JP3877941B2 - Optical switch device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in an optical switch device used for switching an optical communication line or the like, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of optical switch device, as shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13, a positioning table 4 on which a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 1 are arranged side by side and a carriage to which the moving-side optical fiber 2 is attached. 10, and the carriage 10 is moved in the lateral direction so that the tip of the movable optical fiber 2 is opposed to the tip of the fixed optical fiber 1 and connected.
[0003]
12 includes a feed screw 6 arranged in the lateral direction and a motor 7 that rotationally drives the feed screw 6, and the carriage 10 is screwed into the feed screw 6 and moves in the lateral direction.
13 includes a feed screw 6 arranged in the vertical direction, a motor 7 that rotationally drives the feed screw 6, and a cam 11 that is screwed into the feed screw 6 and moves in the vertical direction. Follows the inclined cam surface 11a of the cam 11 and moves laterally.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the feed screw 6 and the motor 7 are arranged in the lateral direction parallel to the movement axis of the carriage 10, the apparatus shown in FIG.
Further, since the feed position accuracy of the carriage 10 depends on the rotation accuracy of the motor 7 and the processing accuracy of the feed screw 6, the required accuracy for these is high, resulting in an increase in product cost.
[0005]
FIG. 13 shows a structure in which the vertical movement of the cam 11 is converted into the horizontal movement of the carriage 10 although the feed screw 6 and the motor 7 are arranged in the vertical direction to make the apparatus compact in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the required accuracy for the cam surface 11a and the like is high, resulting in an increase in product cost.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to increase the positional accuracy of optical fibers facing each other without increasing the required accuracy of a motor and a feed screw in an optical switch device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
1st invention WHEREIN: In the optical switch apparatus which connects the front-end | tip of a movement side optical fiber selectively with respect to the front-end | tip of several fixed side optical fiber, the positioning by which each said fixed side optical fiber was arranged side by side A stage, a guide mechanism for laterally guiding the head to which the moving side optical fiber is fixed, and a cam surface for positioning the head in the lateral direction by contacting the abutting portion provided on the head are multistage. And a step cam driving mechanism for moving the step cam in the vertical direction and switching the cam surface that is in contact with the contact portion.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical switch device in which the distal ends of the movable optical fibers are selectively opposed to the distal ends of the plurality of fixed optical fibers, the fixed optical fibers are positioned side by side. A stage, a guide mechanism for laterally guiding the head to which the moving side optical fiber is fixed, and a cam surface for positioning the head in the lateral direction by contacting the abutting portion provided on the head are multistage. A step cam arranged in a ring shape, and a step cam drive mechanism that drives the step cam by rotation and switches a cam surface that comes into contact with the contact portion.
[0008]
According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the positioning table has a positioning groove in which the fixed-side optical fiber is accommodated, and includes a hammer that presses the moving-side optical fiber against the positioning groove. did.
[0009]
The fourth invention is characterized in that a plurality of optical switch devices according to any one of the first to third inventions are assembled as unit optical switches.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the unit optical switch 3 that is also an optical switch device of the present invention is configured to selectively oppose the distal end of one movable optical fiber 2 to the distal end of 16 fixed optical fibers 1. For example, it is used to switch an optical communication line or the like.
[0011]
The unit optical switch 3 is a step for driving a positioning table 4 for arranging the fixed optical fibers 1 in the lateral direction at a predetermined pitch, a guide mechanism 5 for guiding the movable optical fiber 2 in the lateral direction, and a step cam 8a. And a cam drive mechanism 8A. The step cam drive mechanism 8A is engaged with the feed screw 6 arranged in the vertical direction substantially orthogonal to the moving axis of the guide mechanism 5, the motor 7 for rotationally driving the feed screw 6, and the feed screw 6 to be vertically engaged. And a step cam 8 that moves in the direction.
[0012]
The guide mechanism 5 includes a link 19 that is rotatably connected to the casing 15 via a shaft 18, and a head 21 that is rotatably connected to the link 19 via a shaft 20. Move laterally through. The head 21 is guided in a lateral direction substantially orthogonal to the moving axis of the guide mechanism 5 by a guide member (not shown), and is always directed to the positioning table 4. The guide mechanism 5 is not limited to this structure, and for example, a parallel link mechanism may be used.
[0013]
A fixing portion 22 that fixes the moving side optical fiber 2 is provided at the tip of the head 21. The moving-side optical fiber 2 is a single-core optical fiber up to the fixed portion 22, and a portion protruding from the movable-side optical fiber 2 toward the positioning base 4 is a bare fiber from which the coating of the optical fiber core is removed.
[0014]
The pulse motor 7 is fixed to the casing 15, and a feed screw 6 is coupled to the motor rotation shaft. The motor rotation shaft is arranged in the vertical direction on the same axis as the feed screw 6 and extends along the guide mechanism 5. By disposing the feed screw 6 and the motor 7 in the vertical direction, the unit optical switch 3 can be made compact in the horizontal direction.
