Patent ID: 7079726

Claim:
An optical switch comprising: an optical channel, wherein the optical channel comprises: an input optical fiber for receiving a beam of light; an output optical fiber, wherein the input and output optical fibers are included in a single bundle of optical fibers; a first support device connected to the input optical fiber and operable to apply one or more forces directly to the input optical fiber for creating a bend in the input optical fiber; a second support device connected to the output optical fiber and operable to apply one or more forces directly to the output optical fiber for creating a bend in the output optical fiber; and a mirror positioned opposite the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber for receiving the beam of light from the input optical fiber and for reflecting the beam of light to the output optical fiber, wherein the bends in the input and output optical fibers direct the beam of light from the input optical fiber to the mirror to the output optical fiber.