JPS6152449B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical switch that moves a movable optical fiber to change the connection state with a fixed optical fiber.

Since the optical fibers used in optical fiber communication systems have a diameter of about 100 .mu.m to several 100 .mu.m, highly accurate alignment is required for their connection. There are two types of optical fiber connections: permanent connections and detachable connections, and various precision-machined connectors have already been proposed for detachable connections. Although it is possible to switch and connect optical fibers using such a connector, the switching operation would require a considerable amount of time. In optical circuits, there is a demand for automatic circuit switching just as in electrical circuits, and in order to meet this demand, optical fibers are moved in response to external magnetic fields, as shown in Figure 1. The applicant has already proposed an optical switch that can easily change the optical connection state of optical fibers.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a conventional optical switch, two pairs of round bars 1 and 2 are provided facing each other. Each round bar pair 1, 2 consists of two upper and lower round bars 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b with uniform roundness,
The connecting ends of the fixed optical fibers 3 and 4 are fixedly arranged in the V-groove formed by the upper and lower round bars.
Magnetic pole bars 7 and 8 equipped with magnets 5 and 6 are provided on the outside of the pair of round bars 1 and 2, and both magnetic pole bars 7 and 8 are surrounded by a coil 9. On the other hand, the movable optical fiber 11 is mounted on an armature 12 which is swingably installed. The connecting end of the movable optical fiber 11 extends between the pair of round bars 1 and 2. In such an optical switch, by changing the excitation direction of the coil 9, the armature 12 supporting the movable optical fiber 11 is attracted from one magnetic pole bar to the other magnetic pole bar, and the movable optical fiber 11 is also moved accordingly. I am made to do so. Then, the connecting end of the movable optical fiber 11 reaches the V-groove formed by the fixed optical fiber positioning round bars 1a, 1b or 2a, 2b on the opposite side, and comes to rest while being slightly bent, and connects with the axis of the fixed optical fiber. The center is aligned and the switching is completed.

Conventional optical switches as described above have the disadvantage of being difficult to manufacture and assemble. That is, in order to reduce connection loss, it is necessary to make the gap between the connection end face of the fixed optical fiber and the connection end face of the movable optical fiber as small as possible, for example about 30 μm, during connection, and to prevent axis misalignment. In addition, in order to perform accurate and quick switching, it is necessary to make the interval between the V grooves formed by the two pairs of round bars narrow, for example, about 1 mm. However, when adjusting the gap between the connecting end surfaces of the fixed optical fiber and the movable optical fiber, the position of the optical fiber is adjusted while looking from above through the gap between the two pairs of round bars. The gap between the pair of round bars is narrow, and the fiber diameter is 100 mm.
Since the diameter is as small as micrometers, and the round bar obstructs the view, it is very difficult to adjust the gap between the connecting end faces and assemble it. Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned assembly problems, conventional optical switches also have the problem of chattering during switching. That is, since the movable optical fiber has elasticity, it cannot avoid chattering due to the impact when it reaches the V-groove.

The object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.

The present invention is characterized in that the connecting ends of the fixed optical fiber and the movable optical fiber are supported by a groove-shaped member, that is, a member having a square cross-sectional shape.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

The optical switch of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3, and as is clear from this figure, the optical switch of the present invention has two fixed optical fibers 103,
104, magnetic pole bars 107, 108 with magnets 105, 106, a coil 109, a movable optical fiber 111, and an armature 112. The difference between the optical switch of the present invention and the conventional one is that instead of a pair of positioning round bars, a groove-shaped member (cross section:
100 (shaped member) 100 is provided. Connection ends of fixed optical fibers 103 and 104 are guided and fixed at both ends 100d and 100e of this groove-shaped member 100 along side walls 100b and 100c, respectively. On the other hand, the movable optical fiber 111 has its connecting end connected to the bottom surface 10 of the groove-shaped member 100 as shown in FIG.
It is installed on the armature 112 so that it is always in contact with 0f and is bent, that is, so that the bottom surface 100f and the connecting end are in pressure contact. The movable optical fiber 111 is connected to both side walls 100f with its connecting end in contact with the bottom surface 100f of the groove-shaped member 100.
It is slid back and forth together with the armature 112 between 0b and 100c. The movable optical fiber 111 is moved into contact with the side wall 100b or 100c of the channel member 100 to reach the connection position. In this connection position, the connection end of the movable optical fiber 111 is connected to the side wall 100.
b or 100c and is bent, that is, the groove-shaped member 100 is bent in two directions by the bottom surface 100f and the side wall, and the groove-shaped member 1
00 corner 100d or 100e, and is aligned with the fixed optical fiber 103 or 104.

In the groove-shaped member used in the optical switch of the present invention, the height of the bottom surface 100f in the longitudinal direction may be uniform, or the height of the bottom surface 100f may be uniform as shown in FIG.
0f may be inclined. The corner angle of the groove-shaped member, that is, the angle between the side wall and the bottom surface is preferably approximately a right angle, but may be slightly more acute or obtuse.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a combination of an armature, a magnetic pole, and a coil is shown as a means for moving the movable optical fiber, but it is not limited to such magnetic means, and it is possible to move the optical fiber from side to side. You may use any method as long as it is possible.

According to the present invention, the connecting end surfaces of the fixed optical fiber and the movable optical fiber are supported and positioned by the groove-shaped member having a square cross section and open at the top, so that the fixed optical fiber and the movable optical fiber can be set to the optimum position. Since the setting position can be clearly seen at the time, the gap between the connecting end faces can be easily adjusted, and the assembly work can be easily performed.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the movable optical fiber is moved while remaining in contact with the bottom surface of the groove-shaped member, so that even when the movable optical fiber reaches the connection position and comes into contact with the side wall of the groove-shaped member,
Since the impact force is weak and there is frictional force due to contact with the bottom surface, no chattering occurs at all.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional perspective view of a conventional optical switch. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing how the optical fiber is supported in the optical switch of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially sectional perspective view of the optical switch of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the groove-shaped member in the optical switch of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the state of connection between the connecting end of the movable optical fiber and the bottom surface of the groove-shaped member in the optical switch of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the groove-shaped member in the optical switch of the present invention. 100... Groove-shaped member, 100a... Bottom of groove-shaped member, 100b, 100c... Side wall, 100d, 1
00e...corner, 100f...bottom, 103,104...
Fixed optical fiber, 105, 106... magnet,
107, 108...Magnetic pole bar, 109...Coil, 11
1...Movable optical fiber, 112...Archive.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A movable optical fiber and a fixed optical fiber,
In an optical switch that moves the movable optical fiber to switch and connect the connecting end of the fixed optical fiber and the connecting end of the movable optical fiber, the connecting end of the fixed optical fiber is connected by a groove-shaped member consisting of a bottom and both side walls. What is claimed is: 1. An optical switch that supports a movable optical fiber and a connecting end of a movable optical fiber. 2. The connecting end of the fixed optical fiber is disposed at a corner along the side wall of the groove-shaped member, and the connecting end of the movable optical fiber is provided to slide back and forth on the bottom surface between both side walls of the groove-shaped member. An optical switch according to claim 1. 3. When the connecting end of the movable optical fiber is connected to the connecting end of the fixed optical fiber, the connecting end of the movable optical fiber is pressed against the bottom and side surfaces of the groove-shaped member and is bent, thereby causing the above-mentioned 3. A light switch according to claim 1, wherein the light switch is positioned at a corner of the groove-shaped member. 4. The optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the groove-shaped member has a bottom surface inclined in its longitudinal direction.