Apparatus and method for directing optical signals using a movable optical switching element

摘要

An improved optical switch (10) includes a movable optical switching element (15) configured to selectively direct optical signals (13) traveling in an optical input path (11) to one of at least two optical output paths (12, 16). The movable optical switching element (15, 35) may include waveguide portions (18) and/or mirrors (58) to direct the optical signals. In an alternative embodiment, the moveable optical switching element (75) may include waveguide grating couplers (128) to allow the selective reflection of a particular wavelength of light from an optical waveguide (121) carrying a number of such of optical wavelengths (123). <IMAGE>