Patent ID: 7231106

Claim:
An apparatus for receiving an optical signal from an optical input means and directing the optical signal to a selected one of a plurality of optical output means, comprising: a solid signal propagating material having a refractive index greater than a refractive index of air, the solid signal propagating material comprising a first transparent surface optically cooperating with the optical input and output means, a second transparent surface optically cooperating with a first light directing mechanism, and a reflective surface optically cooperating with the first light directing mechanism; wherein a first reflecting component of the first light directing mechanism directing the received optical signal to a second reflecting component of the first light directing mechanism via the reflective surface of the signal propagating material; the second reflecting component of the first light directing mechanism directing respective incident optical signal to the selected one of the plurality of optical output means; and the first light directing mechanism being disposed within a hermetically sealed region formed by a housing coupled to the second transparent surface, the hermetically sealed region comprising an environment, wherein an interface between the solid signal propagating material and the environment of the hermetically sealed region is adapted for modifying respective beam steering angles associated with the optical signals.