Optical switch with a moveable optical component

An optical switch with for switching light signals coming from first and second input fibers between first and second output fibers, comprising:

• a first collimator aligning with the first input and first output fibers and collimating input and output light;
• a second collimator aligning with the second input and second output fibers and collimating input and output light;
• and
• a switching element comprising a moveable prism with at least a first, second and third reflecting surfaces, the prism moving between a first position, wherein the first and second collimators align with the first and second reflecting surfaces, respectively, a second position, wherein the first and second collimators align with the third reflecting surface;
• whereby, when the switching element is in the first position, light beams from the first and second input fibers transmit sequentially through the first and second collimators, the prism, the second and first collimators, and then to the second and first output fibers, respectively;
• and when the switching element is in the second position, the light beams from the first and second input fibers transmit through the first and second collimators, are reflected by the third reflecting surface of the prism, and retransmit through the first and second collimators to the first and second output fibers, respectively.

An optical switch with for switching light signals coming from first and second input fibers between first and second output fibers, comprising:

• a first collimator aligning with the first input and first output fibers and collimating input and output light;
• a second collimator aligning with the second input and second output fibers and collimating input and output light;
• and
• a switching element comprising a moveable reflecting surface and at least two fixed reflecting surfaces, the moveable reflecting surface moving between a first position, wherein each collimator aligns with a respective one of the two fixed reflecting surfaces, and a second position, wherein both collimators align with the moveable reflecting surface;
• whereby, when the switching element is in the first position, light beams from the first and second input fibers sequentially transmit through the first and second collimators, reflect off of the two fixed reflecting surfaces, transmit through the second and first collimators, and then transmit to the second and first output fibers, respectively;
• and when the switching element is in the second position, the light beams from the first and second input fibers transmit through the first and second collimators, are reflected by the moveable reflecting surface, and retransmit through the first and second collimators to the first and second output fibers, respectively.

An optical switch assembly comprising:

• a first I/O port including first input and output fibers and a first collimator;
• a second I/O port including second input and output fibers and a second collimator;
• and
• a moveable switching element positioned on same sides of both said first and second collimator and thus directly facing to both said first and second collimators;
• wherein, via different positions of said switching element, light entering from the first input fiber and leaving via the first output fiber and light entering from the second input fiber and leaving via the second output fiber respectively experience only one reflection, while light enters from the first input fiber and leaving via the second output fiber and light enters from the second input fiber and leaving via the first output fiber respectively experiences two reflections.