Patent ID: 7612329

Claim:
An optical communications apparatus defining a Z-axis and an X-Y plane, comprising: (a) an optical fiber comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said optical fiber lies generally along the Z-axis of the apparatus when said optical fiber is in an untranslated state; (b) at least one of a first optical signal receiver and a first optical signal transmitter in communication with said first end of said optical fiber; and (c) a plurality of actuators attached to said optical fiber, wherein each of said actuators comprises an arm of constant length and a MEMS device in communication with said arm and lying along the X-Y plane of the apparatus, and wherein at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises an X-direction translational component and at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises a Y-direction translational component, and said X-direction translational component is attached to said optical fiber but not attached to said Y-direction translational component, and said Y-direction translational component is attached to said optical fiber but not attached to said X-direction translational component; and (d) at least one of a second optical signal receiver and a second optical signal transmitter positioned remotely from said optical fiber along a line extending longitudinally from said second end of said optical fiber.