US Patent 7561799 Optical path switching device

An optical path switching device includes compact and unpackaged components; the components are mounted onto a single platform; and the components are coupled by luminous flux. Connection between optical fibers is negated. In particular the optical path switching device includes an optical input, an optical output, an optical branching device and an optical signal detection device. At least two of the optical input, the optical output, the optical branching device and the optical signal detective device are mounted onto a single platform.