JP2840438B2 - Optical matrix switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a movable plug which is appropriately designated from a large number of fixed plugs arranged in a matrix along X and Y directions orthogonal to each other. And an optical matrix switch for optical connection.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical switch is known as one of components constituting an optical communication system for transmitting information by an optical fiber.

In such an optical switch, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a fixed plug (not shown) in which each end of a large number of optical fibers 100 forming one transmission line is fixed. A holder 101 in which the fixed plugs are continuously arranged in the X direction, and a movable plug 104 in which each end of two optical fibers 103 forming the other transmission line is fixed.
Then, the movable plug 104 is slid in the X direction along the guide rail 102 attached to the holder 101, and the movable plug 104 is slid in the Z direction.
There is known a configuration in which a fitting pin 105 protruding from the 04 is fitted into a fitting hole 101a of a desired fixed plug (holder), and a traveling body 106 for connecting the hole fibers 100 and 103 to each other.

[Problem to be solved]

However, an optical switch including such a one-dimensional array of fixed plugs and two traveling bodies having movable plugs, such that the two traveling bodies also travel using the same guide rail. In such a configuration, the fixed plug and the movable plug may not be freely butted with each other to connect the optical fibers in some cases. That is, when any one of the movable plugs is abutted against any one of the fixed plugs, for example, the other movable plug on the right side of the movable plug crosses over the one movable plug being abutted and the left one Cannot move toward any fixed plug and connect with that fixed plug.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical matrix switch capable of freely connecting a transmission line to any part of a line in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Means for solving the problem]

In other words, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that
An optical matrix switch for connecting a suitably designated one of fixed plugs arranged in a matrix along each direction to a movable plug, and attaching an L-shaped arm having a predetermined narrow width. The head having the movable plug suspended from the tip of the arm, and the traveling body provided with the head are moved along the dedicated guide rails in the X and Y directions and the Z direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions. And driving means for bringing the connection surface of the movable plug into contact with the connection surface of the fixed plug.

In the optical matrix switch according to the second aspect of the present invention, driving means for moving the traveling body in each of the X, Y, and Z directions is attached to the traveling body.

[Action]

In the optical matrix switch according to the first aspect of the present invention, each head moves along a dedicated card rail without being interfered with each other, and each head can be freely moved to a predetermined position. Can be moved up.

Further, the optical matrix switch according to claim 1 of the present invention has arms having a predetermined narrow width and an L-shape, and the movable plugs can be reliably connected to the fixed plugs adjacent to each other. Can be connected.

Further, the optical matrix switch according to claim 2 of the present invention has a driving means independently for each head,
In other words, the driving means of one head and the driving means of the other head do not mechanically interfere with each other, and accordingly, inspection and repair of each driving means can be easily performed for each head.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an optical matrix switch according to the present invention. This optical matrix switch is used for a route monitoring system, and a pair of optical matrix switches each moving along a dedicated guide rail 1 is provided. Running body 2
And a head 4 having an L-shaped arm 3 on the traveling body 2
And a driving unit 5 for moving the traveling body 2 and the head 4.

Reference numeral 6 in the figure denotes a multi-core fixed plug implanted in a matrix along the X and Y2 directions with respect to the base 7 as shown in FIG. As in the case of a movable plug 12 to be described later, a spring (not shown) is provided between the flag 6 and the holder 6a attached to the base 7 to securely press the flags 6 and 12 and connect the optical fibers to each other. It is built in.

The guide rail 1 is provided between frames 8 constituting an outer frame of the optical matrix switch.

Each of the traveling bodies 2 slides in the X direction along a pair of guide rails 1 and has a head 4 mounted on a lower side in a vertically movable state. The traveling body 2 is provided with a constant tension spring 9 for preventing backlash from occurring when the driving means 5 described later moves in the X direction, and one end of the spring 9 is connected to the outer frame. It is fixed to the body 8. In the movement of the traveling body 2 in the X direction, a sensor 11 is provided for counting and marking the number of graduations engraved on the glass scale 10 erected between the frames 8. .

