WO2011066713A1

WO2011066713A1 - Micro self-latching optical switch

Info

Publication number: WO2011066713A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/001809
Authority: WO
Inventors: 刘俊华
Original assignee: 刘晓华
Priority date: 2009-12-04
Filing date: 2010-11-11
Publication date: 2011-06-09

Abstract

A micro self-latching optical switch comprises a rotation part (1) and a base part (8). The rotation part (1) comprises a mirror (2), two first permanent magnets (3), rotating shafts (4) and a main carrier (5). The base part (8) comprises two second permanent magnets (6) and a group of coils (7). The rotation part (1) is supported on supporting arms (10) by the rotating shafts (4). An outer rotation part (13) is further disposed on the rotation part (1). The outer rotation part (13) comprises two third permanent magnets (14), outer rotating shafts (15) and an outer main carrier (20). The outer rotation part (13) is supported on the supporting arms (10) of the base part (8) by the outer rotating shafts (15). The base part (8) further comprises two four permanent magnets (18) and another group of coils (17). The optical switch can be kept in an on-connection state even when a driving power supply fails or is broken, thereby ensuring uninterrupted communication and saving the driving power supply.

Description

Miniature self-locking optical switch

The invention relates to a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) optical switch applied in the field of optical communication.

Background technique

Optical fiber network communication technology is the main body of the modern communication technology industry and the main direction of future development. Optical switch is one of the indispensable important components in optical fiber communication network, and is the core device of optical switching, and also the main factor affecting the performance of optical network. Its function is to switch and switch optical signals to realize optical cross-connection in optical communication networks, and optical cross-connect technology is a key technology in all-fiber communication networks. Optical switches and their switch arrays can also be used in a variety of displays. The "on and off" state of the optical switch is in one-to-one correspondence with the on and off states of the driving power supply, that is, the "on or off" of the power supply corresponds to the "on or off" of the switch. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a commonly used miniature optical switch. The states a, b, and c indicate the basic working principle and process. In MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems) optical switches, miniature mirrors are used to reflect light beams. Changing the direction of the reflected light is achieved by rotating the mirror so that the incident light can be connected to any defined output channel that enables direct conversion between optical signals without first converting them to electricity Signals, and can form dense, low-loss switches of any size. The switch array thus formed can simultaneously steer a large number of optical signals, so it can be used as a main line switch to process a large number of signals, such as a main line switch for a metropolitan area communication network. This type of commonly used micro-optical light is currently produced mainly through MEMS technology. There are two types of production technology: Si- MEMS Technology and Printed Circuits Board (MEMS-based Technology); ^PCB-MEMS Technology) MEMS products are characterized by small size and function. Strong, mass production, relatively cheap, and so on, has been widely used in various fields such as industry, science and technology, military defense.

However, in the case where the driving power of the optical switch is disabled or disconnected, whether the optical switch can still be in the "on" state (state b in FIG. 1) can ensure uninterrupted communication and can Save drive power? An optical switch having such a characteristic can be called a "self-latched optical switch". However, to date, no silicon-based micro-electro-mechanical system technology (Si-MEMS Technology) has appeared on the market. Printed Circuits Board Micro-electromechanical systems technology and micro-injection molding technology MIMT (Micro Injection Molding Technology) produces optical switches with "self-locking" characteristics. The Chinese patent "Magnetic Adsorption Planar Mirror Optical Switch" ( 03114823. 9 ) uses a permanent magnet to lock the mirror, but its structure, driving method, processing technology The procedure is different from the present invention.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a miniature self-locking beam steering positioner that has a self-locking function. An embodiment of the invention is: A miniature self-locking optical switch comprising: '

a rotating portion and a base portion;

The rotating part comprises a mirror, two first permanent magnets, a rotating shaft and a main carrier, the mirror is arranged on the surface of the main carrier, and the two first permanent magnets are arranged on the bottom of the main carrier below the mirror with the axis of rotation as the axis of symmetry;

The base portion has a base and a support arm, two second permanent magnet pairs are disposed in the base, a set of energizing coils are correspondingly disposed above or below the two second permanent magnets, and the rotating portion is disposed on the support arm by the rotating shaft support . The two second permanent magnets of the base portion and the two first permanent magnets of the rotating portion form two pairs of magnetic groups, and the magnetic field directions of each pair of magnetic groups are the same, that is, they are attracted.

