JPH0458609B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical path switching device used for switching communication circuits, etc. in an optical communication system such as an optical fiber.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, various exchanges for switching communication circuits have been devised in communication systems using optical fibers and the like. There are two types of switching equipment: one that converts the signal into an electrical signal and then switches the signal, and another that switches the optical signal as is (optical path switching device).

As such an optical path switching device, a so-called mechanical optical switch has been devised in which an optical fiber is fixed and a reflector such as a mirror or prism is moved in the optical path to switch the optical path.

An example of this optical switching device is shown in FIG. In the figure, 30a and 30b are solenoids consisting of a pair of electromagnets fixed to a case, etc., and between these solenoids 30a and 30b is a moving platform 32 supported by a pair of plate springs (parallel springs) 31a and 31b. is installed. This movable table 32 is attracted in the direction of arrow A or B by the excitation of solenoids 30a and 30b, and is movable.
Therefore, if the reflector 34 is placed on the moving table 32,
With respect to light coming from a predetermined direction, the traveling direction of the light can be changed by moving the moving table 32. That is, it can be switched in two directions for light from a given direction.

Furthermore, in order to make the optical path switching device smaller, a method has been considered in which one reflector is moved by one solenoid. That is, this uses the two positions at which the slide core of the plunger type solenoid moves linearly for positioning the reflector.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, although this optical path switching device uses parallel springs and has good reproducibility of the same position, the width l becomes large due to the arrangement of two electromagnets. . That is, since many lines are switched, if they are arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. 7, it takes up a large space and it is not possible to increase the packaging density. However, the light propagated through the optical fiber or the like suffers more loss in this switching space. In particular, in optical communication systems, as optical fiber cables become longer distances, it is necessary to suppress the loss of propagating light, and it is important to reduce the loss of light in optical path switching devices. It was one of the.

On the other hand, when the reflecting mirror or the like for switching the light is directly moved by the slide core of the plunger and positioned at two positions during this movement, the slide core rotates and shakes. Therefore, there were problems in that the positioning of the reflecting mirror etc. was unstable and its reproducibility was poor.

This invention was made in view of the above problems.
The purpose of this optical path switching device is to increase the packaging density of the reflector that switches the optical path and make it more compact, as well as to suppress the loss of light in the switching optical path, and to position the reflector reliably and accurately. is to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve this object, the optical path switching device of the present invention includes a first port group that allows a plurality of propagated lights to enter a predetermined plane; a second port group that emits the light, and a third port group that allows a plurality of lights to enter from a direction perpendicular to the incident light from the first port group within the predetermined plane;
a fourth port group for emitting the incident light; and a fourth port group for emitting the incident light;
and a plurality of vertically movable reflectors that reflect the incident light from the third port group in a right angle direction and emit the light from the second and fourth port groups, and a drive device that moves the reflectors. An optical path switching device comprising an outer yoke 10 having side pieces 11 and 12 erected at both ends, and an outer yoke 10 with an polarized inner surface, and side pieces 14 and 15 at both ends. an inner yoke 13 having an upright shape, with the inner side and the outer side of the side pieces 14, 14 being polarized surfaces, and having a size such that it can be freely fitted into the outer yoke 10; the outer yoke 10 and the inner yoke 13; A permanent magnet 1 which generates magnetic flux in a direction perpendicular to these surfaces.
6, and flanges 21 and 22 whose armature surfaces are portions facing the armature surfaces of the side pieces 11 and 12 of the outer yoke 10 and the armature surfaces of the side pieces 14 and 15 of the inner yoke 13, respectively. A movable part 23 consisting of a movable slide core 20 to which the flanges 21 and 22 are fixed, a coil 17 for magnetizing and attracting the movable part 23, and a side piece 1 of the outer yoke 10.
1, a stopping means 24 for stopping the movable part 23 at a predetermined position, and a side piece 1 of the outer yoke 10.
2, the movable part 2 together with the flange 22
3 at a predetermined position.

[Operation] The optical path switching device of the present invention changes the optical path of incident light by moving the reflectors arranged in a matrix individually using the movable part of the plunger and stopping them with good reproducibility.

When moving this reflector, the drive device has a movable part that moves directly, is positioned at a predetermined position by the positioning means, and is held at that position, and when the movable part moves to the other side, is stopped at the predetermined position by the stop means. It's becoming like that.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the optical path switching device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the optical path switching device.

