Patent ID: 6931172

Claim:
An optical switch comprising: a base member having an optical path; a beamlike member supported in a doubly supported manner on an upper surface of the base member; a mirror fixed to the beamlike member and configured to shut out light passing on the optical path; driving means for moving the mirror horizontally; and compressive force exerting means for preliminarily exerting a compressive force on the beamlike member so as to deflect the beamlike member with compression stress in an initial state in which the mirror is located at a position where the mirror allows the light passing on the optical path to pass or at a position where the mirror shuts out the light passing on the optical path, wherein the compressive force exerting means comprises an interconnecting member coupled to an end portion of the beamlike member and extending in a longitudinal direction of the beamlike member and is constructed so that the compressive force exerting means exerts the compressive force on the beamlike member by exerting a force in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the interconnecting member, on the interconnecting member.