JP2002023074A - Optical switch, optical switch array and optical coupling and branching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical switch, which can be easily made into array, an optical switch array and an optical coupling and branching device. SOLUTION: An optical switch 1 has a glass ferrule 2a parallel holding the top end parts of two optical fibers F1 and F2 and a glass ferrule 2b parallel holding the top end parts of two optical fibers F3 and F4. These glass ferrules 2a and 2b are housed and fixed in V grooves 5a and 5b on a base member 4. Inside the glass ferrules 2a and 2b in the V grooves 5a and 5b, lenses 7a and 7b are respectively housed and fixed. Between the respective lenses 7a and 7b, a reflection mirror 8 is provided for reflecting emitted light from the optical fibers F1-F4. This reflection mirror 8 can be vertically moved by an electromagnet 14 between an ordinary position and a reflecting position put into a recessed mirror positioning part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch for switching an optical path of an optical fiber, an optical switch array having a plurality of the optical switches, and an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer having the optical switch array.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional optical switches include, for example, JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY.VOL17, NO1 JANUAR
Micro-Opto-Mec described on pages 2-6 of Y 1999
hanical 2 × 2 Switch for Single-mode Fiber Based on
Plasma-Etched Silicon Mirror and Electrostatic Ac
Tuation is known. This 2 × 2 optical switch has 4
The optical fibers are arranged such that their central axes intersect at 90 degrees, and a reflecting mirror is inserted into and removed from the space on the distal end side of each optical fiber.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the four optical fibers are arranged so that the central axis of a pair of optical fibers facing each other is orthogonal to the central axis of another pair of optical fibers facing each other. Since the configuration is such that optical fibers are arranged, it is difficult to reduce the size by arranging (integrating) the optical switches in an array, that is, in a plane.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch, an optical switch array, and an optical multiplexing / demultiplexing device which can easily realize an array.

[0005]

An optical switch according to the present invention comprises:
A first optical fiber in which the tips of a plurality of first optical fibers are held in parallel
A first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, the second optical fiber having a second holding part that holds a distal end of at least one second optical fiber;
A base member in which the first holding portion and the second holding portion are arranged so that the ends of the optical fibers face each other; a pair of lenses arranged to face each other between the first holding portion and the second holding portion; A reflection mirror disposed between the pair of lenses and configured to reflect light emitted from the first optical fiber toward another first optical fiber;
Between a position where the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are optically coupled and a position where the first optical fibers are optically coupled with each other,
And an actuator for moving the reflection mirror.

In such an optical switch, the tips of the plurality of first optical fibers are arranged in parallel,
The tip of the first optical fiber and the tip of the second optical fiber face each other. Therefore, when the optical switch is, for example, a 1 × 2 type optical switch having two first optical fibers and one second optical fiber, a plurality of 1 × 2 type optical switches are arranged in parallel. And an array of optical switches can be easily achieved. In addition, since the distal ends of the first optical fibers are arranged in parallel, the four optical fibers have a central axis of nine.
It is not necessary to provide four lenses in accordance with the number of optical fibers as in a conventional 2 × 2 type optical switch arranged so as to intersect at 0 degrees, and only one lens is disposed on the tip side of the first optical fiber. One is good. Therefore, the number of components of the optical switch can be reduced, and the size and cost of the optical switch can be reduced.

The optical switch according to the present invention comprises two first switches.
A first holding part holding the tip of the optical fiber in parallel,
And a second holding unit that holds the distal ends of the second optical fibers in parallel with each other. The first holding unit and the second holding unit are arranged such that the distal ends of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber face each other. The arranged base member, a pair of lenses opposed to each other between the first holding unit and the second holding unit, and a pair of lenses arranged between the pair of lenses and emitted from one of the two first optical fibers. And the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are optically coupled to a reflecting mirror that reflects the emitted light toward the other and reflects the light emitted from one of the two second optical fibers toward the other. An actuator for moving the reflection mirror is provided between the position and a position where the first optical fibers and the second optical fibers are optically coupled to each other.

In such an optical switch, the distal ends of the two first optical fibers and the distal ends of the two second optical fibers are arranged in parallel with each other, and the distal end of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are arranged in parallel. The tip of the optical fiber faces. Therefore, a plurality of optical switches can be arranged in parallel, and an array of optical switches can be easily achieved. Also,
Since the distal end of each first optical fiber and the distal end of each second optical fiber are arranged in parallel, a conventional 2 × 2 type in which four optical fibers are arranged such that their central axes intersect at 90 degrees. Unlike the optical switch, it is not necessary to provide four lenses in accordance with the number of optical fibers, and it is sufficient if there are two lenses in accordance with each first optical fiber and each second optical fiber. Therefore, the number of components of the optical switch can be reduced, and the size and cost of the optical switch can be reduced.

