Patent ID: 7116858

Claim:
An optical switch element comprising: a housing containing a longitudinal channel therein having a channel axis defined along a length of the longitudinal channel, wherein the longitudinal channel contains a first machined surface on a first side of the channel, a second surface on an opposite side of the channel from the first surface, a first magnetic coil adjacent the first surface of the channel and a second magnetic coil adjacent the second surface of the channel; an elongate shuttle having a mirrored surface on at least one end thereof, the elongate shuttle being disposed in the longitudinal channel for lateral movement substantially transverse to the channel axis between a first latch position adjacent the first machined surface and a second latch position adjacent the second surface, and containing a rare earth magnet for interacting with the first and second magnetic coils to cause movement of the shuttle between the first latch position and the second latch position; and at least one shuttle guide for guiding movement of the shuttle between the first latch position and the second latch position.