Patent ID: 6950225

Claim:
A light processing system, comprising: an optical tap operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal and to separate the optical signal into a first signal part and a second signal part; a light pipe operable to communicate at least the first signal part to a demultiplexer, the demultiplexer operable to communicate at least a portion of the first signal part for processing; a plurality of lenses each having a central axis and each capable of receiving at least the portion of the first signal part; at least one optical switching element disposed between a first lens and a second lens of the plurality of lenses, wherein the at least one optical switching element comprises: a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate; and a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer and forming with the fixed layer a cavity, the unitary moveable mirror structure operable to move relative to the fixed layer in response to a voltage applied to the unitary moveable mirror structure to affect a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to receive the portion of the first signal part from the first lens of the plurality of lenses and to reflect the portion of the first signal part to the second lens of the plurality of lenses depending on the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer.