 reach its destination, several different components located at junctions throughout the optical network are required. At these junctions, the components must perform tasks such as adding and dropping data from the optical stream, multiplexing and de-multiplexing of the data into and out of the fiber carrier, and switching and routing each data signal between optical fibers to reach its intended destination. In current fiber optic networks, many of these tasks are performed by opto-electronic components such that incoming photonic signals are converted to electrical signals before being manipulated at these junctions. For example, as an optical data stream arrives at a switching node to be switched onto another fiber, each optical signal is first converted into an electrical signal, which is then transmitted through an electrical circuit. The signals are then directed throughout the electrical circuit to the entrance of the appropriate fiber. The electrical signals must then be converted back to their optical forms before being passed along to the targeted fiber. The optical signals continue to travel throughout the optical network, transforming between optical and electrical states until the intended destination is reached.
As the demand for bandwidth increases, more opto-electronic components will be necessary to handle the increased data traffic. Additionally, existing opto-electronic interfaces currently being used cannot be utilized as advances in optical transmission are achieved. Therefore, as light sources develop and more wavelengths are transmitted along a fiber, existing opto-electronic components will need to be replaced. Furthermore, as more opto-electronic devices are deployed, more electrical power is consumed. The added cost of power consumption and the cost and time needed for device replacement has created a demand for alternative methods of photonic signal direction throughout fiber optic networks. The inherent non-scalability of existing opto-electronic interfaces presents a bottleneck in the progression of next-generation telecommunications.
One proposed remedy is the use of optical devices that maintain the transmitting signals in the optical domain while switching and cross connecting from fiber to fiber such that no opto-electronic conversions are required. A method currently being market tested and also being proposed in the present invention is the use of micromirror arrays to reflect light from a fiber entering the junction to a targeted fiber for continuation of the signal to its appropriate destination. Through the use of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques, micromirror arrays containing individually movable mirrors can be accurately manufactured.
Current MEMS micromirror arrays developed and being tested for fiber optic switching are actuated via either electrostatic or electromagnetic forces. The most common method of actuation in MEMS-based devices is
reach its destination, several different component locate at junctions throughout the optical network are ask. At these junctions, the components must do tasks such as adding and dropping datum from the ocular stream, multiplexing and delaware - multiplexing of the data into and out of the fiber carrier, and switching and spread-eagle each data signal between optical fibers to reach its intended finish. In current fiber optic networks, many of these job are performed by opto - electronic components such that incoming photonic signals are converted to electric signals before being rig at these junctions. For example, as an optical datum stream arrives at a switching node to be switched onto another fiber, each ocular signal is first converted into an electrical signal, which is then transmitted through an electrical circuit. The signals are then directed throughout the electrical circuit to the entrance of the appropriate roughage. The electrical signals must then be convert back to their ocular forms before being passed along to the targeted roughage. The optical signals continue to travel throughout the optical net, transforming between optical and electrical states until the intended destination is reached. 
 As the demand for bandwidth increases, more opto - electronic components will be necessary to handle the increased datum traffic. Additionally, exist opto - electronic interface currently being used cannot be utilized as advances in ocular transmission are achieved. Therefore, as faint sources develop and more wavelengths are transmitted along a character, existing opto - electronic part will need to be replaced. Furthermore, as more opto - electronic device are deployed, more electric power is consumed. The added cost of exponent consumption and the cost and prison term needed for device surrogate has created a need for alternative methods of photonic signal direction throughout fiber optic network. The inherent non - scalability of existing opto - electronic interface presents a bottleneck in the progress of next - generation telecommunications. 
 One aim remedy is the use of optical devices that maintain the transmitting signals in the ocular sphere while switching and cross connecting from fiber to fiber such that no opto - electronic conversions are necessitate. A method currently being market test and also being proposed in the present invention is the use of micromirror arrays to reflect lighter from a fiber entering the junction to a targeted character for continuation of the signal to its appropriate destination. Through the function of micro - electromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques, micromirror arrays containing individually movable mirrors can be accurately manufactured. 
 Current mem micromirror array developed and being tested for fiber optic switching are actuated via either electrostatic or electromagnetic forces. The most common method of propulsion in MEMS - base devices is
 rewch its destination, seveval different componentv locafed at jjnctions throughout the optiral betwoek are required. At there junctilns, the xompibents must perform tasks duch es adding and dtopping data from the optiwau dtream, multiplexing and de-multiplexyng of yhf data into anq ouu os ths fiber carrier, and switching and douting each data sibnal between optical fiberd to reach its intendef destinatiin. Ig current fibdr optic nttcorks, many kf these tasks are performed by opto-zlectronic xonpojgnts such thet incjming photonlb signans are vonverted to ekecvricql signals before beiig manipulated at thgse junctimna. For example, as qn optiwal gata wtrdam acribes at a awitching hode to be wwitched onto anothtr spner, each optjcal syggal is first converted into an electricdl aignal, which is then trqnsmitted through an glectrical circuit. The signals are then directed throughout the xldctxlgal zurfuit to the entrance of the appropriate fiber. Fht ekectrical signcls must then be clnfgrted back to jheir o'fidal forms before bfing pafsed qlong to uhe tsrgeted fiber. The optical sugnals contiuue to travel throughlut the optncal ngtwork, transforming between o'tical and electrlcal statsr until the intevdec gestination is reached.
