The recent growth of Internet traffic necessitates the urgent enhancement
of a full-transparent optical network. Optical switches will constitute
the key component of transparent transmission, especially for the
access links.
Among the various types of optical switches, such as mechanical,
liquid crystal, planer-light circuit, and MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical
Systems), MEMS-base switches are considered suitable for the high-port
switch fabric. We have been developing a mirror-actuator module
for an optical switch based on MEMS technology. This report presents
the basic features of the mirror module and some of the actuation
test results.
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