Optical switch and optical switch device

Abstract

An optical switch has at least first, second, and third optical fibers disposed generally parallel to each other and spaced at non-equal intervals in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of each of the optical fibers. The optical fibers have tip portions disposed approximately along a straight line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of each of the optical fibers. A first non-movable guiding structure guides a beam of light emitted from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber along a first optical path disposed between the tip portion of the first optical fiber and the tip portion of the second optical fiber. A second movable guiding structure guides the beam emitted from the first optical fiber to the third optical fiber along a second optical path disposed between the tip portion of the first optical fiber and the tip portion of the third optical fiber so that a length of the second optical path is substantially equal to a length of the first optical path.