OPTICAL SWITCH WITH TIME MULTIPLEXING CONTROL SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

An optical system for switching a plurality of input communication beams, where each communication beam can be switched from a first output to a second output, and where switching is affected by the use of alignment beams (not the communications beams). This enables the paths to be held even if the associated communication beam is off. The switch includes: n communication beam inputs; n alignment beam inputs; apparatus for generatingn alignment beams; apparatus for aligning the communication beams with the alignment beams such that each input communication beam is aligned with a specific alignment beam; an array ofn input MEMS, each of which is aligned with a specific communication beam input; an array of n output MEMS; and n outputs, each of which is aligned with a specific output MEMS. The switch also incorporates apparatus for time sequentially energizing the apparatus for generating the alignment beams. This time multiplexing permits the use of a plurality monolithic high bandwidth, high resolution detectors and a single control system. The first input detector is positioned between the input MEMS and the output MEMS, for sensing the positions of all the alignment beams incident from the input beam directing surfaces. The system also includes a controller which is connected to the input beam directing surface, the output beam directing surface, the input position sensor, the angular position sensor and the output position sensor. The controller, the angle position sensor and the output position sensor function in concert to provide the four degrees of control required to properly control the positions of the MEMS.