Patent ID: 6907153

Claim:
An optical switch device comprising: a substrate; a flexible membrane attached at least one end to a surface of the substrate in proximity to an optical port portion of the substrate, the flexible membrane being configured such that, in a first state, the flexible membrane is disposed over the optical port portion of the substrate such that light directed toward the optical port portion of the substrate impinges on the flexible membrane, and, in a second state, the flexible membrane is disposed to expose the optical port portion of the substrate such that light directed toward the optical port portion of the substrate impinges on the optical port portion of the substrate; and a latch electrode on the substrate at a second end of the flexible membrane used to reduce sticking between said flexible membrane and said substrate, such that, when the flexible membrane is in the first state, upon application of a latching voltage between the latch electrode and the substrate, the flexible membrane is held in the first state.