A planar 22 switch is provided for controllably coupling first and second
input channels to first and second output channels. The switch includes a first
reflector that is movable between a first position and a second position. When
the first reflector is in its second position, it reflects light from the first
input channel to the second output channel and reflects light from the second input
channel to the first output channel. When the first reflection is in its first
position, it does not affect the optical beams in the switch. Instead, these beams
are reflected by a second reflector which has two reflective surfaces. The second
reflector reflects light from the first input channel to the first output channel
and reflects light from the second input channel to the second output channel.
Switches having a larger number of input and output channels are also provided.
