Abstract: Optical devices and methods for attenuating, shuttering, or switching optical signals as found in telecommunications. A platform carrying a portion of a waveguide and residing in a plane of a substrate is tipped, tilted, twisted, or otherwise moved out of the plane of the substrate to divert the path of an optical signal or to change coupling between adjacent waveguides. The platform can be formed by etching a substrate while leaving one or more connection points between the platform and the substrate to hold the platform to the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid waveguide structure, wherein a core or cladding has a hybrid section or “button” of a different optical property such as refractive index from the major portion of the core or cladding, respectively. The hybrid section can be made of a passive material or an electro-optic material. Methods of making a hybrid waveguide structure are also disclosed. These methods include rib-based methods and trench-based methods, and in either of these methods, a temporary filler is used in many instances to incorporate the hybrid section into the hybrid waveguide structure.