In the figure, 1 is a case, and the upper four sides of this case have a first port group 2, a second port group 3, a third port group 4, and a fourth port group for inputting and outputting light. 5 is provided. The first port group 2 and the third port group 4 are receptacles 2a 1 , 2a ₂ , 4a 1 , 4a 1 , 2a 1 , 2a 2 , 4a 1 , 4a 1 , 2a 1 , 2a ₂ , 4a ₁ , etc. for making light propagated from, for example, an optical fiber enter a predetermined plane.
The second port group ₃ and the fourth port group 5 are receptacles 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ , 5 for outputting the incident light to, for example, an optical fiber or the like.
a ₁ and 5a ₂ are arranged. Inside each of these port groups, a lens (for example, self-occurring lens: trade name) 6 is provided, which converts the light propagated through an optical fiber, etc., into a parallel beam, or focuses the light onto an optical fiber, etc. has been done. That is, the first port group 2 and the second port group 3, and the third port group 4 and the fourth port group 5 are arranged opposite to each other, and the receptacles 2a ₁ disposed therein are arranged opposite to each other. and 3a ₁ , 2a ₂ and 3a ₂ , 4a ₁ and 5a ₁ ,
The principal axes of 4a ₂ and 5a ₂ are the same. In this case, the configuration is 4 inputs and 4 outputs, but there is no need to limit this number. At the light difference points incident from these port groups, there is a reflector (for example, a double-sided mirror, a prism with one side mirrored, etc.) 7a that reflects the light in a predetermined direction, for example, at right angles.
7b, 7c, and 7d are provided such that they can freely protrude from below as shown in FIG.

Drive devices 8a, 8 that vertically move the reflectors 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d as shown by arrow C in FIG.
b, 8c, and 8d are arranged at the lower part of the case 1, and have the configuration shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Figure 4 a, b
, 10 is an outer yoke made of magnetic material, and this outer yoke 10 has side pieces 11 and 12 at both ends.
It has a U-shape with an upright structure. Note that, for example, a predetermined internal thread 11a is cut in the side piece 11, and a predetermined hole 12a is provided in the side piece 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes an inner yoke made of a magnetic material, and the inner yoke 13 has a U-shape with side pieces 14 and 15 erected at both ends. Moreover, among these, yoke 1
3 has a smaller shape than the outer yoke 10. Further, substantially semicircular notches 14a and 15a are formed in the side pieces 14 and 15, respectively.

The inner side of the outer yoke 10 and the side pieces 11 and 12, the inner side of the inner yoke 13, the side piece 14,
The outside of 15 serves as the polarizing surface. A permanent magnet 16 is provided in contact with the polarized surfaces of the outer yoke 10 and the inner yoke 13. Note that this permanent magnet 16 generates magnetic flux in a direction perpendicular to the outer yoke 10 and the inner yoke 13. For example, in this case, the outer yoke 10 side is the north pole, and the inner yoke side is the south pole.

Further, the permanent magnet 16 surrounds the coil 17. This coil 17 is fixed to the outer yoke 10 with fixtures 18 and 19 made of insulating material. Further, a slidable slide core 20 is arranged into which the coil 17 is fitted. The slide core 20 is magnetized by passing a current through the coil 17, and is attracted and repelled to move in a straight line.
The slide core 20 also has the side pieces 11 and 1.
Flanges 21 and 22, which can be magnetically coupled to the armature surfaces 2, 14 and 15, are fixed at predetermined positions. The flanges 21 and 22 and the slide core 20 constitute a movable part 23. In addition, flange 2
1 has a shape whose rotation is restricted by a fixture 18. Therefore, this also restricts the rotation of the slide core 20. The other flange 22 is formed with an arbitrary notch 22a, for example, a chevron shape.

On the other hand, the side piece 11 is provided with a stopping means 24 for stopping the movement of the movable part 23 at a predetermined position. This stopping means 24 is, for example, the female screw 11.
It consists of a screw 24a numbered a. The side piece 12 is provided with a positioning part 25, which includes a shaped part 25b that engages with the notch 22a of the flange 22, and a bearing part 25a that guides the slide core 20, with a part of the positioning part 25 fitting into the hole 12a. There is. The positioning portion 25 and the flange 22 constitute a positioning means 26. In addition, the stopping means 24
The stop position of the slide core 20 can be adjusted by the screw 24a, and the position determined by the positioning means 26 can be adjusted by changing the position at which the flange 22 is fixed. Further, the shape portion where the flange 22 and the positioning portion engage may have another shape.

Next, the operation of the optical path switching device having the above configuration will be explained. First, light propagated through optical fibers etc. enters from the first port group 2 and the third port group 4 via the receptacles 2a ₁ , 2a ₂ , 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ . At this time, all the reflectors 7a, 7b, 7
The drive devices 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d move the slide core 20 so that the light beams c and 7d are deviated from the optical axis of the incident light.
While moving, the incident light travels straight and exits from the second port group 3 and the fourth port group 5.
The plunger for moving this slide core 20 operates as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

In addition, in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the same parts as in FIGS. 4a and 4b are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted. First, a current is applied to the coil 17 in the direction of arrow a. Then, the movable part 23 is magnetized by the magnetic field generated by the coil 17, with the flange 21 side being magnetized to the south pole and the flange 22 side being magnetized to the north pole, and the slide core 20 is attracted and moved in the direction of arrow D. Therefore, the movable part 23 is stopped by the adjusted stopping means 24 and held by the magnetic circuit shown by the dashed line formed by the contact between the magnetized side pieces 11 and 15 and the flanges 21 and 22. After this, the movable part 23 maintains its state even if no current is supplied to the coil 17.

