Patent ID: 6873448

Claim:
An optical path switching apparatus, comprising: an input fiber collimator allowing a light beam to pass therethrough; a plurality of output fiber collimators each allowing said light beam to pass therethrough, and a light beam switching element disposed between said input fiber collimator and said output fiber collimators and operative to selectively switch said light beam from said input fiber collimator to said output fiber collimators, said light beam switching element including a support member having a rotation axis, a peripheral surface and an extension face extending from said peripheral surface in parallel relationship with said rotation axis, a first reflection member securely mounted on the peripheral portion of said support member within said extension face of said support member, and a second reflection member securely mounted on the peripheral portion of said support member within said extension face of said support member, said first reflection member having a first reflection mirror surface designed to reflect said light beam from said input fiber collimator, said second reflection member having a second reflection mirror surface designed to reflect said light beam reflected by said first reflection mirror surface of said first reflection member, said first reflection mirror surface and said second reflection mirror surface being in spaced and opposing relationship with each other so that said light beam from said input fiber collimator to said first reflection mirror surface is biased by said first and second reflection mirror surfaces at an angle of about 90 degrees, and a drive actuator for selectively driving said support members to allow said light beam switching element to assume two different rotation positions including a first rotation position in which said light beam from said input fiber collimator is reflected by said first and second mirror surfaces of said first and second reflection members, and a second rotation position in which said light beam from said input fiber collimator passes between said first and second reflection members without being reflected by said first and second mirror surfaces of said first and second reflection members.