Before the arm 3 moves up and down in the Z direction together with the head 4 described later, the traveling body 2 and the head 4 described later
, The movable plug 12 attached to the distal end is slid in the Y direction to be moved directly above a desired fixed plug 6. That is, the arm 3 is slidably attached along a slide shaft 4b provided on a bracket 4a hanging down to the head 4 side. As shown in FIG. 4, the arm 3 is provided with a thin arm 3a having an L-shape and a predetermined width, and a movable plug 12 is attached to the tip of the arm 3a. The arm of the arm 3
The width w of 3a is determined by the holder 6a on which the fixing plug 6 is mounted.
The distance W is set so as to have the following relationship, that is, W> 2w, so that the fixing plug 6 having the positional relationship shown in FIG. The movable plugs 12 can be reliably connected between the plugs 6. A pressing spring (not shown) is incorporated between the movable plug 12 and a holder 12a for attaching the movable plug 12 to the arm 3 side.

When the movable plug 12 at the tip of the arm 3 has moved to a position directly above the desired fixed plug 6, that is, when the traveling body 2 has moved in the X direction and the arm 3 has moved a predetermined amount in the Y direction, the head 4 On the other hand, the movable plug 12 moves forward, that is, moves in the Z direction (vertical direction) to connect the movable plug 12 to the fixed plug 6, and the arm 3 is attached to the distal end side, that is, the lower side.

The driving unit 5 includes a first driving unit 13 that moves the traveling body 2 in the X direction with respect to the frame 8, a second driving unit 14 that moves the head 4 in the Z direction with respect to the traveling body 2, and an arm 3.
Drive means 15 for moving the head in the Y direction with respect to the head 4
It is composed of The first drive means 13 includes a motor 13a fixed to the traveling body 2, a pinion 13b fixed to the motor 13a, and a rack 13c provided between the frames 8 and meshing with the pinion 13b. Second drive means 14
Is a motor 14a fixed to the traveling body 2 and a feed shaft 1 which is externally threaded and rotated by being driven by the motor 14a.
4b, a threaded portion 14c formed on the head 4 with a female screw screwed into a male screw of the feed shaft 14b, and a guide shaft 14d for guiding the movement of the head 4. The third driving means 15 includes a motor 15a fixed to the head 4, a pinion 15b fixed to the motor 15a, and a rack 1 provided on the arm 3 side and meshing with the pinion 15b.
5c.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the optical matrix switch according to claim 1 of the present invention, each head can move along a dedicated guide rail, respectively.
This allows each head to move freely to a desired fixed plug without being disturbed by other heads.

According to the optical matrix switch according to the first aspect of the present invention, the arm is formed to have a predetermined narrow width and an L-shape, so that the movable plug can be reliably connected to the fixed plug adjacent to each other. Can be connected.

According to the optical matrix switch according to the second aspect of the present invention, the driving device in each direction is collectively mounted on the traveling body, so that the entire device can be reduced in size and, for example, the driving device can malfunction. In such a case, it is only necessary to take out the running body and repair or replace the running body, which is extremely reasonable. According to the optical matrix switch of the second aspect, when manufacturing a two-head type, since the driving means is independent for each head, one head is mounted and then the other head is mounted. All you have to do is simply attach it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an optical matrix switch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing fixed plugs arranged in a matrix used in the optical matrix switch according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show the arrangement of arms for connecting a movable plug to the fixed plug. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical switch. 6 ... fixed plug, 12 ... movable plug, 3 ... arm, 4 ... head, 1 ... gatrail, 5 ... drive means.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Nobuo Tomita 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Eritaka Takasugi 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Telegraph and Telephone Co., Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G02B 26/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical matrix switch for connecting a movable plug (2) to a suitably specified one of fixed plugs (6) arranged in a matrix along respective XY directions orthogonal to each other. A head (4) having an L-shaped arm (3) having a predetermined narrow width, a head (4) having the movable plug (12) suspended from the tip of the arm (3), and the head (4) are provided. The traveling body (2) is moved along the dedicated guide rails (1) in the X and Y directions and the Z direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions, and the movable plug (12) is moved.
An optical matrix switch, comprising: driving means (5) for abutting the connection surface of (1) with the connection surface of the fixed plug (6). 2. A driving means (5) for moving the traveling body (2) in each of the X, Y, and Z directions is mounted on the traveling body (2) side. Light matrix switch.