EP1360531A2 - Dispositifs et procedes servant a permuter la transmission de lumiere d'une fibre a l'autre - Google Patents

Dispositifs et procedes servant a permuter la transmission de lumiere d'une fibre a l'autre

Info

Publication number
EP1360531A2
EP1360531A2 EP02703057A EP02703057A EP1360531A2 EP 1360531 A2 EP1360531 A2 EP 1360531A2 EP 02703057 A EP02703057 A EP 02703057A EP 02703057 A EP02703057 A EP 02703057A EP 1360531 A2 EP1360531 A2 EP 1360531A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fiber
capsule
steerable
armature
magnetic field
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02703057A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1360531A4 (fr
Inventor
David Baasch
Charles Osborne
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Constellation Labs Corp
Original Assignee
Constellation Labs Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Constellation Labs Corp filed Critical Constellation Labs Corp
Publication of EP1360531A2 publication Critical patent/EP1360531A2/fr
Publication of EP1360531A4 publication Critical patent/EP1360531A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
    • G02B6/3568—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details characterised by the actuating force
    • G02B6/3572—Magnetic force
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/3502—Optical coupling means having switching means involving direct waveguide displacement, e.g. cantilever type waveguide displacement involving waveguide bending, or displacing an interposed waveguide between stationary waveguides
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
    • G02B6/3544—2D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a plane
    • G02B6/3548—1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
    • G02B6/355—1x2 switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of two possible outputs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
    • G02B6/3582—Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to the field of fiber optics communications, and more specifically to devices and methods for switching transmission of light from one optical fiber to another.
  • Light signals are transmitted through optical fibers. These are very thin, and made in very large lengths (e.g. of the order of 1 km or longer). Often electrical signals are converted to light signals, then transmitted through fibers, and then reconverted to electrical signals. Fibers are thus widely use for wired ' communications over long distances, such as for telephone lines, etc.
  • an optical fiber switch device can receive light from one fiber (often called the feeding fiber), and couple it to a receiving fiber. Or it can couple the received light selectively to one of many receiving fibers.
  • Optical fiber switch devices are implemented in a number of ways in the prior art. A first such way is described herein as Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. It has been reproduced from an article titled: Mechanical Optical-Fibre Switch, Electronics Letters Vol. 12, July 22 1976.
  • prior art switch 100 is provided in a glass tube 110 that defines an enclosure 115.
  • a feeding fiber 120 enters enclosure 115, and couples light into either one of receiving fiber 132 or receiving fiber 134.
  • Enclosure 115 may be sealed, and filled with propyl alcohol to keep the ends of fibers 120, 132, 134 clean.
  • a cross section of tube 110 is shown, at a plane where receiving fibers 132, 134 have their inputs.
  • Tube 110 internally has a square cross section, and receiving fibers 132, 134 are at corners of the square, in corresponding grooves. Feeding fiber 120 can be more reliably aligned with either one of receiving fibers 132, 134, by being driven to the same groove.
  • feeding fiber 120 has a ferromagnetic sleeve 140, made from nickel. This way the output end of fiber 110 can be driven to either groove by applying magnetic forces. These may be established by electromagnets (not shown).
  • a reed switch uses a reed switch to switch the device on and off, by deflecting or not the output end of the feeding fiber from an aligned position.
  • a conventional reed runs along the entire length of the portion of the feeding fiber that is within tube 110 of the prior art.
  • the magnetic field runs parallel to the conventional reeds, and in fact, it magnetizes them.
  • a consistent problem in the prior art is that large magnetic fields are needed to accomplish switching in devices such as that of Fig. 1. That is because the electromagnets for establishing the field are best placed outside the portion encapsulated by the glass tube, and therefore at a large distance from the fiber that is to be steered by applying the magnetic field. Due to the large distance, these electromagnets require a lot of electrical current to activate, more than is justified for a mere switch.
  • the problem has not been addressed satisfactorily in the prior art.
