Patent ID: 7003192

Claim:
An optical component comprising: a first substrate having a well and a trench defined therein, wherein the trench is an extension of the well, and at least first and second planar waveguides provided thereon which extend along the substrate to the trench; a MEMS chip disposed in the well and attached to the first substrate, wherein the MEMS chip comprises a wafer that includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer, and the third layer incorporates an actuator and a switching element, which is displaceable by the actuator between at least first and second positions within the trench, and the waveguides are positioned such that there is an optical path from the first waveguide to the second waveguide when the switching element is in at least said first position within the trench; and a cap means sealingly engaged with the first substrate and forming a housing therewith which houses said MEMS chip therein, wherein a chamber is formed between the cap means and the MEMS chip.