OPTICAL SWITCH

PURPOSE:To obtain a long-life optical switch of simple constitution which has high-precision reproducibility by arranging a right-angled prism which is rotated selectively by an electromagnet on the axial center of a lens holder where plural rod lenses connected to optical fibers are arranged around the axial center at equal angular intervals. CONSTITUTION:When energizing coils 221 and 222 are powered on, an iron piece 191 is attracted to a fixed magnetic pole 201 and an iron piece 192 is attracted to a fixed magnetic pole 202; and the right-angled prism 18 rotates around the axis 17 of rotation running in the axial center of a cylindrical ring 16 and stops where its ridge direction is accurately parallel to the straight line which connects the axial centers of the fixed magnetic poles 201 and 202. Therefore, light incident from an incidence-side optical fiber 10 to the right-angled prism 18 through a rod lens 11 is reflected toward a rod lens 13 to enter a projection- side optical fiber 12. Then, when the energizing coils 221 and 222 are powered on, the light from the optical fiber 10 is switched to a projection-side optical fiber 14 similarly. Consequently, the long-life optical switch of simple constitution which has high-precision reproducibility is obtained.