Abstract: In an optical switching system having a transmitter and a receiver optically coupled together via a fiber optic light guide, the transmitter utilizes a piezoelectric device which provides an electrical signal to a light emitting device when a mechanical strain is imparted to the piezoelectric device. The light emitted by the light source is provided at the receiver via the fiber optic guide. The receiver generates a signal in response to the light received thereat via the fiber optic guide. This generated signal is used to control the power flowing to a load via a switching device so that, for example, one generated signal is used to turn on the switching device and the next succeeding generated signal is used to turn off the switching device.