Preferably, the base member is provided with a groove for accommodating a pair of lenses. Thereby, when attaching a pair of lenses to the base member, alignment (positioning) of the lenses can be simplified.

In this case, the lens is preferably a cylindrical lens or a ball lens. This makes it easier to mount the lens in the groove.

Preferably, the first holding portion and the second holding portion
The holding unit is formed of a ferrule member having a fiber alignment hole into which the tip of the optical fiber is inserted, and the ferrule member is accommodated in the groove in series with the lens.
Thus, the distal end of the first optical fiber and the distal end of the second optical fiber can be simply and reliably arranged in parallel. Further, since the first holding portion and the second holding portion are formed of ferrule members, and the ferrule members are accommodated in the grooves, the structure of the main body of the base member can be simplified.

The first holding portion and the second holding portion may have a fiber alignment groove into which the tip of the optical fiber is inserted. Also in this case, the distal end of the first optical fiber and the distal end of the second optical fiber can be simply and reliably arranged in parallel.

Further, an optical switch array according to the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the above optical switches are arranged in parallel. Thereby, a small optical switch array can be easily obtained.

Further, an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention comprises an optical switch array having a plurality of the above optical switches arranged in parallel, one first optical fiber introduced into each optical switch and one second optical fiber. Two demultiplexers, each connected to an optical fiber, for demultiplexing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths for each wavelength, and the other first optical fiber and the other second optical fiber introduced into each optical switch. And two multiplexers connected to each other to combine optical signals having different wavelengths. Thereby, a small-sized optical multiplexer / demultiplexer can be easily obtained.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an optical switch according to the present invention,
Preferred embodiments of an optical switch array and an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of the optical switch according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II. In these figures, the optical switch 1 is a mechanical 2 × 2 optical switch and includes four optical fibers F ₁ to F ₁ .
F ₄ is introduced.

The optical switch 1 has two optical fibers F
_1, a cylindrical glass ferrule 2 for holding a front end portion of the F ₂
a, and a cylindrical glass ferrule 2b that holds the distal ends of the two optical fibers F ₃ and F ₄ . These glass ferrules 2a, 2b, as shown in FIG. 3, has two fiber alignment hole 3 extending parallel to the axial direction, each of the optical fibers F ₁ ~ in the fiber alignment holes 3 F ₄
Is inserted and fixed. As a result, the tips of the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ are arranged in parallel by the glass ferrule 2a, and the tips of the optical fibers F ₃ and F ₄ are arranged in parallel by the glass ferrule 2b.

Such glass ferrules 2a, 2b
Is provided on the upper part of the base member 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the base member 4 has a pair of V-shaped grooves (V grooves) 5a and 5b extending in the longitudinal direction, and a mirror is provided between the V grooves 5a and 5b. A positioning recess 6 is formed. The base member 4 has a length of, for example, 6 mm,
It has dimensions of 3 mm in width and 5 mm in height.

The glass ferrules 2a and 2b are respectively housed in the outer ends of the V-grooves 5a and 5b such that the ends of the optical fibers F ₁ and F _{2 and} the ends of the optical fibers F ₃ and F ₄ face each other. Has been fixed. Thus, the V-grooves 5a, 5b
By inserting the glass ferrules 2a and 2b therein, the glass ferrules 2a and 2b are positioned by the V-grooves 5a and 5b. Therefore, the glass ferrule 2
When a and 2b are assembled to the base member 4, the work of aligning the glass ferrules 2a and 2b can be simplified.

[0020] V grooves 5a, glass ferrules 2a within 5b, the inner 2b, and light incident on the optical fiber F ₁ to F ₄ together collimates the light emitted from the optical fiber F ₁ to F ₄ condenses The lenses 7a and 7b are accommodated and fixed respectively. Here, since the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ are arranged in parallel, as in a conventional 2 × 2 optical switch in which four optical fibers are arranged such that their central axes intersect at 90 degrees, the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ are arranged in parallel. It is not necessary to provide a lens for each of the fibers F1 and F2, and one lens 7a can be used. The same applies to the lens 7b disposed on the optical fibers F ₃ and F ₄ side. The lenses 7a and 7b are also V-grooves 5a and 5b.
Since is positioned by the lens 7a, 7b of the base member 4 to incorporate during lens 7a, with alignment of 7b is simplified, the lens 7a, the optical fiber 7b F ₁ to F ₄
Can be positioned with high accuracy.

As such lenses 7a and 7b, for example, a cylindrical lens having a focal length of 1.8 mm (bending rate distribution lens, registered trade name: Selfoc lens) is used.
In this case, 30 in optical communication in the 1.55 μm band.
An aberration of about nm can be sufficiently tolerated. The lens 7
As a and 7b, a ball lens, a spherical lens, an aspherical lens, and the like can be used in addition to the cylindrical lens.
In this case, considering the ease of mounting and positioning,
Preferably, a cylindrical lens or a ball lens is used.

An optical fiber F is provided between the lenses 7a and 7b.
Rectangular plate-shaped reflecting mirror 8 is provided for reflecting light emitted from ₁ to F _4. The reflecting mirror 8 can be moved up and down between a normal position as shown in FIG. 2 and a reflecting position which has entered the mirror positioning recess 6 as shown in FIG. Further, the size and stroke of the reflecting mirror 8 is set in consideration of the spread of the light emitted from the optical fiber F ₁ to F _4. That is, when the reflecting mirror 8 is in the reflecting position, strikes the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror 8 not emitted light leakage from the optical fiber F ₁ to F _4, when the reflecting mirror 8 is in the normal position, the optical fiber F ₁ ~ a part of the light emitted from the F ₄ is configured so as that there is no upcoming per the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror 8.

When the reflecting mirror 8 is at the reflecting position, the light emitted from _one of the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ is reflected toward the other and emitted from one of the optical fibers F ₃ and F _4. Light is reflected toward the other. Here, when the reflection mirror 8 moves toward the reflection position, the reflection mirror 8 enters into the mirror positioning concave portion 6. Reaches the reflection position without fail, and the light reflection direction does not deviate from the normal reflection direction.

The reflection mirror 8 is, for example, LIGA
(Lithographic Galvanoformung Abformung) process. Thereby, the surface roughness of the reflection surface is improved, and the aspect ratio is high (thin).
A plate-like mirror can be obtained. By reducing the thickness of the reflection mirror 8, the driving force of the reflection mirror 8 can be suppressed.

Such a reflection mirror 8 is attached to an elastic member 9 such as a leaf spring. The elastic member 9 has legs 10x, 1 protruding from the upper surface of the base member 4.
0y. Here, when the reflecting mirror 8 descends from the normal position toward the reflecting position, the reflecting mirror 8 is reliably positioned by the mirror positioning concave portion 6. Therefore, the elastic member 9 having low rigidity is used as a member for supporting the reflecting mirror 8. Even if used, there is no particular problem. The elastic member 9 is manufactured by using, for example, a micro-machine technology using a semiconductor processing process, so that it can be easily adapted to the miniaturization of the optical switch 1.

On the upper surface of the elastic member 9, a supporting projection 11 is provided.
An electromagnet 14 including a magnetic core 12 and a coil 13 is provided via x and 11y, and the reflecting mirror 8 is moved up and down by the electromagnet 14. In such an electromagnet 14, when a current in a predetermined direction is applied to the coil 13, the reflection mirror 8 repels the magnetic core 12 and descends while the elastic member 9 is elastically deformed (see FIG. 4). When a current in the opposite direction is passed through 13, the reflection mirror 8 is attracted by the magnetic core 12 and rises.

The actuator for moving the reflection mirror 8 up and down is not limited to the above-described electromagnet 14, but may be an electrostatic actuator or the like using an electrostatic force. Also, instead of moving the reflecting mirror 8 up and down, the reflecting mirror 8 is rotated so that the reflecting mirror 8 is moved between the normal position and the reflecting position.
May be moved.

In the optical switch 1 configured as described above, when the reflection mirror 8 is at the normal position shown in FIG.
The optical fibers F ₁ and F ₄ are optically coupled, and the optical fiber F
₂ and F ₃ are optically coupled. Thereby, for example, the optical fiber F
Light emitted from the _1, lens 7a, and enters the optical fiber F ₄ between 7b and space propagation, the light emitted from the optical fiber F _3, the lens 7b, the optical fiber F by spatially propagate between 7a
_It is incident on ₂ .

On the other hand, when the reflection mirror 8 is at the reflection position shown in FIG. 4, the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ are optically coupled by the reflection of the light from the reflection mirror 8 and the optical fibers F ₃ and F _4. Are optically coupled. Thus, for example, the light emitted from the optical fiber F ₁ is reflected by the reflection surface on one side of the reflection mirror 8 and enters the optical fiber F ₂ , and the light emitted from the optical fiber F ₃ is reflected by the reflecting surface of the side incident to the optical fiber F _4.