Next, a current is applied to the coil 17 in the direction of arrow b (FIG. 5b). Then, the movable part 23 is magnetized in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 5a, and the slide core 20 is attracted and moved in the direction of arrow E. Therefore, the movable part 23 is
The flange 22 and the positioning part 25 are engaged and positioned, and the side pieces 12, 14 and the flanges 21, 22
It is held by the magnetic circuit shown by the dashed line formed by the contact between the two. After this, the movable member 23 maintains its state even if no current is supplied to the coil 17. Moreover, the slide core 20 is connected to the flange 21 and the fixture 1.
8, the flange 22 has a mountain shape 22.
Since a is reliably engaged with the shape of the positioning portion 25, the movable portion 23 can always be positioned at the same position without core deviation. Therefore, with this plunger, the movable portion 23 can be positioned accurately and reliably, and the reproducibility of the positioning is extremely good.

As described above, the drive devices 8a, 8b, 8
c and 8d are all driven in the same way. For example, slide core 20
When it is sucked downward and held, the incident light is reflected by the reflector 7.
It is not reflected at a, 7b, 7c, and 7d and goes straight.

Here, for example, if only the reflector 7a is driven to the state shown in _FIG . The light that is emitted from the receptacle 4a ₁ of the port group 5 and enters the receptacle 4a ₂ of the third port group 4 travels in the right angle direction by the reflector 7a, and is emitted from the receptacle 3a ₁ of the second port group 3. . In this way, the drive device 8a,
By driving 8b, 8c, and 8d, the light incident from the receptacles 2a ₁ and 2a 2 of the first port group ₂ is emitted from one of the receptacles 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ , 5a ₁ , and 5a ₂ , and the light enters the third port group 2. The light incident from the receptacles 3a ₁ and 3a _{2 of} the port group 4 of
It can be emitted from either 3a ₂ , 5a ₁ or 5a ₂ . That is, the optical path switching device has drive devices 8a, 8b, 8
By driving the optical fibers c and 8d, the optical signal propagated by the optical fiber or the like can be switched to a desired optical fiber or the like (another line).

The driving devices 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d are integrated with a plunger and a positioning mechanism, and can be made smaller and can increase the packaging density of the optical path switching device.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the optical path switching device of the present invention, the driving device for switching the optical path of incident light is miniaturized by integrating the plunger and the positioning mechanism, and can be realized with high density. It is possible to realize the implementation and suppress the loss of light in the switching optical path. Moreover, according to the present invention, the positioning of the reflector for switching the optical path can be performed reliably and accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical path switching device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a top view of the optical path switching device, and FIGS. b is a plan view and an exploded perspective view of a drive device that drives the reflector of the optical path switching device; FIGS. 5a and b
6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the above drive device.
The figure is a perspective view of a conventional optical path switching device, and FIG. 7 is a layout diagram of the conventional optical path switching device. 2...First port group, 3...Second port group, 4...Third port group, 5...Fourth port group, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d...Reflector, 8a,
8b, 8c, 8d...Drive device, 10...Outer yoke, 13...Inner yoke, 11, 12, 14, 15
... Side piece, 16 ... Permanent magnet, 17 ... Coil, 20 ... Slide core, 21, 22 ... Flange, 23 ... Movable part, 24 ... Stopping means, 26 ...
...Positioning means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first port group that allows a plurality of propagated lights to enter a predetermined plane; a second port group that outputs the incident light; a third port group that allows a plurality of lights to enter from a direction perpendicular to the incident light from the first port group; a fourth port group that outputs the incident light; and the first and third port groups. an optical path switching device comprising: a plurality of vertically movable reflectors that reflect incident light in a right angle direction and emit the reflected light from the second and fourth port groups; and a drive device that moves the reflectors. The driving device has a shape in which side pieces 11 and 12 are erected at both ends, an outer yoke 10 whose inner side is a polarized surface, and side pieces 14 and 15 erected on both sides. ,
and an inner yoke 13 whose inner side and the outer side of the side pieces 14, 14 are polarized surfaces, and whose size is such that it can be freely fitted into the outer yoke 10; , a permanent magnet 16 that generates magnetic flux in a direction perpendicular to these surfaces, and armature surfaces of the side pieces 11 and 12 of the outer yoke 10 and armature surfaces of the side pieces 14 and 15 of the inner yoke 13. Flange 2 whose portions facing each other are armature surfaces.
1 and 22 and a slide core 20 to which the flanges 21 and 22 are fixed and which is movable.
a coil 17 for magnetizing and attracting the movable portion 23; and a stopping means 24 on the side piece 11 of the outer yoke 10 for stopping the movable portion 23 at a predetermined position.
and a positioning means 26 for positioning the movable part 23 together with the flange 22 at a predetermined position on the side piece 12 of the outer yoke 10.