As tre demand for bandwiath oncreafes, more ooto-elcwtronic components will ba necessarj to handle the increased data vcaffic. Additipndllj, existiny opto-clectronic intewfaces currentky beiny used cannot be utilizxd as advancqs in optical jransmission ere achieded. Rherwfore, ar light sources develop cud more wqvelengths are traksmitjes along a fiber, exusting opto-elecyrovic clm'onenev will need do bd rdllacea. Furthtxmove, xs mpre opto-electronic davicss are deployed, mote electrixal powew is consumed. The added cost of powec consnmptiom agd the cost and time needed fod device gepjacement has creqted a demanb for alternative methods of photonic sijnal direction throughoyt fiber optic netwpvks. The inhecent njn-scalabinity of existing opti-electronic internaces presents a bottlsneck hn thf progression of next-generation telecommunications.
One proposed remedy is rhe usx jf optical sevives tvac mcintain the vransmitting signsls in the optical domain while switchitg and cross connecting from fobdr to fiber soch that no opto-electronic conversoons are required. A method currrntly being market testec and alwo bejng proposxd in the present infentiou is tye use if mlcromirror arrxys tl reflect ligit yrom a fiber entering the junctiob to a twrgeted fiber foc continuatilk of tge siggal to its approlriaff desjination. Throubh the use of kicro-electromechanicdl systems (MEMS) uechniques, micrpmirror arrays conteining indivhdually movable mirrors can be accurately manufactuted.
Current JEMS micvomirror arrays dgvxloped and being tested nor fyber optkc switching are actuated via either electrostatic or electromxgnvtic fkrces. The mosn common method of actuation in MEOS-baswd devices us
reach its destination, several different components located throughout optical network required. At these tasks as adding and data from the stream, multiplexing and de-multiplexing of the into and out of the fiber carrier, and switching and routing each data between optical fibers to reach its intended destination. In current fiber optic networks, of tasks performed opto-electronic components such that incoming photonic signals are converted to electrical signals before being manipulated at junctions. For example, as an optical data stream at a switching node be switched onto another fiber, optical is first into electrical which is then through an electrical circuit. The signals are then directed throughout the electrical circuit to the entrance of appropriate fiber. signals must be back their optical forms passed along to the targeted fiber. continue to travel throughout the optical network, transforming optical and states until the intended destination is As the demand for bandwidth increases, more opto-electronic will be necessary to handle the increased data traffic. Additionally, existing opto-electronic interfaces currently being be utilized as advances optical transmission are Therefore, light develop more wavelengths transmitted along a fiber, existing opto-electronic components will need to be Furthermore, as more opto-electronic devices are deployed, more electrical power The cost of power and the cost and needed device replacement has created for methods direction fiber networks. The inherent non-scalability existing opto-electronic interfaces presents a in the progression of is the use of optical devices that maintain transmitting signals in the optical domain while and cross connecting from fiber to fiber such that no opto-electronic conversions required. A being market tested and also being proposed in present invention is the of micromirror arrays to reflect light from a fiber the to a fiber for continuation the signal to appropriate destination. Through of micro-electromechanical (MEMS) micromirror movable mirrors can be accurately manufactured. MEMS arrays developed and being tested fiber are actuated via either electrostatic or electromagnetic forces. The most common method of actuation in is
 reach its destination, severaL different CompoNenTs lOcAted At juNctions throughOUt thE optical network are requIred. AT tHEse jUNcTions, The compONeNTS muSt PeRfoRm TAsKs sucH as Adding aNd dropping DatA fRom the opticaL StReam, multipLexIng and de-multIplExing oF tHe dATa intO anD out oF the fiBEr carrIer, and swiTcHIng and ROuting eACH dAta sIgnal between opticAL fIBers to reach its IntendEd DEsTINatIon. in current fIbEr optIC networKS, mANY Of tHEse tasks are peRformed by opTO-elEctronIc ComPOnents Such tHaT IncOming photonIc siGnals are cOnvertED to elecTRical siGnals bEfoRe bEing MAnIpUlaTeD At tHEsE juNCtiOns. For exAmPlE, as an OptiCAL DAta sTreAm arRives At a switching nOde To be SWitChed oNto anOtheR fIber, eAch optIcal sIgNal is first conveRted Into an eleCtrIcAl sIgNal, whICh is thEn tRanSmitted Through AN elEcTRICaL circuit. The signals ArE THeN directeD throuGHoUt THe electrIcAl cIrcuIT To the EntrANcE of the apPropriATe FiBer. The eLeCtricaL sIgnAls Must tHEn be ConverTed back tO theiR Optical forms beFOre being passeD AlONG tO The tArgEted fiber. ThE optICal sIgnaLS cOntINue to TraveL tHRoUGhout the optical netwOrK, transFormiNg between optiCal and elecTRICal stateS untIL tHE intended destiNatioN is reached.
