A micro-electrical-mechanical-switch (MEMS) device comprises a
semiconductor wafer, a first semiconductor layer formed on the
semiconductor wafer, and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first
layer. A first latching movable shuttle is formed in the second layer and
has the first layer removed under the first movable shuttle, the first
movable shuttle being moved in a first direction relative to the wafer in
response to a predetermined acceleration of the MEMS device in a
direction opposite to the first direction thereby changing an operating
condition of the MEMS device from a first switch state to an intermediate
switch state. A second latching moveable shuttle is formed within the
first shuttle, the second shuttle being moved in a second direction
relative to the first shuttle in response to a thermally activated force
so as to change the operating state of the MEMS device from the
intermediate switch state to a second switch state. In the second switch
state an opening in the second latching moveable shuttle aligns with an
opening in the wafer to enable an optical signal to pass through the
aligned openings. In a second embodiment, a MEMS device comprises only
one movable shuttle switch formed in the second layer, the shuttle switch
being operated in response to a predetermined acceleration of the MEMS
device.