Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises an optical element capable of motion in at least one degree of freedom wherein the motion in at least one degree of freedom is enabled by serpentine hinges configured to enable the optical element to move in at least one degree of freedom. The embodiment further includes driving elements configured to deflect the optical element in said at least one degree of freedom to controllably induce deflection in the optical element and a damping element to reduce magnitude of resonances. Another embodiment includes a MEMS optical apparatus comprising an optical element capable of motion in two degrees of freedom. The two degrees of freedom are enabled by two pairs of serpentine hinges. A first pair of serpentine hinges is configured to enable the optical element to move in one degree of freedom and a second pair of serpentine hinges is configured to enable the optical element to move in a second degree of freedom.

Abstract: A design is presented for an N×N crossbar switch. A crossbar switch is one of the basic components of Optical Switching Networks. An optical N×N switch has the capability of connecting any light beam from the input of the switch to any output of the switch without interfering with other light beams. That is each single input is connected to one and only one of the output ports without interfering with any other beam or beams. The design presented is based on the use of precision meso-scale mechanics of the size typically found in miniature disc drives and meso-scale optical components. This meso-scale mechanics is then controlled or driven by precision servo-electronics and software to achieve the correct switching. The precision servomechanisms, meso-scale mechanics, electronics and software control are designed to work together to self-compensate for assembly or manufacturing defects and deleterious environmental, including temperature, effects.

Abstract: An OXC core uses electronic and/or optical switch elements as building blocks and a three stage interconnection architecture according to Clos theorem (Clos configuration), to achieve the strictly non-blocking condition. The hardware architecture of the OXC core is carried out with scalable, modular board elements of two kinds, one active and the other passive, as well as with a backplane interconnecting the board elements. The number of board elements determines the size of the OXC core. Elementary switching matrices belonging to each stage of the Clos configuration are all contained in the active elements. The passive elements may be exclusively electric or exclusively optical. In the all-optical case, they are comprised of optical fibers or optical waveguides. The backplane is provided for the maximum size of the OXC core, and at least one active element and three passive elements inserted into the backplane. Passive elements can be replaced at any time with further active ones.