Patent ID: 6947629

Claim:
An optical switch comprising: a reference mirror that reflects a signal wavelength of light and transmits a reference wavelength of light; a first adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a first reference light beam having said reference wavelength is reflected from said first adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror; a second adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a second reference light beam having said reference wavelength is reflected from said second adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror; a detector array adjacent to said reference mirror, wherein said detector array: indicates a first position of said first reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array, and indicates a second position of said second reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array; a controller that: receives said first position and adjusts said first adjustable mirror array so that said first position is moved to a pre-determined location on said reference mirror; and receives said second position and adjusts said second adjustable mirror array so that said second position is moved to said pre-determined location, thereby establishing an optical beam alignment for a signal light beam having said signal wavelength wherein said signal light beam is reflected from said first adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror and is reflected from said reference mirror to said second adjustable mirror array.