In this embodiment configured as described above, the glass ferrule 2a holding the ends of the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ in parallel, and the ends of the optical fibers F ₃ and F ₄ are set in parallel. Since the held glass ferrules 2b are arranged at both ends of the base member 4, it is easy to arrange a plurality of optical switches 1 in an array. Further, the number of lenses can be reduced as compared with a conventional 2 × 2 optical switch in which four optical fibers are arranged so that their central axes intersect at 90 degrees, so that the optical switch 1 is small and inexpensive.

The optical switch 1 includes optical fibers F ₁ to F ₁ .
Cylindrical glass ferrule 2a a member for supporting the F _4,
But which is constituted by 2b, such glass ferrules 2a, instead of 2b, it may be employed a member having a fiber alignment groove for accommodating the optical fiber F ₁ to F _4. An example of this is shown in FIG.

In the figure, the optical switch 21 has fiber holding substrates 22a and 22b, and two parallel V-shaped fiber alignment grooves 23 extending in parallel are provided on the upper surfaces of the fiber holding substrates 22a and 22b. Is formed, and the optical fiber is accommodated and fixed in the fiber alignment groove 23. As a result, each optical fiber is arranged in parallel.
Such fiber holding substrates 22a and 22b are fixed to both ends of the base member 24. V grooves 25a, 25b for accommodating the lenses 7a, 7b are formed inside the fiber holding substrates 22a, 22b in the base member 24. Even with such a configuration, arraying of the optical switches 21 becomes easy, and
It is possible to reduce the size and cost of the device.

The optical switch 21 is formed by fixing fiber holding substrates 22a and 22b having two fiber alignment grooves 23 on the upper surface of the base member 24. Each of the fiber alignment grooves may be formed.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an optical switch array formed by arranging a plurality of the above-described optical switches 1 in parallel.

In the figure, the optical switch array 31
A plurality of (here, nine) optical switches 1 are connected to one substrate 3
2 and arranged and fixed in parallel. Although not shown, each optical switch 1 of the optical switch array 31 is not shown.
An electromagnet for driving the reflection mirror 8 is provided on the upper part of the optical switch 1 so that the reflection mirror 8 of each optical switch 1 can be driven independently. By configuring the optical switch array 31 using the optical switch 1 as described above, a small optical switch array 31 can be obtained.

FIG. 7 shows an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer provided with such an optical switch array. In FIG.
1 is to select an arbitrary signal wavelength from the wavelength multiplexed signal.
Multi-channel (here 9-channel) OADM (Optical Add / Drop Multiplexer) with Add / Drop function
r).

The OADM 41 is provided with the optical switch
It has a ray 31. Each of the optical switch array 31
Nine optical fibers F introduced into the optical switch 1₁Is a branching wave
Each of which is connected to an ODMUX (ODMUX) 42.
42 is a single optical fiber f ₁Wavelength difference
(Here λ₀~ Λ₈) Optical signal for each wavelength
Waves. 9 optical fibers introduced into each optical switch 1
F_FourAre connected to the multiplexers (OMUX) 43, respectively.
Of the wavelength λ₀~ Λ₈Multiplexed optical signals
Optical fiber f_FourLead to. Introduced to each optical switch 1
9 optical fibers F_ThreeIs a demultiplexer for Add (ODMU
X) 44, each of which has one
Optical fiber f_ThreeWavelength λ₀~ Λ₈Light signal
Is demultiplexed for each wavelength. 9 introduced to each optical switch 1
Optical fiber F_TwoIs a multiplexer (OMUX) 45 for Drop
And the multiplexer 45 has a wavelength λ₀~ Λ₈
Into a single optical fiber f_TwoLead to.

In such an OADM 41, the signal path is switched between the through state and the Add / Drop state by each optical switch 1 of the optical switch array 31. When the signal path is in the through state, the reflection mirror 8 of the optical switch 1 is in the normal position. In this case, the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₄ are optically coupled and the optical fibers F ₂ and F ₃ are optically coupled. Normal optical communication is performed.

On the other hand, when the signal path is in the Add / Drop state, the reflection mirror 8 of the optical switch 1 descends to reach the reflection position, so that the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₂ are optically coupled and the optical fibers F ₃ and F ₃ are connected. F ₄ is optically coupled. In this case, a signal of an arbitrary wavelength is inserted from the wavelength-multiplexed signals (Add operation) or a signal of an arbitrary wavelength is dropped (Drop operation).
It becomes possible.

