Compact optomechanical switches and their applications in optical communication and testing systems

This paper describes design, fabrication, characteristics, and several applications of practical single-mode fiber switches. Ultralight micro-magnetic-alloy-pipes mass produced by micromachine technology have been used to construct latching type 1/spl times/2 switches that exhibit low insertion losses of 0.31 dB and high return losses (small reflected back light) of 51 dB. Their size (9/sup W//spl times/43/sup L//spl times/8.5/sup H/ mm), weight (6 g), and driving power (9 mW) are the smallest in the world. We design and fabricate 1/spl times/8 switches using seven 1/spl times/2 switches cascaded in three stages. PANDA (Polarization-Maintaining and Absorption Reducing) fiber switches with low polarization crosstalk of -30 dB have also been fabricated. We demonstrate several switch applications to fiber optic communication systems, functional optical devices, and optical testing and sensing systems.