Optical shutter assembly

An optical shutter having a first state of transparency and of low reflectivity at a range of wavelengths and a second state of opacity and of high reflectivity at said range of wavelengths, said shutter comprising a first surface layer in a transparent state, a second surface layer in a transparent state, and a photon-absorbing layer in a transparent state and interposed between said first and second surface layers, wherein said optical shutter is characterized by the absorption of photons to change at least one of said first and second surface layers to a state of high reflectivity and to change said photon-absorbing layer to a state of opacity;

• and wherein said shutter is characterized by being reversibly imageable between said first and second states.

A method for switching an optical signal from one optical input path to a predetermined one of a plurality of different optical output paths, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a free-space optical switch device, comprising an optical shutter disposed between an optical input path and a first and second optical output paths, the optical shutter being switchable between a transparent state in which the light from the input path is transmitted through the optical shutter to said first output path, and a reflective state in which the light from the input path is reflected from said optical shutter to said second output path;
• (b) inputting an optical signal into the input path;
• (c) providing photons to switch said optical shutter reversibly between said transparent state and said reflective state in order to selectively direct said optical signal to a predetermined one of the output paths.

A method for switching an optical signal from one optical input path to a predetermined one of a plurality of different optical output paths, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a optical switch device, comprising an optical shutter disposed between an optical input port in a first input waveguide and both a first optical output port in a first output waveguide and a second optical output port in a second output waveguide, the optical shutter being switchable between a transparent state in which the light from said input port is transmitted through the optical shutter to said first output port, and a reflective state in which the light from the input port is reflected from said optical shutter to said second output port;
• (b) inputting an optical signal into the input port;
• (c) providing photons to switch said optical shutter reversibly between said transparent state and said reflective state in order to selectively direct said optical signal to a predetermined one of the output ports.