Development of a multi-channel 2/spl times/2 optical switch

There has been a rapid increase in the demand for small-scale optical switches (1/spl times/2, or 2/spl times/2) which are employed in OADM or protection systems. Although we have made a study of matrix switches (larger than 4/spl times/4) before, we are now engaged on a novel 2/spl times/2 optical switch that is suitable for expanding the number of channels. We have designed and fabricated four-channel 2/spl times/2 optical switch, in which mirrors and V-grooves are formed by anisotropically etching with one mask. The measured insertion loss was minimum of 1.1dB (through port) and 2.1 dB (reflected port) in the case of active fiber alignment.