For easy installation, the V-shaped groove is symmetrically arranged on the two support arms of the base portion, and the bottom of the V-shaped groove is provided with a circular rotating shaft hole seat. The diameter of the circular rotating shaft hole seat is slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft, and the bottom of the V-shaped groove is pushed in. The minimum size is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is pushed into the circular shaft hole seat through the V-shaped groove.

The main carrier and the rotating shaft are made of a polymer, and the main carrier and the rotating shaft are integrally formed, and the two first permanent magnets are embedded in the main carrier. The rotating shaft can also be made of a metal material, and the rotating shaft is fixedly mounted on both sides of the inner main carrier.

The base portion is made of a polymer, and two second permanent magnets and energized solenoids are embedded in the base.

The invention can also be provided as a two-axis structure. An outer rotating portion is further disposed outside the rotating portion, the outer rotating portion includes two third permanent magnets, an outer rotating shaft and an outer main carrier, the outer rotating shaft is disposed on both sides of the outer main carrier, and the rotating portion is disposed outside the rotating shaft support In the main carrier, the rotating shaft of the two third permanent magnets is disposed at the bottom of the outer main carrier with the axis of symmetry; the outer rotating portion supports the supporting arm disposed on the base portion through the outer rotating shaft;

The base portion further includes two fourth permanent magnets, another set of energized solenoids and a base, two second permanent magnets - and two fourth permanent magnets are symmetrically disposed in the base, and the two sets of energized solenoids are respectively disposed correspondingly Above or below the two second permanent magnets and the fourth permanent magnet, the two second permanent magnets and the fourth permanent magnet of the base portion and the two first permanent magnets and the outer rotating portion of the rotating portion respectively The permanent magnets form four pairs of magnetic groups, and the magnetic field directions of each pair of magnetic groups are the same, that is, they are attracted.

For easy installation, the V-shaped groove is symmetrically arranged on the two side walls of the outer main carrier and the two support arms of the base portion, and the bottom of the V-shaped groove is provided with a circular rotating shaft hole seat, and the diameter of the circular rotating shaft hole seat is slightly larger than the rotation. The diameter of the shaft and the outer rotating shaft, the minimum size of the lower portion of the V-shaped groove is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotating shaft and the outer rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft and the outer rotating shaft are respectively squeezed into the circular shaft hole seat. The outer main carrier and the outer rotating shaft are made of a polymer, and the outer main carrier and the outer rotating shaft are integrally formed, and the two third permanent magnets are embedded in the outer main carrier. The outer rotating shaft can also be made of a metal material, and the outer rotating shaft is fixedly mounted on both sides of the outer main carrier.

The base portion is made of a polymer, two second permanent magnets and two third permanent magnets, and two sets of energized solenoids are embedded in the base.

The invention can make the optical switch still in the "on" state when the driving power of the optical switch fails or is disconnected, thereby ensuring uninterrupted communication and saving the driving power. Moreover, most of the components are molded using MIMT (Micro Injection Molding Technology). Currently, MIMT has been able to produce high-precision polymer (plastic) samples with a size of about 1 mm. The V-groove designed by the present invention and its mounting method with the rotating shaft solves the problem of rotation of the optical switch produced by MIMT. An N X N optical switch array (N is an integer greater than 2) can be derived from the 2X 2 optical switch array of the present invention.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1: : Schematic diagram of a common miniature optical switch. The states a, b, and c represent the basic working principle and process. When the drive power to the switch fails or is turned off, the switch returns from state c to state a.

