Scalable and mass-manufacturable OXC using liquid crystal cells

a 1XN (or NX1) optical connector for steering light is provided, which may be formed into an optical cross connecter. The optical connector generally includes a plurality of N stages, each stage including a liquid crystal cell and a polarizing beam splitter. The liquid crystal cell, in certain embodiments in the form of an array of LC cells, has a first state for transmitting a first polarization component of the light and a second state for transmitting a second polarization component of the light. The polarizing beam splitter structure reflects one of the polarization states and transmits the other polarization state into one of 2 N outputs. Of course, the direction of light can be reversed, forming an NX1 cell. A key advantage of the present invention is the integration of components to form a monolithic structure.