Microdynamical fiber-optic switch and method of switching using same

A microdynamical optical switch comprising:

• a substrate;
• a piezoelectric actuator disposed on said substrate;
• a mirror mechanically coupled to said piezoelectric actuator and disposed to be translated along a mirror displacement path corresponding to deflection of said piezoelectric actuator;
• at least one optical input connection port;
• and
• a plurality of optical output ports;
• said at least one input connection port and said plurality of output connection ports being disposed so that light from said input connection port is selectively directed to a selected output connection port in dependence on the location of said mirror along said mirror displacement path;
• said piezoelectric actuator comprising at least one unimorph, each unimorph comprising a piezoelectric material selected from the group consisting of lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr.sub.1 Ti)O.sub.3, aluminum nitride (AlNi), zinc oxide (ZnO), and lead titanate (PbTiO.sub.3).

A method of switching an optical signal comprising:

• passing an optical signal through an optical input connection port, said optical input port being disposed in a spaced relationship with a plurality of optical output connection ports;
• and
• selectively displacing a mirror along a mirror displacement path positioned to be disposed at least partially along the axis on which light beams emanate from said optical input connection port, the position of said mirror along said displacement path determining the optical output connection port into which the light beams emanating from said input connection port pass;
• the selective displacement of said mirror along said mirror displacement path being determined by controlling a piezoelectric actuator comprising a plurality of micromachined piezoelectric bars arranged in a meander line geometry and that are mechanically coupled to said mirror.