Optical switching element having movable optically transmissive microstructure

1. Field of the Invention An optical switching element has a movable optically transmissive microstructure to change the optical paths of the optical signals. The movable microstructure is "optically transmissive" because it includes structures such as waveguides and waveguide networks which transmit optical signals. The apparatus uses MEMS and micromachining technology to build an optical switch having an optically transmissive microstructure which moves from one position to another position in a direction (e.g., laterally, vertically, rotationally) such that incoming optical signals align over a small air gap with different waveguides, or with different inputs to the waveguides, depending on the position of the movable microstructure. As a result, the optical signals travel different optical paths (e.g., straight pass through or cross over) depending on the position of the movable microstructure.