microelectromechanical optical cross-connect switch to an output thereof and a respective second reflector position outside the optical beam path; a mechanical actuator that is movable to at least one of a first mechanical actuator position and a second mechanical actuator position; and a selector that selectively couples at least one of the plurality of reflectors to the mechanical actuator such that the at least one of the plurality of reflectors moves from the first reflector position to the second reflector position when the mechanical actuator moves from the first mechanical actuator position to the second mechanical actuator position.