High bandwidth, compact N×N optical switch

The method of fabricating a micro-lens housing array comprising the steps of:

• providing a first element for forming top and bottom electrode arrays;
• providing a second element for forming a middle array pattern, which confines micro-lenses in the x-y planes;
• depositing a thin film photolithographically patterned array of electrodes on said first element for levitating and controlling the spherical micro-lenses in the z-direction;
• said thin film photolithographically patterned array of electrodes having a middle clearance hole for passing a laser beam unimpeded through the top and bottom of said first elements;
• providing a second element for levitating and controlling the micro-lenses in the x-y plane, said second element having two segments for allocation of half of the interconnections on each segment;
• bonding said two segments together thereby providing a cylindrical volume in which the micro-lenses are contained in the x-y plane;
• providing charge injection for converting the micro-lenses into electrets;
• and then
• merging fiber bundles with the micro-lens array thereby fixing the relative location of the transmit and receive arrays.