  • the problem does not seem addressed at all. In fact, the disclosure of the reference does not seem fully implemented. The reference even concludes with a statement that the authors intend to proceed with development along the lines indicated in the disclosure.
  • a device 300 receives a feeding fiber 317 (near the top) goes through a guiding sphere 320.
  • Sphere 320 can be rotated to various orientations, for aligning the free end of feeding fiber 317 with the receiving end of any one of receiving fibers 310.
  • Sphere 320 is steered to these various orientations by electromagnets 326 attracting selectively a disc 319 fitted about sphere 320.
  • sphere 320 is placed in a socket, and helps form an enclosure 330 that contains the free ends of feeding fiber 317 and receiving fibers 310. This way disc 319 is wholly outside enclosure 330, which permits it to be located closely to electromagnets 326.
  • the drawback here is a very complex structure with mechanical parts moving against each other. This makes it expensive, and of a shorter useful life.
  • the present invention overcomes these problems and limitations of the prior art.
  • the present invention provides devices and methods for switching transmission of light from one fiber to another.
  • a steerable fiber terminates in a capsule, as do one or more cooperating fibers.
  • the steerable fiber is moved to exchange light selectively with one of the cooperating fibers.
  • the end of the steerable fiber includes an armature that moves in response to applied magnetic fields. At least one magnetic field is generated, and a pair of pole pieces transfers it to a location inside the capsule that is close to the armature.
  • the invention offers the advantage that the generated magnetic field need not be large, thus conserving electric current. Indeed, the pole pieces terminate in a short distance between them, to generate relatively large field strength. A switch is thus created that is economical to operate.
  • the strength of the generated magnetic field need not be large in the first place.
  • the armature itself need not be large, and maybe manufactured economically near the end of the steerable fiber as a sphere. A switch is thus simple, and further economical to manufacture.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram of a fiber-to- fiber switching device in the prior art.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross sectional diagram of a tube of the device of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a diagram of another fiber-to-fiber switching device in the prior art.
  • Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a fiber-to-fiber switching device made according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4B is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 4 A, showing one of its attainable switching states.
  • Fig. 4C is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 4 A, showing another one of its attainable switching states.
  • Fig. 5 A is a perspective view of a fiber-to-fiber switching device made according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5B is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 5 A, showing one of its attainable switching states.
  • Fig. 5C is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 5 A, showing another one of its attainable switching states.
  • Fig. 6 A is a perspective view of a fiber-to-fiber switching device made according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6B is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 6 A, showing it at a rest state.
  • Fig. 6C is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 6A, showing it at a first one of its attainable switching states.
  • Fig. 6D is a top view of salient parts of the device of Fig. 6A, showing it at a second one of its attainable switching states.
  • Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 is apian view of parts of a switch, for describing technical implementation details of the invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a detailed view of a steerable optical fiber in the device of Fig. 8.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic view of an arrangement of pole pieces operating to move a single steerable fiber along different directions for placing in horizontally disposed grooves.
  • Fig. 11 is a plan view of an arrangement where feeding fibers share a common armature according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the present invention provides devices and methods for switching transmission of light from one fiber to another.
  • a steerable fiber terminates in a capsule, as do one or more cooperating fibers.
  • the steerable fiber is moved to exchange light selectively with one of the cooperating fibers.
  • Switch 400 includes a capsule made from a bottom half 404 and a top half 406.
  • top half In Fig. 4A, top half
  • switch 400 is shown separated and raised from bottom half 404 to better illustrate other important components of switch 400.
  • Top half 406 normally closes down on bottom half 404, to make the switch rugged.
  • an interior 408 of the capsule may optionally be filled with an index matching fluid, to improve coupling of light between the fibers.
  • Switch 400 also includes a first electromagnet 410 for selectively generating a first magnetic field.
  • First electromagnet 410 includes at least a coil 412 and a wire 414 wrapped around coil 412.