Figure 2: Schematic diagram of the rotating portion of the single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of two permanent magnets and energized solenoids in the base portion of the single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 4: Schematic illustration of the base portion of the single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 4-1: Sub-structure diagram of the energized solenoid in the base portion of the single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 4- 2: Illustration of the press-fit in installation of the V-groove and the rotating shaft of the single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure _5: A three-dimensional view of the single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 6: The magnetic field of the energized solenoid of the single-axis switch of the present invention and the magnetic pole direction of the permanent magnet.

Figure 7: Illustration of two rotation scenarios for a single axis shutoff of the present invention.

Figure 8: Three-dimensional view of a 2 X 2 optical switch array of a single-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the outer rotating portion of the biaxial switch of the present invention.

Figure 10: Schematic illustration of the base portion of the dual axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 10-1: A block diagram of two sets of energized solenoids in the base portion of the dual axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 10-2: A sectional view of the energized solenoid in the base portion of the dual-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 10-3: Two sets of energized solenoids and four permanent magnets in the base portion of the biaxial brake of the present invention. Figure 10-4: Schematic diagram of the magnetic field generated by the solenoid of the dual-axis switch of the present invention as it passes current. Fig. 10-5: The magnetic field of the energized solenoid of the two-axis switch of the present invention and the magnetic pole direction (internal rotation portion) of the permanent magnet. Figure 11: A three-dimensional view of the dual axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 12: Illustration of four rotation scenarios for a two-axis switch of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a two-axis switch 2 X 2 array of the present invention.

detailed description

Example 1

This embodiment provides a miniature self-locking single-axis optical switch.

In the production and manufacturing technology, the product of the invention mainly adopts MIMT (Micro Injection Molding Technology).

As shown in Fig. 2, the rotating portion 1 of the micro self-locking single-axis optical switch is composed of a mirror 2, two first permanent magnets 3 (one of which is not shown), a rotating shaft 4, and a polymer main carrier 5. The rotating shaft 4 is symmetrically disposed on both sides of the main carrier 5, the mirror 2 is disposed on the surface of the main carrier 5, and the two first permanent magnets 3 are disposed on the bottom sides of the main carrier 5 with the rotating shaft 4 as an axis of symmetry, the mirror 2. The two first permanent magnets 3 and the inner rotating shaft 4 are embedded in the polymer main carrier 5, wherein the rotating shaft 4 can be a metal plug or a polymer plug, and if it is a polymer plug, the rotating shaft 4 and the main carrier 5 in the polymer are integrally formed at the same time.

3 and 4, the base portion 8 has a base 9 and a support arm 10, two second permanent magnets 6 and a set of energizing solenoids 7 are symmetrically disposed in the base 9, and the two coils of the energized solenoid 7 are respectively located in two blocks. Above the second permanent magnet 6. Both of the second permanent magnets 6 and the energizing solenoids 7 are embedded in the polymer base 8.

Figure 4-1 shows the detailed structure of the energized solenoid 7. The magnetic field of the energized solenoid can be judged by the "right-handed spiral rule" in electromagnetism. When the current passes, the magnetic fields generated by the two coils in the energized coil are respectively generated. The direction is the opposite.

Figure 4-2 shows a press-fit in installation diagram of the V-groove 11 and the rotating shaft 4. There is no doubt that this is one of the most critical parts of the optical switch. In Fig. 4-2, the support arm 10 is provided with a V-shaped groove 11. The bottom of the V-shaped groove 11 is a circular shaft hole seat 12, and the rotating shaft 4 is pushed into the circular shaft hole seat 12 via the V-shaped groove 11. The diameter of the circular shaft housing 12 in the V-shaped groove 11 should be slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft 4, so that the frictional force during rotation is made as small as possible. The minimum size of the bottom of the V-groove is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotating shaft 4.

