Abstract: There is disclosed a driver circuits and method for driving a micro-electro-mechanical system. A driver circuit may include a converter to convert a digital input value into a pulse-width modulated signal with precise amplitude. A low pass filter may extract an average DC component of the pulse-width modulated signal. An amplifier may amplify the average DC component to provide an output voltage to drive the MEMS.

Abstract: Methods of operating an optical circuit switch and optical circuit switches are disclosed. A command to make an optical connection between a first port and a second port may be received, the first port uniquely associated with a first rotatable mirror element and the second port uniquely associated with a second rotatable mirror element. A determination whether or not input signal light is present at the first port may be made. When light is present at the first port, the first mirror element and the second mirror may be rotated to provide an initial optical connection between the first port and the second port. When light is not present at the first port, the first mirror element and the second mirror element may be placed in respective at-rest positions.

Abstract: A wavelength-selective optical switch for switching arbitrary wavelengths between optical fibers in mesh networks, using interference filters for separating optical wavelengths, and two-dimensional arrays of micromirrors for switching. Broadband switch inputs and outputs are provided for adding and dropping arbitrary wavelengths at each node of the network. A two-stage multiplexer and two-stage demultiplexer are provided to simplify the free-space demultiplexer and multiplexer. Mechanisms are provided that allows full non-blocking functionality in the presence of finite yield of the micromirror arrays.