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An optical switch (100) includes a shell (40) forming an input port (10) and first and second output ports (50, 60) with an optical switching subassembly enclosed therein between the input port and the output ports. The optical switch subassembly includes two light transmitting blocks (21, 22) havin

An optical switch (100) includes a shell (40) forming an input port (10) and first and second output ports (50, 60) with an optical switching subassembly enclosed therein between the input port and the output ports. The optical switch subassembly includes two light transmitting blocks (21, 22) having surfaces spaced from and opposing each other. Two light transmitting liquid sections having a refractive index substantially identical to that of the blocks are movably retained between the surfaces. The liquid sections are spaced from each other forming an air section therebetween. A piezoelectric element (31) is in physical engagement with the liquid sections. The piezoelectric element can be electrically biased to move the air section and the liquid sections between a first position wherein the air section is located on an optical path from the input port to the second output port, light from the input port being fully reflected by the surfaces of the blocks and being redirected to the first output port and a second position where one of the liquid sections is located on the optical path, allowing light to completely travel along the optical path and thus switching the light from the input port to different output ports.

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An optical switch (100) includes a shell (40) forming an input port (10) and first and second output ports (50, 60) with an optical switching subassembly enclosed therein between the input port and the output ports. The optical switch subassembly includes two light transmitting blocks (21, 22) havin

