Radiation switching arrangement with moving deflecting element

An electromagnetic radiation switching arrangement which comprises:

• (a) a radiation deflecting element (e.g., M, FIG. 2;
• RS, FIG. 18) having a planar deflecting surface;
• (b) moving means (e.g., G;
• FIG. 4) for moving the deflecting element such that the planar deflecting surface thereof can be moved parallel to itself from a first region to a second region and from the second to the first region;
• (c) first, second, and third radiation ports (e.g., P1, P2, P3;
• FIG. 1) that are respectively located such that when the deflecting element is in the first region a radiation signal beam arriving at the switching arrangement at the first port (P1) propagates through the location of the second position and enters into the second port (P2), and such that when the deflecting element is moved by the moving means into the second region the signal beam arriving at the first port (P1) is deflected by the planar surface of the deflecting element into the third port (P3), and
• (d) a substrate (e.g., S;
• FIG. 3) having a major planar surface (e.g., PS, FIG. 3) surface and having first, second, and third waveguide alignment recesses (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3;
• FIG. 3) therein at the surface thereof which determine respective first, second, and third port positions of the first, second, and third ports, respectively, and having a pair of deflecting element alignment recesses (e.g., SBR1, SBR2;
• FIG. 3) therein at the surface thereof for aligning the deflecting element with respect to the first, second, and third port positions.