Patent ID: 6542658
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising at least a light transmission portion, an optical path-changing portion and an actuator portion; whereinthe light transmission portion has a light reflecting plane provided on at least one part of a plane facing the optical path-changing portion to totally reflect light, and light transmission channels having optical wave guiding bodies and being provided in at least three directions with the light reflecting plane as a starting point; the optical path-changing portion is provided in proximity to the light reflecting plane of the light transmission portion in a movable condition and has a light introduction member made of a translucent material and a light reflection member for totally reflecting light; and the actuator portion has a mechanism that is displaced by external signals and transmits the displacement to the optical path-changing portion; and wherein the optical path-changing portion is contacted or separated from the light reflecting plane of the light transmission portion by displacement of the actuator portion in response to the external signals; and an optical path where light input to the light transmission channels is totally reflected at the light reflecting plane of the light transmission portion and is transmitted to a specific light transmission channel on an output side, is switched to another optical path where light input to the light transmission channel is transmitted to the light introduction member, and is totally reflected at the light reflection member and is transmitted to a specific light transmission channel on the output side.