[0015]
The step cam 8 has a screw hole that engages with the feed screw 6 at the base end portion 8b, and moves in the vertical direction as the feed screw 6 rotates. The step cam 8 is guided to move in the vertical direction via a guide member (not shown).
[0016]
The step cam 8 has a cam surface 8a formed in a step shape. The cam surface 8a is divided into 16 pieces of the same number as the fixed-side optical fibers 1, and arranged in a step shape with a pitch (step) having the same length as the fixed-side optical fibers 1 are arranged. The cam surface 8 a is substantially orthogonal to the movement axis of the guide mechanism 5.
[0017]
The head 21 is provided with a contact portion 17 made of a roller that is in contact with the cam surface 8a. The contact portion 17 is pressed against the cam surface 8 a by the spring force of the compression spring 16. As the step cam 8 moves in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, the guide mechanism 5 follows the step-like cam surface 8a and similarly moves in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 at a predetermined pitch. .
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the state where the guide mechanism 5 extends on a straight line, the moving side optical fiber 2 is positioned at the central portion on the positioning table 4. 1 and 3 show a state in which the guide mechanism 5 is rotated the most. The lateral movement amount of the moving side optical fiber 2 (distance between the fixed side optical fibers 1 at both ends of the positioning table) is, for example, about 1.9 mm, and the state of FIG. 2 shifts to the state of FIGS. The moving amount of the moving side optical fiber 2 is about 1 mm.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 4, the positioning base 4 is formed with the same number of positioning grooves 4a so that the 16 fixed optical fibers 1 can be accommodated. Each fixed-side optical fiber 1 fits in the positioning groove 4a in a bare fiber state. The positioning groove 4a has a V-shaped cross-section, for example, but is not limited thereto, and may be U-shaped or semi-circular.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a hammer 31 is provided to press the moving side optical fiber 2 against the positioning groove 4a. The hammer 31 is formed in a spring shape by bending a rod-like metal, and the tip is flattened so that the tip can be pressed without damaging the optical fiber. The hammer 31 is swingably supported via a pin 32, and swings via a feed screw 34 that is rotationally driven by a pulse motor 33, a follower 35 that is screwed to the feed screw 34, and the like.
[0021]
The unit optical switch 3 having such a configuration functions as the optical switch device of the present invention as a single unit as described above, but the optical switch device of the present invention is also obtained when a plurality of unit optical switches 3 are assembled. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the optical switch device 40 has a multiple structure in which a plurality of unit optical switches 3 are arranged in the horizontal direction. The optical switch device 40 has a guide mechanism 5 arranged in the center thereof, and a motor storage section 42 and a positioning base storage section 43 are provided so as to sandwich the guide mechanism 5. The multiple-structure optical switch 40 is greatly reduced in size when each unit optical switch 3 is made compact in the lateral direction, and the degree of freedom with respect to the scale of the optical switch device 40 is expanded.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 8, the optical switch device 40 includes a filling chamber 41 filled with a refractive index matching agent such as silicon oil. The moving side optical fiber 2 and the fixed side optical fiber 1 are connected in a state where the end faces of the optical fiber are lightly abutted or through a minute gap, but a good connection state is obtained via a refractive index matching agent. Is obtained. The moving side optical fiber 2, the hammer 31 and the like face the filling chamber 41 through a flexible packing made of rubber or the like so that the operation in the filling chamber 41 is not hindered.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.
When the motor 7 rotates the feed screw 6 by a predetermined angle according to a signal from the control system, the step cam 8 screwed with the feed screw 6 moves in the vertical direction, and the guide mechanism 5 moves to the step-like cam surface 8a. Follow and move a predetermined amount in the horizontal direction. In this way, the fixed-side optical fiber 1 connected to the moving-side optical fiber 2 and transmitting light is switched.
[0024]
Since the pitch of the positioning groove 4a in which the fixed-side optical fiber 1 is accommodated is equal to the pitch of the stepped cam surface 8a, the distal end of the moving-side optical fiber 2 moves with high accuracy on the selected positioning groove 4a. Further, the positioning accuracy of the moving side optical fiber 2 depends on the forming accuracy of the cam surface 8a of the step cam 8, and is selected by driving the step cam 8 by the contact portion 17 on the head 21 side and the step cam drive mechanism 8A. As long as the contact state with the cam surface 8a is maintained, the drive error of the step cam 8 is allowed depending on the dimension of the cam surface 8a. Regardless of the processing accuracy of the screw 6, etc., the required accuracy for these can be reduced to reduce the cost of the product.
[0025]
Then, the moving side optical fiber 2 is pressed against the positioning groove 4 a by the hammer 31, so that the leading end of the moving side optical fiber 2 faces the leading end of the fixed side optical fiber 1 with high accuracy.
[0026]
9 to 11 show a unit optical switch according to another embodiment of the present invention. In place of the link mechanism of the unit optical switch including the link 19 and the like described in FIGS. Thus, the elongated support arm 50 to which bending deformation is applied is used. Since there is no change in the step cam, its drive mechanism, optical fiber pressing mechanism, etc. in addition to the support arm, description thereof is omitted.