In the OADM 41 configured as described above, since the small optical switch array 31 is used, the size of the OADM 41 can be reduced accordingly. Further, the cost of the OADM 41 can be reduced.

The optical switch according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the optical switch of the above embodiment is a 2 × 2 type optical switch, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and the present invention relates to a 1 × 2 type optical switch and a 2 × (2 × 2) type optical switch. It is also applicable to switches and the like.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the first holding section holding a plurality of first optical fibers in parallel and the second holding section holding at least one second optical fiber are provided with the first optical fiber. Since the ends of the fiber and the second optical fiber are arranged so as to face each other, arraying of the optical switches can be easily achieved.
Further, the size and cost of the optical switch, the optical switch array, and the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, the first holding section holding two first optical fibers in parallel and the second holding section holding two second optical fibers in parallel, Since the ends of the fiber and the second optical fiber are arranged so as to face each other, arraying of the optical switches can be easily achieved. Further, the size and cost of the optical switch, the optical switch array, and the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of an optical switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the optical switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the reflection mirror shown in FIG. 1 is at a reflection position.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of an optical switch according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a main part of an optical switch array including a plurality of optical switches shown in FIG.

7 is a configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer including the optical switch array illustrated in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical switch, 2a ... Glass ferrule (1st holding part), 2b ... Glass ferrule (2nd holding part), 3 ... Fiber alignment hole, 4 ... Base member, 5a, 5b ... Groove part, 7
a, 7b: lens, 8: reflection mirror, 14: electromagnet (actuator), 21: optical switch, 22a: fiber holding substrate (first holding portion), 22b: fiber holding substrate (second holding portion), 23: fiber Alignment groove, 24: base member, 25a, 25b: groove, 31: optical switch array, 41: optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, 42: duplexer, 43: multiplexer, 44: add duplexer, 45 ... Drop multiplexer,
F ₁ , F ₂ ... optical fiber (first optical fiber), F ₃ , F ₄ ...
Optical fiber (second optical fiber).

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Hirata 3-12-1, Koto, Kamigori-cho, Ako-gun, Hyogo Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Harima Research Laboratory F-term (reference) 2H041 AA15 AB13 AC04 AZ02 AZ03 AZ08 5K002 AA07 BA04 BA06 DA02 FA01

Claims (8)

[Claims] A first holding section that holds tip ends of a plurality of first optical fibers in parallel, and a second holding section that holds at least one tip end of a second optical fiber; First
A base member on which the first holding section and the second holding section are arranged so that the tips of the optical fiber and the second optical fiber face each other; and a face between the first holding section and the second holding section. A pair of lenses disposed, a reflection mirror disposed between the pair of lenses, and reflecting light emitted from the first optical fiber toward another first optical fiber; and the first optical fiber An optical switch, comprising: an actuator for moving the reflection mirror between a position where the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are optically coupled to each other and a position where the first optical fiber is optically coupled to each other. A first holding portion holding the tip portions of the two first optical fibers in parallel, and a second holding portion holding the tip portions of the two second optical fibers in parallel, A base member on which the first holding section and the second holding section are arranged such that tips of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber face each other; and a first holding section and the second holding section. A pair of lenses disposed opposite to each other, and disposed between the pair of lenses to reflect light emitted from one of the two first optical fibers toward the other, and A reflecting mirror for reflecting light emitted from one of the second optical fibers toward the other; a position for optically coupling the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber; Between the position where the two optical fibers are optically coupled to each other, An optical switch, comprising: an actuator for moving the reflection mirror. 3. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a groove for accommodating the pair of lenses. 4. The optical switch according to claim 3, wherein the lens is a cylindrical lens or a ball lens. 5. The first holding part and the second holding part are each formed of a ferrule member having a fiber alignment hole into which a tip of the optical fiber is inserted, and the ferrule member includes the lens in the groove. The optical switch according to claim 3, wherein the optical switch is housed in series with the optical switch. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first holding portion and the second holding portion have a fiber alignment groove into which a tip of the optical fiber is inserted. Light switch. 7. An optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches according to claim 1 arranged in parallel. 8. An optical switch array in which a plurality of optical switches according to claim 2 are arranged in parallel, one of the first optical fibers introduced into each of the optical switches, and one of the optical switches. Respectively connected to the second optical fiber,
Two demultiplexers for demultiplexing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths for each wavelength, respectively connected to the other first optical fiber and the other second optical fiber introduced into each of the optical switches,
An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, comprising: two multiplexers for multiplexing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths.