Patent ID: 7027682

Claim:
An optical switching system for directing the path of optical signals, comprising: a substrate including a plurality of channels, wherein each channel includes an optical transmission path between an optical input and an optical output, the optical transmission path being enclosed by a wall; a reflecting structure formed within the wall of the channel as the optical input to the channel, wherein the reflecting structure has a first position parallel to the wall of the channel to form a portion of the enclosure of the optical transmission path, the reflecting structure being cantilevered to rotate outward away from the channel to a second position, the reflecting structure being controlled by an electrical signal to move the reflecting structure to the first position or second position, the reflecting structure being latched in place by a magnetic force upon removal of the electrical signal; and an optical path providing an optical signal incident to the reflecting structure which when rotated outward away from the channel provides an entrance for optical signal into the channel.