  • First electromagnet 410 is operated by electrical power source such as battery
  • Switch 418 may be electronic, and be switched ON and OFF by an electronic switching signal.
  • First electromagnet 410 is outside the capsule, although that is not necessary.
  • First electromagnet 410 may equivalently be implemented within the capsule.
  • Switch 400 moreover includes a first pair of pole pieces 420.
  • Pole pieces 420 transfer the first generated magnetic field from the tips of coil 412 to a first transferred field location 424 inside the capsule near the tips of pole pieces 420.
  • Pole pieces 420 are preferably made from a material that conducts well a magnetic field.
  • pole pieces 420 are in part inside the capsule. If first electromagnet 410 is wholly within the capsule, then pole pieces 420 may also be wholly within the capsule.
  • coil 412 of first electromagnet 410 is outside the capsule. Pole pieces 420 then transfer the first generated magnetic field through a wall of the capsule.
  • Pole pieces 420 are preferably thin, so as to interfere only minimally with a lip of top half 406, as it closes with bottom half 404 to form the capsule.
  • the two halves may be sealed together using a foamy material between them, which accommodates a small thickness of pole pieces 420.
  • one of the two halves here top half 406 may have recesses 421 at the lip, for accommodating pole pieces 420.
  • Switch 400 additionally includes a steerable fiber 430, having an end 432 in the capsule. End 432 is also known as the output end of steerable fiber 430.
  • a large portion of steerable fiber 430 is outside the capsule, including a remote end of fiber 430. This large portion, along with the remote end are not shown, as unimportant to switch 400. End 432 in the capsule is steerable, as will be explained below.
  • Fiber 430 is generally mounted on the bottom half 404 of the capsule. Mounting may be to a pedestal, which may in turn be mounted on the bottom half 404. Alternately, mounting may be to a wall or lip of bottom half 404.
  • Switch 400 further includes an armature 435 attached to steerable fiber 430 near end 432. Armature 435 may be a standalone magnet, by being made from material which is inherently magnetized, or has been made to acquire magnetism. Alternately, armature
  • 435 may be made from soft magnetic material, which responds to magnetic field, but does not retain magnetism.
  • the first transferred field location 424 is designed to be close to armature 435.
  • armature 435 is responsive to the transferred first magnetic field by being magnetically biased with respect to the first transferred field location 424. If armature 435 has no magnetism, then being magnetically biased means being attracted towards the first transferred field location 424. On the other hand, if armature 435 has magnetism, then being magnetically biased means being attracted towards or repelled from the first transferred field location 424, depending on the orientation of its North-South field, and the orientation of the transferred magnetic field.
  • Switch 400 further includes at least one cooperating fiber 440, having an end 442 in the capsule.
  • switch 400 further includes a second cooperating fiber 450, having an end 452 in the capsule. Including second cooperating fiber 450 is highly preferred, but not necessary for practicing the invention.
  • Light may be exchanged between steerable fiber 430 and either one of cooperating fibers 440, 450. If steerable fiber 430 is the feeding fiber, i.e. the fiber that brings the light in switch 400, then switch 400 is a 1x2 switch. If cooperating fibers 440,
  • switch 400 is a 2x1 switch. Not including second cooperating fiber 450 would simply render device 400 an ON/OFF switch between fibers
  • switch 418 is open, and the first magnetic field is not generated. Accordingly, armature 435 is not biased, and end 432 of steerable fiber 430 is at a rest position.
  • switch 418 is closed, and the first magnetic field is generated. Accordingly, armature 435 is biased, and end 432 of steerable fiber 430 is moved from the rest position to a first position, where end 432 is aligned with end 442. There it can exchange light substantially efficiently with end 442 of first cooperating fiber 440.
  • switch 400 includes second cooperating fiber 450, another arrangement is advantageously made.
  • end 432 of steerable fiber 430 When end 432 of steerable fiber 430 is in the rest position of no alignment with fiber 440, it can exchange light substantially efficiently with end 452 of second cooperating fiber 450.
