Patent ID: 7477812

Claim:
A switching system for an optical signal, said switching system comprising: a first optical waveguide coupled to a first electrode; a second electrode; a second optical waveguide coupled to a movable electrode, said movable electrode being supported by a support structure and being positioned with respect to said first and second electrodes so that the position of the movable electrode may be selectively placed in either a first closed state or a second open state defined by the first and second electrodes under application of a voltage with respect to one of the first and second electrodes, said first closed state providing that said first and second optical waveguides are sufficiently close to each other to provide some amount of optical coupling therebetween while said second open state providing that the first and second optical communication channels are at a different proximity than in the first closed state and provide a different amount of optical coupling therebetween, said first optical waveguide and said second optical waveguide having a core material and a cladding material mounted on an oxide layer on said movable electrode and at least one of said first and second electrodes; and a silicon handle layer acting as a substrate to which the switching system is anchored.