Transparent Optical Switch

摘要

An optical switching device realized on a substrate. The device includes a moveable platform driven by electrostatic actuation provided by a set of rotor fingers and stator fingers. The moveable platform, rotor fingers and stator fingers are integrally formed on the substrate. The device further includes a plurality of stationary input polymeric waveguides as well as a plurality of stationary output polymeric waveguides integrally formed on the substrate. At least one polymeric waveguide is integrally formed on the moveable platform. The polymeric waveguide of the moveable platform is operably coupled to a select one of the stationary input polymeric waveguides and a select one of the stationary output polymeric waveguides in different positions of the moveable platform as driven by electrostatic actuation provided by the rotor fingers and stator fingers. The stationary input polymeric waveguides, the stationary output polymeric waveguides and the polymeric waveguide formed on the movable platform are each defined by a multilayer polymer sandwich for guiding light propagating therein. The rotor fingers and stator fingers comprise a patterned conductive material. This same conductive material is disposed under the multilayer polymer sandwich of the polymer waveguide formed on the moveable platform over its entire length.