  • the advantage in this arrangement is that a single action of turning switch 418
  • ON or OFF can connect fiber 430 with either fiber 440 or fiber 450.
  • ends 442, 452 are not parallel to each other, contrary to what prior art teaches. In fact, they define a nonzero angle ⁇ between them. More particularly, end 442 of first cooperating fiber 440 is at a first exchanging direction, when exchanging light with steerable fiber 430, and end 452 of second cooperating fiber 450 is at a second exchanging direction when exchanging light with steerable fiber 430. The first exchanging direction is at a nonzero angle ⁇ from the second exchanging direction.
  • This feature permits better coupling by bending fibers 440, 450 less than that of the prior art, e.g. as seen in fibers 132, 134 of Fig. 1. It also permits exchanging light between 440, 450 and fiber 430 with less loss.
  • end 432 of steerable fiber 430 may be separately optionally prebiased with respect to the rest position. This is what enables ' switching coupling between two fibers with a single action.
  • steerable fiber 430 is mounted such that end 432 is bent when at the first position. This way, steerable fiber 430 is prebiased by an internal fiber tensile force, which tends to keep the fiber straight. That force therefore resists bending, and tends to return steerable fiber 430 to the rest position. From the rest position, steerable fiber 430 may couple light with second cooperating fiber 450.
  • the invention thus takes advantage of one of the properties of optical fibers made from quartz. Such fibers have no "memory" of being bent, and always return to their shape. This way the switch does not lose efficiency after some time.
  • steerable fiber 430 is always bent, but less in the rest position (coupling with fiber 450) than in the first position (coupling with fiber 440). This is represented by steerable fiber 430 being shown mounted at an angle to a wall of bottom half 404 of the capsule.
  • a stop 457 may present a groove for end 432 to be pushed in, by the internal fiber tensile force. End 452 of second cooperating fiber 450 may also be in the same groove, to better secure alignment. Stop 457 is advantageously mounted in bottom half 404 of the capsule.
  • a fiber-to-fiber switch 500 is shown, made according to another embodiment of the invention. It will be recognized that switch 500 includes many elements similar to those of switch 400, whose detailed description will therefore not be repeated in detail.
  • Switch 500 includes a capsule made from a bottom half 504 and a top half 506. They are intended to be closed together, thus defining an interior 508 of the capsule.
  • Switch 500 includes a first electromagnet 510 similar to electromagnet 410.
  • First electromagnet 510 may be implemented inside or outside the capsule, similarly to electromagnet 410.
  • First electromagnet 510 is controlled by a switch 518, similar to switch 418.
  • Switch 500 moreover includes a first pair of pole pieces 520, similar to first pair of pole pieces 420. As per the above, first pair of pole pieces 520 may go through a wall of the capsule.
  • Switch 500 also includes a first fixed magnet 522, which is made from a permanent magnet. Magnet 522 is called fixed because of its close cooperating relationship with pole pieces 520. Indeed, first fixed magnet 522 generates the first magnetic field in cooperation with first electromagnet 510. In other words, the fields cooperate. The field of first fixed magnet 522 is transferred by first pair of pole pieces 520 to a location inside the capsule, along with the field from the coil, when generated.
  • Switch 500 additionally includes a steerable fiber 530, having an end 532 in the capsule.
  • Steerable fiber 530 is similar to steerable fiber 430.
  • Switch 500 further includes an armature 535, similar to armature 435, and attached to steerable fiber 530 near end 532.
  • Switch 500 moreover includes at least one cooperating fiber 540, having an end 542 in the capsule, and a second cooperating fiber 550, having an end 552 in the capsule.
  • switch 518 is open, and the first magnetic field is not generated. Accordingly, armature 535 is not biased from the pole pieces 520, and end 532 of steerable fiber 530 is at a rest position.
  • a feature of switch 500 is that end 532 of steerable fiber 530 is separately prebiased with respect to the rest position.
  • a permanent prebiassing magnet 560 generates a separate prebiasing field, to prebias armature 535. This makes for secure coupling, so that end 532 is aligned with end 552 of second cooperating fiber 550. There end 532 can exchange light substantially efficiently with end 552.
  • Magnet 560 is mounted in the capsule in any suitable way. Its strength is ideally enough to maintain steerable fiber 530 at the rest position, where there is coupling. This way, no electric current is needed to maintain a magnetic field, and better savings are realized.
  • magnet 560 is mounted outside the interior 508 of the capsule. Pole pieces may or may not be provided to transfer its field to a location close to armature 535.
  • switch 518 is closed, and the first magnetic field is generated, overcoming the prebiasing field of permanent prebiassing magnet 560.
  • armature 535 is biased, and end 532 of steerable fiber 530 is moved to a first position. There end 532 is aligned with end 542 of first cooperating fiber 540, and can exchange light substantially efficiently with it.
  • Permanent prebiassing magnet 560 makes it so that a single action of turning switch 518 ON or OFF can connect fiber 530 with either fiber 540 or fiber 550. This way, steerable fiber 530 need not be bent by its mode of mounting, and may be mounted such that it is perpendicular to a side wall of bottom half 504 of the capsule.
  • a fiber-to-fiber switch 600 is shown made according to a third embodiment of the invention. It will be recognized that switch 600 includes many elements similar to those of switch 400, whose detailed description will therefore not be repeated.
  • Switch 600 includes a capsule made from a bottom half 604 and a top half 606. Top half 606 normally closes down on bottom half 604, thus defining an interior 608 of the capsule.
  • Switch 600 also includes a first electromagnet 610 for selectively generating a first magnetic field.
  • First electromagnet 610 is controlled by a switch 618.
  • First electromagnet 610 is outside the capsule, although that is not necessary. First electromagnet 610 may equivalently be implemented to be within the capsule.
  • a first pair of pole pieces 619 transfer the first generated magnetic field from first electromagnet 610 to a first transferred field location inside the capsule.
  • Pole pieces 619 are at least in part inside the capsule. In fact, they may go through a wall of the capsule.
  • Switch 600 moreover includes a second electromagnet 620, for selectively generating a second magnetic field.
  • Second electromagnet 620 is controlled by a switch 628.
  • Second electromagnet 620 is outside the capsule, although that is not necessary. Second electromagnet 620 may equivalently be implemented to be within the capsule.
  • a second pair of pole pieces 629 transfer the second generated magnetic field from second electromagnet 620 to a second transferred field location inside the capsule.
  • Pole pieces 629 are at least in part inside the capsule. In fact, they may go through a wall of the capsule. Pole pieces 629 are similar to pole pieces 619.
  • Switch 600 additionally includes a steerable fiber 630, similar to steerable fiber 430.
  • An armature 635 similar to armature 435, is attached to steerable fiber 630.
  • Switch 600 further includes at least a first cooperating fiber 640 and a second cooperating fiber 660. Light may be exchanged between steerable fiber 630 and either one of cooperating fibers 640, 660.
  • a feature of switch 600 is that the end of steerable fiber 630 is not prebiased. It has a rest position between cooperating fibers 640, 660. Biasing is needed for steerable fiber 630 to become aligned with either one of cooperating fibers 640, 660.
  • armature 635 is cantilevered on steerable fiber 630 without contacting the capsule. This is especially possible from the little appreciated property of fused silica fibers that they never lose their shape, even in the face of persistent bending.
  • switches 618, 628 are open. Neither the first nor the second magnetic field are generated. Accordingly, armature 635 is not biased, and the end of steerable fiber 630 is at the rest position.
  • switch 618 is closed, and switch 628 is open. Accordingly, the first magnetic field is generated, but not the second. This biases armature 635, and the end of steerable fiber 630 is moved to a first position of alignment with fiber 640, where they can exchange light.
