Patent ID: 7492990

Claim:
A multiple wavelength optical switching element, comprising: a plurality of optical switching elements, each of the plurality of optical switching elements further comprising: a resonant reflection element having a thickness portion functioning as a waveguide layer, with one surface in a thickness direction functioning as a total reflection surface and other surface having formed thereon a fine periodic structure with fine asperities, the resonant reflection element resonant-reflecting specific wavelength component of light incident from the other surface; and a driving unit that varies a resonant wavelength of resonant reflection by varying at least one of a shape and a refractive index of the resonant reflection element, wherein the plurality of optical switching elements are of a transmission type, and wherein the plurality of optical switching elements are arranged so as to be stacked in a light transmission direction, each of the plurality of optical switching elements having a resonant wavelength before driving by the driving unit is performed being different from a resonant wavelength after driving by the driving unit is performed, each of the plurality of optical switching elements capable of being driven independently, and each of the plurality of optical switching elements being configured to allow lights of other optical switching elements having resonant wavelengths before and after driving by the driving unit to pass through.