"optical switch controlled by selective activation and deactivation of an optical source"

A switching arrangement for defining a transmitting state and a reflecting state comprising:

• an emitting source for generating light;
• and
• first and second light-transmitting waveguides having ends extending to a chamber such that optical communication from a first end of said first waveguide to a second end of said second waveguide is determined by movement of a fluid within said chamber, said fluid being selectively moved by activation and deactivation of said emitting source, said emitting source being configured to emit light at sufficient intensity to define said transmitting state upon activation and being controlled to define said reflecting state upon deactivation.

A method for controlling an optical signal comprising:

• providing a plurality of optical waveguides, including providing an intersecting gap at ends of said waveguides such that optical coupling of an input waveguide to operatively associated first and second output waveguides is dependent by a presence and absence of a fluid disposed within said gap;
• and
• switching said optical coupling of said input waveguide by selectively activating a light source, said activating of said light source resulting in a fluidic change within said gap such that said optical signal from said input waveguide is diverted from communication with said first output waveguide by propagation through said gap to communication with said second output waveguide by reflection at said gap.