  • switch 618 is open, and switch 628 is closed. Accordingly, the second magnetic field is generated, but not the first. This biases armature 635, and the end of steerable fiber 630 is moved to a second position of alignment with fiber 660, where they can exchange light.
  • a flowchart 700 is used to illustrate a method according to an embodiment of the invention. Elements of the method of flowchart 700 may also be practiced by devices 400, 500 and 600 described above.
  • a box 710 light is received from an end of a steerable fiber. This would be the remote end from the switch, the end not shown in Fig.s 4A, 5A, 6A. Such light may be received on a continuous basis, and be either always on, or be switching ON and OFF to transmit digital signals.
  • the received light is output from the other end of the steerable fiber, in other words the end that is inside a capsule.
  • the received light is coupled into a second cooperating fiber, upon exiting from the steerable fiber. That is in the case, for example, of where in device 400 fiber 450 is indeed provided.
  • a first magnetic field is generated, and transferred to the capsule interior. Transferring is advantageously performed by pole pieces.
  • the steerable fiber is steered to a first position, responsive to the transferred magnetic field. It is enough if only the end of the steerable fiber is thus moved.
  • the received light is coupled into a first cooperating fiber. This is a result of moving the steerable fiber to the first position. If, at box 725 the received light was being coupled into a second cooperating fiber, that is discontinued. According to a next box 750, generation of the first magnetic field is discontinued. This could be for switching a switch for another signal. Accordingly, biasing from the first magnetic field is also discontinued.
  • the steerable fiber is permitted to move to a rest position, as a result of discontinuing biasing from the first magnetic field. This will discontinue coupling light into first cooperating fiber, since the steerable fiber moves away from the first position. When at the rest position, the fiber may couple the received light into the second cooperating fiber.
  • a second magnetic field is generated, and transferred to the capsule interior. Transferring is advantageously performed by pole pieces.
  • the steerable fiber is thus steered to a second position, responsive to the transferred magnetic field. It is enough if only the end of the steerable fiber is thus moved.
  • the received light is coupled into another cooperating fiber, as a result of being in the second position.
  • Switch 800 may be established in a bottom half 804 of a capsule. A top half (not shown) may be added later. An optical bench 812 may be placed in bottom half 804. Pedestals 814, 816, 818 are provided on bench 812.
  • a steerable fiber 830 is provided in a pedestal 814. Its output end terminates inside the capsule, and has an armature 835. Armature 835 may be biased by magnetic field transferred into the capsule by pole pieces (not shown).
  • Two cooperating fibers 840, 860 are mounted on pedestal 816, at a nonzero angle ⁇ . This angle is actually very small, about a few degrees. It is shown large, to better emphasize the aspect.
  • Fibers 830, 840, 860 are thus mounted on the pedestals, and designed for end-to end coupling.
  • the end of fiber 830 is brought very close to that of fiber 860 (solid line).
  • the end of fiber 830 is brought very close to that of fiber 840 (dashed line).
  • a bench 818 supports structure needed to ensure secure the coupling. This structure may include properly positioned grooves, etc.
  • Bench 812 may be made from fused silica. This results in the same temperature expansion coefficient as the fibers. As temperature changes, so does the distance between the pedestals, but not the distance between the fibers. Accordingly, the fiber ends may be brought very close, for better coupling.
  • Fiber 830 is suitable for waveguiding light.
  • Fiber 830 has an output end 832. It may be made from fused silica, as is known for fibers.
  • Fiber 830 includes a substantially spherically shaped armature 835, attached near output end 832.
  • Armature 835 is made from a material responsive to a magnetic field, for selectively steering output end 832.
  • armature 835 is spherically shaped.
  • Armature 835 need not be a magnet. It may be made by forming a drop of liquid glue around the fiber, suspending metal particles in the drop, and then curing the glue.
  • armature 835 is a standalone magnet.
  • standalone magnet means either a permanent magnet, or a magnet made from material that has been subsequently magnetized.