An optical switch (100) includes a shell (40) forming an input port (10) and first and second output ports (50, 60) with an optical switching subassembly enclosed therein between the input port and the output ports. The optical switch subassembly includes two light transmitting blocks (21, 22) having surfaces spaced from and opposing each other. Two light transmitting liquid sections having a refractive index substantially identical to that of the blocks are movably retained between the surfaces. The liquid sections are spaced from each other forming an air section therebetween. A piezoelectric element (31) is in physical engagement with the liquid sections. The piezoelectric element can be electrically biased to move the air section and the liquid sections between a first position wherein the air section is located on an optical path from the input port to the second output port, light from the input port being fully reflected by the surfaces of the blocks and being redirected to the first output port and a second position where one of the liquid sections is located on the optical path, allowing light to completely travel along the optical path and thus switching the light from the input port to different output ports. the optical input is coupled to a laser source. 5. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of movable reflectors is at least three. 6. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface of each movable reflector is substantially planar in a plane pivotable about a movement axis lying substantially in the plane. 7. The SLM claimed in claim 6, wherein each movable reflector has a reflective surface electrically orientable in a selectable one of exactly two discrete switching orientations. 8. The SLM claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of movable reflectors consists of exactly eight. 9. The SLM claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of movable reflectors consists of exactly sixteen. 10. The SLM claimed in claim 6, wherein each movable reflector has a reflective surface electrically orientable in a selectable one of exactly four discrete switching orientations. 11. The SLM claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of movable reflectors consists of exactly three. 12. The SLM claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of movable reflectors consists of exactly five. 13. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein the two switching orientations of a reflective surface of each reflector of the plurality of movable reflectors are the same as the two switching orientations of the reflective surfaces of all other movable reflectors of the plurality of movable reflectors. 14. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein: the plurality of movable reflectors consists of a first group of reflectors and a second group of reflectors; the reflective surfaces of the first group of reflectors are pivotable about a first movement axis; and the reflective surfaces of the second group of reflectors are pivotable about a second movement axis different from the first movement axis. 15. The SLM claimed in claim 14, wherein reflectors of the first group and reflectors of the second group are disposed alternately along the SLM axis. 16. The SLM claimed in claim 15, wherein the second movement axis is offset 90 degrees from or perpendicular to the first movement axis. 17. The SLM claimed in claim 16, wherein the first movement axis is the SLM axis. 18. The SLM claimed in claim 15, wherein the first movement axis is offset 45 degrees from the SLM axis. 19. The SLM claimed in claim 18, wherein the reflective surface of each movable reflector is pivotable about first and second movement axes offset 90 degrees or perpendicular to each other. 20. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface of each movable reflector is disposed on a flexible membrane. 21. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflector assembly includes a back reflector having at least one reflective surface opposing and between the reflective surfaces of adjacent movable reflectors, and the reflective surface of the back reflector is optically coupled to the reflective surface of each of two adjacent movable reflectors to receive the optical signal reflected by one of the two adjacent movable reflectors and reflect the optical signal onto the other of the two adjacent movable reflectors. 22. The SLM claimed in claim 21, wherein the back reflector includes a substrate having disposed thereon a reflective surface extending along the apparatus axis from the first movable reflector to the last movable reflector. 23. The SLM claimed in claim 21, further comprising a lens structure interposed between a reflective surface of a movable reflector and a reflective surface of the back reflector. 24. The SLM claimed in claim 23, wherein the lens structure comprises a ball lens. 25. The SLM claimed in claim 24, wherein a ball lens is interposed between the reflective surface of each movable reflector of the plurality of movable reflectors and a reflective surface of the back reflector. 26. The SLM claimed in claim 23, wherein the lens structure comprises a refractive medium extending along the apparatus axis from the first movable reflector to the last movable reflector. 27. The SLM claimed in claim 26, wherein the refractive medium has a curved lens-shaped portion between the reflective surface of each movable reflector of the plurality of movable reflectors and a reflective surface of the back reflector. 28. The SLM claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of movable reflectors has a rest position in which its reflective surface is coplanar with the reflective surface of all other movable reflectors of the plurality of movable reflectors and parallel to the SLM axis; and the discrete switching orientations are at discrete angular deviations from the rest position; and the discrete switching orientations of at least one reflective surface of a movable reflector are at angular deviations different from the angular deviations of at least one other reflective surface of a movable reflector. 29. The SLM claimed in claim 28, wherein the discrete switching orientation of the at least one reflective surface of a movable reflector is at an angular deviation one-half the angular deviation of a plurality of other reflective surfaces of movable reflectors. 30. The SLM claimed in claim 29, wherein the discrete switching orientation of the at least one reflective surface of a movable reflector is at an angular deviation one-fourth the angular deviation of a plurality of other reflective surfaces of movable reflectors. 31. The SLM claimed in claim 28, wherein the discrete switching orientation of none of the reflective surfaces of the movable reflectors is at an angular deviation exceeding two degrees. 32. A spatial light modulator (SLM) array for directing an optical signal, comprising: a micromachined supporting assembly; a plurality of first optical ports arranged in the supporting assembly; a plurality of SLM reflector assemblies, each SLM reflector assembly comprising one or more electrically controllable microelectromechanical movable reflectors arranged along an SLM axis, each movable reflector having a reflective surface electrically pivotable in a selectable one of a plurality of discrete switching orientations, a first movable reflector optically coupled to one of the first optical ports to receive an optical signal from the one of the first optical ports, a last movable reflector optically coupled to a preceding movable reflector to receive the optical signal reflected by the preceding movable reflector; and a plurality of second optical ports in the supporting assembly, each second optical port optically coupled to the last movable reflector of one of the SLM reflector assemblies to receive the optical signal. 33. The SLM array claimed in claim 32, wherein each SLM reflector assembly comprises a plurality of the movable reflectors. 34. The SLM array claimed in claim 33, wherein: the plurality of first optical ports are disposed in a two-dimensional arrangement in the supporting assembly; and the plurality of second optical ports are disposed in a two-dimensional arrangement in the supporting assembly. 35. The SLM array claimed in claim 34, wherein each first optical port is couplable to an optical fiber to receive the optical signal from the optical fiber. 36. The SLM array claimed in claim 34, wherein each second optical port is couplable to an optical fiber to provide the optical signal to the optical fiber. 37. The SLM array claimed in claim 34, wherein the plurality of first optical ports are arranged in a rectangular array in the supporting assembly. 38. The SLM array claimed in claim 34, wherein the plurality of second optical ports are arranged in a rectangular array in the supporting assembly. 39. A method for directing an optical signal, comprising: inputting an optical signal at an optical input; pivoting each of a plurality of microelectromechanical movable reflectors arranged along an axis into one of a plurality of discrete switching orientations in response to electrical switching signals; propagating the optical signal impinging upon one of the