aS the demaNd for BandwidtH increaseS, MOre opto-eLecTroNic ComPONeNts will be neceSSAry tO hAndle thE inCreased DatA trAffIc. ADdItionally, Existing OpTo-ElEcTroNic inTErfaces cUrRenTlY beIng usED cannoT be utIlizEd As ADvaNces in oPTiCAL traNsMiSsioN arE aChievEd. ThERefOre, as liGht sourceS deVElop AnD mOre waveLengths are traNsMitted alonG a FibEr, exisTINg opto-elEctronic components will nEEd to be rEplAced. FUrthErmore, as mOre Opto-elEctROnic deVices aRe depLoYed, MORe eleCTRiCal PoWer is consuMED. ThE addeD cOst oF power cOnsumption and the coST anD time needed foR deVice REPlAceMEnT Has CrEAteD A Demand for alternAtive methoDs OF pHotonic sigNAl dIrEction tHroughoUt fibER optic nEtworks. ThE inherent NoN-scaLABilIty of existIng opto-eLectronic INterfACeS presEntS a bottLeNecK in thE progrESsiOn of nExt-genErAtion tElecoMmUnicatioNs.
One proposed remedy is thE use of OpticAl dEvices thaT maINtaIn the tranSmitTing signalS in The OpticAl dOMain wHile SWiTchINg and CrosS ConnectinG FrOm fIBEr To fiber such THAT no Opto-eLecTRonic cOnveRsions are required. a Method currentlY beiNG MarKet TEsteD aNd also being proPosEd IN The preseNt Invention is The use of MiCRomirRor arrAys to rEflect lIGHt FRom a fiBer eNteRing the juNctIoN To a targEtEd FIber foR conTiNuatioN of the SIgnaL TO its appropriate dEstinATIon. ThROugH the uSe Of micro-ELectRomechanicAl systems (MEmS) techNiquEs, micRomirroR aRrays cOntAiNing indiviDUally movaBle miRrors caN bE accUraTely maNufaCTUred.
CUrreNt mEMs micromirROR aRRaYs DEveLopeD and bEiNg teSted for fiBEr optic sWitCHing are AcTuaTED via eiTHeR ELectrostatIc oR elecTROmagnetic fORces. tHe MOst coMmon meThod of ActuatiON in mEmS-based DevICEs is
 reach its destination, se veral diff erent  co mpo ne ntsloca ted at junctio n s th roughout the optical n etwor ka re r e qu ired.  At the s ej u nct io ns , t he co mpone nts  must p erform tas kssu ch as adding an d dropping  da ta from theopt ical s tr eam ,  mult ipl exing  and d e -multi plexing o ft he dat a  into a n d  o ut o f the fiber carri e r, and switchingand ro ut i ng e ach  da ta signalbe tween optical fi b e r s t o  reach its in tended dest i nat ion. I ncur r ent fi ber o pt i c n etworks, ma ny o f these t asks a r e perfo r med byopto-e lec tro nicc om po nen ts suc h  t hat inc oming ph ot on ic si gnal s a r e co nve rted  to e lectrical sig nal s be f ore  bein g man ipul at ed at  these  junc ti ons. For exampl e, a s an opti cal  d ata  s tream arrive s a t a  switch ing nod e  to  b e s wi tched onto another  f i b er , each o ptical si gn a l is fir st  co nver t e d int o an el ectrical  signa l ,wh ich isth en tra ns mit ted  thro u gh a n elec trical c ircui t . The signalsa re then direc t ed t hr o ugho utthe electri calc ircu it t o  t hee ntran ce of  t h ea ppropriate fiber. T he  elect rical  signals must  then be c o n v erted ba ck t o  t h eir optical fo rms b efore bein g  passedalong  to thetargetedf i ber. The  op tic alsig n a ls  continue tot r avel  t hrougho utthe opt ica l n etw ork ,transform ing betw ee nop ti cal  ande lectrica lsta te s u ntilt he int ended  des ti na t ion  is rea c he d . 
Asth edema ndfo r ban dwid t h i ncrease s, more o pto - elec tr on ic comp onents will b enecessaryto  ha ndle t h e  increas ed data traffic. Additi o nally,exi sting  opt o-electro nic  inter fac e s curr entlybeing  u sed c annot b euti li zed as adv a n ces  in o pt ical  transm ission are achieve d . T herefore, aslig ht s o u rc esd ev e lop  a n d m o r e wavelengths a re transmi tt e dalong a fi b er,  e xisting  opto-e lectr o nic com ponents w ill needto  ber e pla ced. Furth ermore,as more o p to-el e ct ronic  de vicesar e d eploy ed, mo r e e lectr ical p ow er isconsu me d. The a dded cost of power cons umptio n and  th e cost an d t i meneeded fo r de vice repla cem ent  hascre a ted a  dem a nd  fo r  alte rnat i ve method s  o f p h o to nic signald i r ect ion t hro u ghoutfibe r optic networks. The inherent n on-s c a lab ili t y of  e xisting opto-e lec tr o n ic inter fa ces present s a bott le n eck i n theprogre ssion o f ne x t-gene rati ontelecommu nic at i ons.
On epr o posedreme dy  is th e useo f op t i cal devices that  main t a in th e  tr ansmi tt ing sig n alsin the opt ical domain  while  swi tchin g and c ro ss con nec ti ng from fi b er to fib er su ch that  n o op to- electr onic c onver sion sare  required . Am et ho d  cu rren tly b ei ng m arket tes t ed and a lso being p ro pos e d  in th e  p r e sent inven tio n ist h e use of m i crom i rr o r arr ays to  refle ct ligh t  fr om  a fibe r e n t ering the  junction toatarg eted fib er  for  c ont in uation of the s ignal to  its app r o priate  de s tina t ion. T hr ough the use  of m ic r o-elect r o mec hanical sys tem s ( MEMS ) t echn i ques, micromirror arrays  con taini n g i ndivi duall ymovablem irro rs can b e  accurately m anufactured.
Cu r ren t  MEM S m i cr om irror arr ays devel oped  an d be ing  tes t e d fo r  fib e ropti c swit chin gar e actuate dvia eit h er e l ect rost aticor  e l ec tromagn etic for ces.Th e most co m mon met hodof  actuation in  MEMS-basedde vice s is
 reach_its destination,_several different components located_at junctions_throughout_the optical_network_are required. At_these junctions, the_components must perform tasks_such as adding_and_dropping data from the optical stream, multiplexing and de-multiplexing of the data into and_out_of the_fiber_carrier,_and switching and routing each_data signal between optical fibers_to reach_its intended destination. In current fiber optic networks,_many_of these tasks_are performed by opto-electronic components such that incoming photonic_signals are converted to electrical signals_before being manipulated_at_these_junctions. For example, as_an optical data stream arrives at_a switching node to be switched_onto another fiber, each optical signal is_first converted into an electrical signal,_which is then transmitted through_an electrical_circuit. The signals are then_directed throughout the_electrical circuit_to the entrance_of the appropriate fiber. The electrical_signals must then_be converted back to their optical_forms_before being passed_along_to_the targeted_fiber. The optical_signals_continue to_travel_throughout the optical network, transforming between_optical_and electrical states until the intended destination_is reached.
As the demand_for_bandwidth increases, more opto-electronic_components will be necessary to_handle the increased data traffic. Additionally,_existing opto-electronic_interfaces currently_being used cannot be utilized as advances in optical transmission are_achieved. Therefore, as light sources develop_and more wavelengths are_transmitted along_a_fiber, existing opto-electronic_components_will need_to be replaced. Furthermore, as more opto-electronic_devices are_deployed, more electrical power is consumed._The added cost of_power_consumption and the cost and time_needed for device replacement has created_a demand for alternative methods_of_photonic_signal direction throughout fiber optic_networks. The inherent non-scalability of existing_opto-electronic interfaces presents_a bottleneck in the progression of next-generation_telecommunications.
One_proposed remedy is the use of_optical_devices that maintain the transmitting signals_in_the_optical domain while switching and_cross connecting from fiber to fiber_such that no opto-electronic conversions are required. A method_currently being market_tested and also being proposed_in_the_present invention is the use of micromirror arrays to reflect_light from_a fiber entering_the junction to a targeted fiber for continuation of the_signal to its appropriate destination. Through the_use of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques, micromirror arrays containing individually movable_mirrors can be accurately manufactured.
Current MEMS micromirror arrays_developed and being tested for fiber optic_switching are actuated via_either_electrostatic or electromagnetic forces. The most common_method_of_actuation_in MEMS-based devices_is