Patent ID: 6917733

Claim:
A three-dimensional free-space optical switch for globally minimizing maximum tilt angles used to route optical signals from assigned input positions to assigned output positions, said optical switch comprising: a two-dimensional input array of fibers; an optical system for producing collimated beamlets coupled to said input array; a two-dimensional output array of beamlet targets; a two-dimensional input array of first tiltable micromirrors, said first micromirrors being disposed within a first boundary within a first plane having a first reflection symmetry; and a two-dimensional output array of second tiltable micromirrors, said output array being disposed within a second boundary within a second plane having a second reflection symmetry matching said first reflection symmetry, said output array and said input array being disposed opposing one another and normal to parallel central axes of the respective first and second planes and further being offset from one another in the plane of the normals to said input array and said output array, so that a reference ray originating from the center of the input array of fibers and normal to the plane containing the input array of fibers impinging on the center said input array and reflected off at an equivalent angle intersects said output array at an offset from the center of said output array.