Optical switch

An optical switch comprising:

• a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;
• a plurality of displaceable optical elements for directing beams from a selected input to a selected output;
• wherein the number of displaceable elements substantially corresponds to either the number of input ports or the number of output ports.

An actuator comprising two two dimensional piezoelectric bending beams attached to a support structure;

• wherein the beams conjointly act on an element to position said element.

An optical switch comprising:

• a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports which, in use, are fixed in position;
• a first reflective arrangement for capturing a beam from an input port and directing a beam towards a second reflective arrangement for capturing a beam exiting from said first reflective arrangement and directing a beam to an output port;
• wherein one of said reflective arrangements is displaceable whilst in communication with its corresponding reflective arrangement which is fixed and a plurality of pairs of first and second reflective arrangements are provided to direct a beam from a selected input port to a selected output port.

An optical switch comprising:

• a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;
• a first periscope prism for capturing a beam from an input port and directing a beam towards a second periscope prism for capturing a beam exiting from said first periscope prism and directing a beam to an output port;
• wherein one of said periscope prisms is said displaceable optical element whilst in communication with its corresponding periscope prism to direct a beam from a selected input port to a selected output port.

An optical switch comprising:

• a plurality of input ports which, in use, are fixed in position and a plurality of output ports in optical communication with said input ports;
• a first reflector for receiving optical beams from said input ports and directing said beams to said output ports;
• wherein at least one output port also incorporates a reflector with a passage to allow a beam to pass said reflector to exit through said output port and at least one element displaces either or both of said reflectors in a first mode of use in positions where beams are directed to at least one further output port and in a second mode of use in positions where an incoming beam is allowed to exit through the passage of said reflector.