In the manufacturing process, the positioning of the spatial position of each of the above components is critical, and the positioning should be formed in the molds of the rotating portion 1 and the base portion 8, respectively, and the polymer enters separately in its molten state. In these different molds, after the cooling molding, the assembly of the rotating portion 1 and the base portion 8 constitutes a micro self-locking light switch, as shown in FIG.

Regarding the interaction between the magnetic field and the permanent magnet, FIG. 6 shows the direction of the magnetic field of the energized solenoid 7 and the first permanent magnet 3 The correct combination and arrangement of the magnetic pole directions of the second permanent magnet 6 determines that the direction of rotation is counterclockwise and vice versa. The direction of the magnetic field of each pair of magnetic groups must be the same, ie they are always attracted to each other. Referring to Figure 7, the final spatial position of the optical switch after two clockwise or counterclockwise rotations is shown in Figure 7. The angle of rotation of the mirror in the optical switch is determined by the distance from the surface of the mirror to the upper surface of the base and the relative geometry of the rotating portion.

Figure 8 is a micro self-locking optical switch 2 X 2 array designed with a V-shaped groove (the solenoid portion is omitted in the figure). This V-groove and the method of squeezing the installation not only simplifies the production installation procedure, but also makes use of Micro-injection molding technology MIMT is possible to mass-produce optical switches. The first step is to separately produce the rotating portion 1 and the base portion 8, and then assemble the micro self-locking optical switch by the method shown in Figs. 4-2, and 8. The process and steps of production and installation of an N X N optical switch array (N is an integer greater than 2) can be derived from the 2 X 2 optical switch array of the above invention.

Example 2:

This embodiment provides a miniature self-locking dual-axis switch.

This product mainly uses MIMT (Micro Injection Molding Technology) in manufacturing technology.

As shown in Fig. 11, the micro self-locking double shaft switch includes a rotating portion 1, an outer rotating portion 13, and a base portion 8. The structure of the rotating portion 1 is as shown in Fig. 2, and is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 9, the outer rotating portion 13 of the micro self-locking optical switch is composed of two third permanent magnets 14 (one of which is not shown), the outer rotating shaft 15 and the outer polymer main carrier 20, and the outer rotating shaft 15 The two main sides of the outer main carrier 20 are disposed on the two sides of the outer main carrier 20, and the two outer permanent magnets 14 are symmetrical axes disposed on both sides of the bottom of the outer main carrier 20, and the outer main carriers 20 are symmetrical axes. The V-shaped groove 19 is symmetrically disposed, and the bottom of the V-shaped groove is provided with a circular shaft hole seat 16, and the two third permanent magnets 14 and the outer rotating shaft 15 are embedded in the outer polymer main carrier 20, wherein the outer rotating shaft 15 may be a metal plug or a polymer plug. In the case of a polymer plug, the outer rotating shaft 15 and the outer polymer main carrier 20 are integrally formed at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 10-3, the base portion 8 of the micro self-locking biaxial optical switch is composed of two second permanent magnets 6 and two fourth permanent magnets 18, two sets of energizing solenoids 7 and 17 and a polymerization. The base 9 is formed with a support arm 10 symmetrically disposed on the base 9. The support arm is provided with a TV-shaped slot 11, the bottom of the V-shaped slot 11 is a circular rotary shaft seat 12, two second permanent magnets 6 and two fourth Both the permanent magnet 18 and the energizing solenoids 7, 17 are embedded in the polymer base 9.

Figures 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 and 10-5 show the detailed construction of the energized solenoids 7, 17. The magnetic field of the energized solenoid can be judged by the "right-handed spiral rule" in electromagnetism. When the current passes, the directions of the magnetic fields generated by the two coils in the energized solenoid 7 are opposite, and the magnetic field of the energized solenoid 17 is also in this way. Fig. 10-4 is a schematic view showing the generation of a magnetic field when the solenoids 7 and 17 pass current. Regarding the interaction between the magnetic field and the permanent magnet, taking the rotating portion 1 as an example, FIG. 10-5 shows that the magnetic field direction of the energizing solenoid 7 and the magnetic pole directions of the first permanent magnet 3 and the second permanent magnet 6 are correct. Combination and arrangement, the direction of the current in the figure determines the direction of rotation is counterclockwise, and vice versa.