[0027]
One end in the longitudinal direction of the support arm 50 is fixed to the casing 15 of the unit optical switch. The head 21, which is the other end in the longitudinal direction of the support arm 50 reaching the vicinity of the positioning table 4, is always urged toward the step cam by a spring, and a contact portion ( The roller 17 is brought into contact with the cam surface 8a of the step cam 8, whereby the moving side optical fiber 2 fixedly supported by the head 21 in a protruding state is positioned in the lateral direction. Further, the support arm 50 is formed in a frame shape by a groove 51 formed over the substantially entire length in the longitudinal direction. With such a configuration, the head 21 is laterally moved by the cam surface 8a and the contact portion 17 of the step cam 8. When pressed in the direction, the portion where the groove 51 is formed bends to allow the head 21 to move laterally. At this time, the head 21 does not bend because the groove 51 is not formed, so that the posture of the head 21 with respect to the positioning table 4 is maintained in a directly opposed state without being inclined. Therefore, the support arm 50 can obtain excellent bending characteristics.
[0028]
When the cam surface 8a that contacts the contact portion 17 is changed by driving the step cam 8, the moving side optical fiber 2 is moved in the lateral direction, and the positioning groove 4a to be positioned is switched. However, the head 21 is moved in parallel by a guide member (not shown) while keeping the positioning groove 4a formed in parallel on the positioning table 4 in parallel with the moving side optical fiber 2. The positioning can be efficiently performed with respect to any positioning groove 4a.
[0029]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure illustrated to the said embodiment, A various change is possible. For example, the step cam drive mechanism is not limited to a configuration in which the step cam is fed and moved in the vertical direction, and the step cam having a cam surface arranged in a ring shape is rotationally driven to come into contact with the contact portion of the head. A configuration for switching the cam surface can also be adopted.
Also for the motor 7, a stepping motor can be used instead of the pulse motor.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the optical switch device can be made compact in the lateral direction by providing the step cam drive mechanism. Since the step cam moves the moving side optical fiber by a predetermined amount, the position accuracy of the moving side optical fiber does not depend on the rotation accuracy of the motor or the processing accuracy of the feed screw, etc. Is peeled off.
[0031]
According to the third invention, the moving-side optical fiber can be opposed to the leading end of the fixed-side optical fiber with high accuracy by pressing the moving-side optical fiber against the positioning groove by the hammer.
[0032]
According to the fourth invention, the multiple-structure optical switch device in which a plurality of unit optical switches are arranged in the horizontal direction is greatly reduced in size by the compaction of each unit optical switch in the horizontal direction. The degree of freedom with respect to the scale of the optical switch device is expanded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a unit optical switch showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a unit optical switch that similarly shows an operating state.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a unit optical switch that similarly shows an operating state.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the positioning table.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a hammer or the like.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a hammer or the like that similarly shows the operating state.
7A and 7B are a side view and a plan view of the optical switch device, respectively.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the optical switch device.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a unit optical switch showing another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a plan view showing an operating state of the unit optical switch shown in FIG. 9; FIG.
11 is a plan view showing an operating state of the unit optical switch shown in FIG. 9; FIG.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an optical switch showing a conventional example.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an optical switch showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fixed side optical fiber, 2 ... Movement side optical fiber, 3 ... Unit optical switch, 4 ... Positioning stand, 4a ... Positioning groove, 5 ... Guide mechanism, 6 ... Feed screw, 7 ... Motor, 8 ... Step cam, 8a ... Cam surface, 31 ... Hammer, 40 ... Optical switch device

Claims (4)

In the optical switch device (3) in which the tip of the movable optical fiber (2) is selectively opposed to the tip of the plurality of fixed side optical fibers (1) and connected,
A positioning table (4) in which the respective fixed-side optical fibers are arranged side by side, a guide mechanism (5) for horizontally guiding the head (21) to which the movable-side optical fibers are fixed, and the head are provided. A step cam (8a) in which a cam surface (8a) for positioning the head in the lateral direction by contacting the abutting portion (17) is formed in a multi-step shape, and the step cam is moved in the vertical direction. And a step cam drive mechanism that switches a cam surface that is in contact with the contact portion. In the optical switch device (3) in which the tip of the movable optical fiber (2) is selectively opposed to the tip of the plurality of fixed side optical fibers (1) and connected,
A positioning table (4) in which the respective fixed-side optical fibers are arranged side by side, a guide mechanism (5) for horizontally guiding the head (21) to which the movable-side optical fibers are fixed, and the head are provided. a step cam cam surface for positioning the head in the lateral direction by abutment (17) comes into contact are arranged in multiple stages of ring-shaped, the abutment by driving the step cam by rotation And a step cam drive mechanism for switching a cam surface abutted on the optical switch device. The said positioning stand has a positioning groove (4a) in which the said fixed side optical fiber is accommodated, The hammer (31) which presses the said movement side optical fiber to this positioning groove is provided, The claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Optical switch device. Optical switching apparatus wherein a plurality sets the optical switch device according as unit optical switch to claim 1-3.

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