Fiber Optic Switch
Researchers:  Collins and Gonzalez
 
Dovetail translational microstages may also be used to create a fiber optic switch for fiber optic communications.  Fibers are mounted on the stages and magnetically actuated to align the input fiber to the appropriate output fiber.  Switching speeds of <8 msec have been achieved with <-80 dB crosstalk and <-1 dB loss. 
 

 

Typical response of a fiber optic microswitch.  The optical energy is switched from the first to the third fiber