OPTICAL PATH SWITCHING DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical path switching device that has stable characteristics and high-speed switching capability. SOLUTION: An optical monitor 100 contains the optical path switching device that optically couples one of the optical fibers 112 with a light receiving element 130. The optical path switching device has a transfer mechanism for moving the light receiving element 130 along the array of optical fibers 112. This transfer mechanism is equipped with a moving part 122 for supporting the light receiving element 130 and with a guide rail 124 for movably holding the moving part 122. The guide rail 124 extends nearly parallelly to the array of the optical fibers 112. The moving part 122 contains a driving part (not shown) and can move along the guide rail 124. The light receiving element 130 is attached to the moving part 122 so as to face the end face of the optical fibers 112. The optical path switching device also has an external scale 140 for detecting the position of the light receiving element 130.