  • a switch made according to the invention has shown very promising results.
  • a l-by-2 switch passed 500 million switching cycles without a problem and was still running smoothly.
  • a switch 1000 includes a pedestal 1018, similar to pedestal 818.
  • Pedestal 818 has two grooves 1022, which are horizontally disposed.
  • a fiber 1030 is to be placed into grooves 1022, to make contact with other cooperating fibers (not shown).
  • Fiber 1030 has an armature 1035, made similarly to armature 835, and is moved by magnetic fields.
  • a permanent prebiasing magnet 1040 exerts a field on armature 1035. This way, permanent prebiasing magnet 1040 maintains steerable fiber 1030 in whichever one of grooves 1022 it was last placed, without applying any current.
  • a first pair of pole pieces 1050 are designed to transfer a selectively generated vertical magnetic field, so as to overcome the field of permanent prebiasing magnet 1040. This way, they can lift steerable fiber 1030 out of groove 1022 by its armature 1035, along a vertical direction 1054. When the vertical magnetic field is no longer generated, permanent prebiasing magnet 1040 prevails, and moves armature 1035 downwards, along vertical direction 1054.
  • An appropriate stop (not shown) may be used to prevent overtravel of steerable fiber 1030 and its armature 1035.
  • a second pair of pole pieces 1060 and a third pair of pole pieces 1070 are designed to transfer selectively generated horizontal magnetic fields. This way, they can shift steerable fiber 1030 by its armature 1035 along a horizontal direction 1074. They would do this preferably when steerable fiber 1030 has been lifted out of the one of grooves 1022 that it was placed in, for being aligned with the other. Lifting would take place along vertical direction 1054, as described above. Again, appropriate stops (not shown) may be used to prevent overtravel of steerable fiber 1030 and its armature 1035.
  • Switch 1000 may be optimized in a number of ways. For example, one of pairs of pole pieces 1060, 1070 may be substituted by a permanent magnet. For another example, three grooves 1022 may be used instead of two.
  • a single armature may be used for two fibers.
  • a steerable fiber 1132 and an auxiliary steerable fiber 1134 share a common armature 1135. They are to be coupled in various combinations with at least one of cooperating fibers 1142, 1144, 1146. Coupling is over a pedestal 1118, having groves 1122.
  • Pairs of pole pieces 1160 and 1170 are designed to transfer selectively generated horizontal magnetic fields. This way, they can shift the pair of steerable fiber 1132 and auxiliary steerable fiber 1134 by their shared armature 1135, and guide it to the right pair of groves 1122.
  • a switch may be made with combinations of elements from switches 400, 500, 600. Plus, switch 600 can have a second fixed magnet to generate the second magnetic field in cooperation with the second electromagnet, and so on.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Light Control Or Optical Switches (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositifs et procédés servant à permuter la transmission de lumière d'une fibre optique (45) à une autre (460). Une fibre orientable (430) possède une extrémité (432) placée dans une capsule (404, 406), de la même manière qu'une ou plusieurs fibres coopérantes (450, 440). La fibre orientable (430) se trouve initialement en position de repos et introduit la lumière dans une des fibres coopérantes (450) depuis cette position. L'extrémité (432) de la fibre orientable (430) comporte un induit (435) se déplaçant sous l'effet de l'application de champs magnétiques. Un champ magnétique est ensuite généré de façon sélective et une paire de pièces polaires (420) le transfère jusqu'à un emplacement (424) situé à l'intérieur (408) de la capsule, à proximité de l'induit (435). De ce fait, l'extrémité (432) de la fibre orientable (430) est déplacée vers une autre position depuis laquelle elle introduit la lumière dans l'autre fibre coopérante (440).
