Optically addressed MEMS

An optically controlled micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), said MEMS comprising:

• a rotatable mirror having an optical sensor that is in electrical communication with said rotatable mirror via an associated electrode;
• an electrical lead that supplies electrical potential to said optical sensor;
• an optical controller for directing an optical control beam onto said optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor determines optical characteristics of said optical control beam;
• and
• a power supply that is configured with said optical sensor, wherein said power supply responsively supplies voltage to said rotatable mirror based on the determined optical characteristics of said optical control beam, causing said rotatable mirror to rotate about out a primary axis in response to voltage supplied by said voltage controller.

An optical cross connect switch utilizing an optically controlled micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), said switch comprising:

• a fiber optic switch beam generating element that generates a communication light beam;
• a fiber optic switch beam receiving element that receives said communication light beam from said fiber optic switch beam generating element at one of an array of output fibers;
• a MEMS device for directing said communication light beam from said fiber optic switch beam generating element to a particular output fiber of said beam receiving element, wherein said MEMS device comprises:
• a rotatable mirror having an optical sensor that is in electrical communication with said rotatable mirror via an associated electrode;
• an electrical lead that supplies electrical potential to said optical sensor;
• an optical controller for directing an optical control beam onto said optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor determines optical characteristics of said optical control beam;
• and
• a power supply that is configured with said optical sensor, wherein said power supply responsively supplies voltage to said rotatable mirror based on the determined optical characteristics of said optical control beam, causing said rotatable mirror to rotate about out a primary axis in response to said supplied voltage;
• wherein said optical controller controls which particular output fiber that said communication beam is directed by modifying the optical characteristics of said optical control beam.