In the manufacturing process, the positioning of the spatial position of each of the above components is critical, and the positioning should be formed in the molds of the inner rotating portion 1, the outer rotating portion 13 and the base portion 8, respectively, in which the polymer In the melted state, the three different molds are respectively entered, and after cooling molding, the micro-self-locking biaxial optical switch is constructed by the assembly of the rotating portion 1, the outer rotating portion 13 and the base portion 8. Referring to Figures 9, 10, 10-3 and 11, attention is paid to the two second permanent magnets 7 and the two fourth permanent magnets 17 of the base portion 8 and the two first portions of the rotating portion 1 and the outer rotating portion 13 The permanent magnet 3 and the third permanent magnet 14 form four pairs of magnetic groups, and the magnetic field directions of each pair of magnetic groups must be the same, that is, they are always attracted to each other. How the rotation of the f-moving portion 1 is generated is explained in detail in Fig. 10-5, and the generation of the rotation of the outer rotating portion 13 is similar. Figure 12 shows the final spatial position of the four switches after the rotation of the optical switch. The angle of rotation of the mirror 2 in the miniature self-locking biaxial optical switch is determined by the distance from the surface of the mirror 2 to the surface of the base 8, the relative geometry of the rotating portion 1 and the outer rotating portion 14.

In short, the "self-locking" function in the micro self-locking biaxial optical switch is achieved by mutual attraction of the permanent magnet group, and the function of the energizing solenoid is to generate a torque for rotating the mirror, which is derived from the permanent magnet. After the magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the energized solenoid, and the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the mirror is completed, the solenoid does not need to be energized, that is, the drive power can be disconnected.

Figure 11 is a three-dimensional view of a miniature self-locking dual-axis optical switch designed with a V-groove. V-shaped grooves 11, 19 are respectively disposed on the support arm 10 of the base portion 8 and the two sides of the outer main carrier 13, and the bottoms of the V-shaped grooves 11, 19 are provided with circular shaft insertion holes 12, 16, and the rotating shaft 4 and the outer The rotating shaft 15 can be respectively pushed into the support arm 10 mounted on the outer rotating portion 13 and the base portion through the V-shaped grooves 19, 11. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most critical parts of the optical switch. The diameter of the circular shaft housings 16, 12 is slightly larger than the diameters of the inner rotating shaft 4 and the outer rotating shaft 15, so that the frictional force during rotation is minimized. . The minimum size of the bottom of the V-groove is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner and outer shafts for squeezing into the installation. This V-groove and push-in installation not only simplifies the production installation process, but also makes it possible to mass-produce optical switches using the micro-injection molding technology MIMT.

Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 9, and Fig. 10, the first step is to separately produce the rotating portion 1, the outer rotating portion 13, and the base portion 8, and then assemble into a micro self-locking biaxial optical switch by the method shown in Fig. 11. Referring to Figure 12, the final spatial position of the four-axis optical switch after four clockwise or counterclockwise rotations is shown in Figure 12. Figure 13 shows a miniature self-locking dual-axis optical switch 2 X 2 array. The process and steps of production and installation of an N X N optical switch array (N is an integer greater than 2) can be derived from the 2 X 2 optical switch array of the above invention.

Claims

Claim

A miniature self-locking optical switch comprising a rotating portion (1) and a base portion (8), wherein the rotating portion comprises a mirror (2), two first permanent magnets (3), and a rotating shaft (4) And the main carrier (5), the mirror (2) is arranged on the surface of the main carrier (5), and the two first permanent magnets (3) are arranged below the mirror (2) with the axis of rotation (4) as the axis of symmetry Main carrier (5) bottom;

The base portion (8) has a base (9) and a support arm (10), two second permanent magnets (6) are symmetrically disposed in the base (9), and one set of energized solenoids (7) are correspondingly disposed in the second block Above or below the permanent magnet (6), the rotating portion (1) is supported by the rotating shaft (4) on the support arm (10), and the two second permanent magnets (6) and the rotating portion of the base portion (8) The two first permanent magnets (3) of 1) form two pairs of magnetic groups, and the magnetic field directions of each pair of magnetic groups are the same.

