Integrated Optical Components with Variable Attenuation or Switching, and Tap Detector Functions

An optical system, comprising:

• a tunable optical device, including:
• a reflector positionable to reflect a portion of a beam of light incident thereupon from an input port in an optical path between the input port and an output port;
• a surface located in the optical path between the reflector and the output port, the surface having an opening through which the reflected portion of the light beam is transmittable between the reflector and the output port, wherein the opening has an adjacent reflective region on the surface;
• a first photo-detector configured such that a portion of the beam of light incident on the reflective region adjacent to the opening is reflected thereon;
• and
• an actuator connected to change a position of the reflector so that a selectable amount of the beam of light reflected from the reflector is transmitted through the opening along the optical path from the input port to the output port;
• and
• control circuitry connected to the first photo-detector to receive an indication of an amount of light incident thereupon and connected to the actuator to change the position of the reflector in response to said indication.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a beam of light from a first port;
• reflecting a portion of the beam of light from the first port by a reflector in an optical path between the first port and a second port, wherein the optical path includes a surface located between the reflector and the second port, the surface having a first opening through which the reflected portion of the light beam is transmittable between the reflector and the second port, and wherein the first opening has an adjacent reflective region on the surface;
• reflecting a portion of the beam of light that is incident on the reflective region adjacent to the first opening on to a first photo-detector;
• and
• positioning the reflector so that a selectable amount of the beam of light reflected from the reflector is transmitted through the first opening along the optical path from the first port to the second port.