Switch and variable optical attenuator for single or arrayed optical channels

An optical component comprising:

• a waveguide substrate having an edge and having at least two sets of first, second and third planar waveguides extending within the waveguide substrate, each of the first, second and third waveguides having an optical path extending through the edge of the waveguide;
• and
• an array of mirrors on a separate substrate rigidly positioned adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the waveguide substrate, the array receiving an optical signal output from each corresponding first waveguide and independently directing each corresponding optical signal to each corresponding second waveguide in at least a first position of a corresponding mirror of the array, the corresponding mirror receiving and directing the corresponding optical signal to a corresponding third waveguide in at least a second position of the corresponding mirror,
• wherein the corresponding mirror is movable to couple the corresponding first waveguide either to the corresponding second waveguide or to the corresponding third waveguide.

An optical component comprising:

• a waveguide substrate having an edge and having first, second, third and fourth planar waveguides extending within the waveguide substrate, each of the first, second, third and fourth waveguides having an optical path extending through the edge of the waveguide;
• and
• a mirror positioned adjacent to the edge of the waveguide substrate, the mirror spaced from the edge of waveguide substrate and receiving a first optical signal output from the first waveguide and directing the first optical signal to the third waveguide in at least a first position of the mirror, the mirror receiving the first optical signal and directing the first optical signal to the fourth waveguide in at least a second position of the mirror,
• the mirror receiving a second optical signal output from the second waveguide and directing the second optical signal to the third waveguide in at least the second position of the mirror, and
• wherein the mirror is movable to couple the first optical signal to the third waveguide or to the fourth waveguide.

An optical component comprising:

• a waveguide substrate having an edge and having a plurality of sets of first, second third and fourth planar waveguides extending within the waveguide substrate, each of the first, second third and fourth waveguides having an optical path extending through the edge of the waveguide substrate;
• and
• an array of mirrors on a separate substrate mounted to the edge of the waveguide substrate, the array spaced from the edge of waveguide substrate and having independent mirrors positioned to each receive an optical signal output from a corresponding first waveguide and direct the optical signal to a corresponding second waveguide in at least a first position of the mirror, the mirror receiving the optical signal and directing the optical signal to a corresponding third waveguide in at least a second position of the mirror,
• wherein the mirror is movable to optically couple the corresponding first waveguide either to the corresponding second waveguide or to the corresponding third waveguide and the mirror is movable optically couple a corresponding fourth waveguide to at least one of the corresponding second and third waveguides.

An optical component comprising:

• a waveguide substrate having an edge and having first, second, third and fourth planar waveguides extending within the waveguide substrate, each of the first, second, third and fourth waveguides having an optical path extending through the edge of the waveguide;
• a lens positioned within the optical path of each of the first, second, third and fourth planar waveguides;
• and
• a mirror positioned adjacent to the edge of the waveguide substrate, the mirror spaced from the edge of waveguide substrate and receiving a first optical signal output from the first waveguide and directing the first optical signal to the third waveguide in at least a first position of the mirror, the mirror receiving the first optical signal and directing the first optical signal to the fourth waveguide in at least a second position of the mirror,
• the mirror receiving a second optical signal output from the second waveguide and directing the second optical signal to the third waveguide in at least the second position of the mirror, and
• wherein the mirror is movable to couple the first optical signal to the third waveguide or to the fourth waveguide.