2. A micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that an outer rotating portion (13) is provided outside the rotating portion (1), and the outer rotating portion (13) comprises two third permanent magnets (14) ), the outer rotating shaft (15) and the outer main carrier (20), the outer rotating shaft (15) is disposed on both sides of the outer main carrier (20), and the rotating portion (1) is supported by the rotating shaft (4) to be disposed on the outer main carrier (20) In the middle of the two permanent magnets (14), the rotating shaft (15) is disposed at the bottom of the outer main carrier (20), and the outer rotating portion (13) is supported by the outer rotating shaft (15). On the support arm (10) of part (8):

The base portion further includes two fourth permanent magnets (18) and another set of energizing solenoids (17), and the two second permanent magnets (6) and the two fourth permanent magnets (18) are symmetrically disposed on the base respectively (9) In the middle, the two sets of energized coils (7) and (17) are respectively disposed above or below the two second permanent magnets (6) and the fourth permanent magnets (18), and the two portions of the base portion (8) Two permanent magnets (6) and a fourth permanent magnet (18) respectively and two first permanent magnets of the rotating portion (1)

(3) The two third permanent magnets (14) of the outer rotating portion (13) form four pairs of magnetic groups, and the magnetic field directions of each pair of magnetic groups are the same.

3. The micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 1, wherein a V-shaped groove (11) is symmetrically disposed on the two support arms (10) of the base portion (8), and the bottom of the V-shaped groove (11) is disposed. The circular shaft housing (12), the diameter of the circular shaft housing (12) is slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft (4), and the minimum size of the bottom of the V-groove (11) is slightly smaller than that of the rotating shaft (4). The diameter, the rotating shaft (4) is pushed into the circular shaft housing (12) via the V-groove (11).

4. The micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 1, wherein said main carrier (5) and a rotating shaft

(4) For the polymer, the main carrier (5) and the rotating shaft (4) are integrally formed, and the two first permanent magnets (3) are embedded in the main carrier (5).

The micro self-locking single-axis optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating shaft (4) is made of a metal material, and the rotating shaft (4) is fixedly mounted on both sides of the main carrier (5).

6. The micro self-locking single-axis optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the base portion (8) is made of a polymer, two second permanent magnets (6), and an energized solenoid (7) ) Mounted in the base.

7. The micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 2, characterized in that on both side walls of the outer main carrier (20) of the outer rotating portion (13) and the two supporting arms (10) of the base portion (8) Symmetrical V-grooves (19), (11), V-grooves (19), (11) Round shaft housings (16), (12), circular shaft housings (12), (16) The diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft (4) and the outer rotating shaft (15), and the minimum size of the lower portion of the V-grooves (19), (11) is slightly smaller than the rotating shaft (4) and the outer rotating shaft (15). The diameter, the rotating shaft (4) and the outer rotating shaft (15) are respectively pushed into the circular shaft housings (16), (12).

The micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the outer main carrier (20) and the outer rotating shaft (15) are made of a polymer, the outer main carrier (20) and the outer rotating shaft. (15) is integrally formed, and two third permanent magnets are mounted (14) in the outer main carrier (20).

The micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the outer rotating shaft (15) is made of a metal material, and the outer rotating shaft (15) is fixedly mounted on both sides of the outer main carrier (20).

10. The micro self-locking optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the base portion (8) is made of a polymer, two second permanent magnets (6) and two third permanent magnets (18) ), two sets of energized solenoid coils (7), (17) are mounted on the base.