EP02703057A 2001-01-12 2002-01-04 Dispositifs et procedes servant a permuter la transmission de lumiere d'une fibre a l'autre Withdrawn EP1360531A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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US26135101P 2001-01-12 2001-01-12
US261351P 2001-01-12
PCT/US2002/000231 WO2002056096A2 (fr) 2001-01-12 2002-01-04 Dispositifs et procedes servant a permuter la transmission de lumiere d'une fibre a l'autre

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EP1360531A2 true EP1360531A2 (fr) 2003-11-12
EP1360531A4 EP1360531A4 (fr) 2005-12-28

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EP (1) EP1360531A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU2002236706A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2434466A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002056096A2 (fr)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7197225B2 (en) 2003-05-06 2007-03-27 Rosemount Inc. Variable optical attenuator
US7450812B2 (en) 2003-05-06 2008-11-11 Rosemount Inc. Compensated variable optical attenuator
KR100631835B1 (ko) 2004-03-22 2006-10-09 삼성전기주식회사 컨티레버형 ｐｌｃ 광 감쇠기 및 그 제조방법
US7642628B2 (en) 2005-01-11 2010-01-05 Rosemount Inc. MEMS packaging with improved reaction to temperature changes
DE102006028274A1 (de) 2006-06-20 2007-12-27 Robert Bosch Gmbh Optischer Verteiler und Betriebsverfahren hierfür

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US4204744A (en) * 1977-02-07 1980-05-27 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Switch for light conducting fibers
JPS55137503A (en) * 1979-04-13 1980-10-27 Nec Corp Photo switch
JPS55156903A (en) * 1979-05-28 1980-12-06 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Self-holding type photo switch
FR2480950A1 (fr) * 1980-04-17 1981-10-23 Int Standard Electric Corp Commutateur de fibres optiques a commande electromagnetique
JPH09159936A (ja) * 1995-12-07 1997-06-20 Hitachi Ltd 光スイッチおよび該光スイッチの製造方法
EP0859260A2 (fr) * 1997-02-17 1998-08-19 Hitachi, Ltd. Commutateur optique, méthode de sa fabrication et système de communication l'utilisant
EP0927894A1 (fr) * 1997-12-29 1999-07-07 PIRELLI CAVI E SISTEMI S.p.A. Commutateur magnétique connectant une fibre à une pluralité de fibres

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US4204744A (en) * 1977-02-07 1980-05-27 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Switch for light conducting fibers
JPS55137503A (en) * 1979-04-13 1980-10-27 Nec Corp Photo switch
JPS55156903A (en) * 1979-05-28 1980-12-06 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Self-holding type photo switch
FR2480950A1 (fr) * 1980-04-17 1981-10-23 Int Standard Electric Corp Commutateur de fibres optiques a commande electromagnetique
JPH09159936A (ja) * 1995-12-07 1997-06-20 Hitachi Ltd 光スイッチおよび該光スイッチの製造方法
EP0859260A2 (fr) * 1997-02-17 1998-08-19 Hitachi, Ltd. Commutateur optique, méthode de sa fabrication et système de communication l'utilisant
EP0927894A1 (fr) * 1997-12-29 1999-07-07 PIRELLI CAVI E SISTEMI S.p.A. Commutateur magnétique connectant une fibre à une pluralité de fibres

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Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 005, no. 005 (P-044), 14 January 1981 (1981-01-14) & JP 55 137503 A (NEC CORP), 27 October 1980 (1980-10-27) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 005, no. 032 (P-050), 27 February 1981 (1981-02-27) & JP 55 156903 A (NIPPON TELEGR & TELEPH CORP <NTT>), 6 December 1980 (1980-12-06) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1997, no. 10, 31 October 1997 (1997-10-31) -& JP 09 159936 A (HITACHI LTD), 20 June 1997 (1997-06-20) *
See also references of WO02056096A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2434466A1 (fr) 2002-07-18
WO2002056096A3 (fr) 2003-03-13
EP1360531A4 (fr) 2005-12-28
WO2002056096A2 (fr) 2002-07-18
AU2002236706A1 (en) 2002-07-24

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