摘要 |
A switching device that receives a plurality of input signals and provides a plurality of output signals has switches arranged in a two- or three-dimensional array configurations. At least two of the switches, which are preferably microelectromechanical or MEMS switches, reside on distinct physical substrate layers in the switching device, and at least one of the signals travels through a penetrable zone of one of the physical substrate layers. Three dimensional switching device blocks can be conveniently arranged in a Clos configuration or other switching configurations to reduce blocking and avoid rearrangement. The switching devices may be used to switch optical signals and may include mirrors as switching elements. |