GB2170615A - Optical fibre switch - Google Patents

Optical fibre switch Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2170615A
GB2170615A GB08502914A GB8502914A GB2170615A GB 2170615 A GB2170615 A GB 2170615A GB 08502914 A GB08502914 A GB 08502914A GB 8502914 A GB8502914 A GB 8502914A GB 2170615 A GB2170615 A GB 2170615A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fibre
fibres
optical
actuator
switch
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB08502914A
Other versions
GB8502914D0 (en
GB2170615B (en
Inventor
Kevin John Warbrick
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.)
STC PLC
Original Assignee
STC PLC
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 STC PLC filed Critical STC PLC
Priority to GB08502914A priority Critical patent/GB2170615B/en
Publication of GB8502914D0 publication Critical patent/GB8502914D0/en
Publication of GB2170615A publication Critical patent/GB2170615A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2170615B publication Critical patent/GB2170615B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G02B6/3502—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
    • G02B6/3568—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details characterised by the actuating force
    • G02B6/3576—Temperature or heat actuation
    • 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
    • G02B6/358—Latching of the moving element, i.e. maintaining or holding the moving element in place once operation has been performed; includes a mechanically bistable system

Landscapes

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

Abstract

An optical fibre switch has two stationary fibres (2,3) located in precision Vee-grooves on a substrate (4), and a switching fibre (1) having one of its ends close to and aligned with the end of one of the fibres. This fibre may be given a bias so that it is urged into its Vee-grooves. To switch, a bimetallic actuator (5) set at right angles to and under the fibre (1) is heated by a flow of current, thereby bending and lifting the end of the switching fibre (1) to move it into alignment with the other fibre (3). To reset, another bimetallic actuator (6) may be used. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Optical fibre switch This invention relates to an optical fibre switch.
Hitherto many such switches have been designed, many of which are complex and difficult to manufacture. Thus in many cases manufacturing tolerances are very tight, which adds to manufacturing costs. An object of this invention is to produce.an optical fibre switch which is relatively cheap to manufacture.
According to the invention, there is provided an optical fibre switch, which includes first and second optical fibres located in respective adjacent Vee-grooves, a third optical fibre having its end, when at rest, aligned with and close to the end of the first optical fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the first and the third fibres, and bimetallic actuation means having its movable portion under the third fibre at a point near its end, wherein when current flows to heat the actuation means it bends such as to lift the end of the third fibre out of alignment with the first fibre, the arrangement being such that when said current is cut off the actuation means reverts to its original position, and thereby places the end of the third fibre close to the end of the second fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the second and the third fibres.
In a preferred arrangement, a second bimetallic actuation means is provided for switching the third fibre from its position aligned with the second fibre to its position aligned with the first fibre.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a switch embodying the invention, while Fig. 2 is a section along the line ll-ll, for explaining how the device works.
The device is designed to align a switching fibre 1 with one of a number of fixed fibres 2 and 3 to obtain optical power switching. In the arrangement shown, the fibres are all single-mode fibres.
The fibres are supported in a substrate 4 having two parallel Vee-groove for the fibres, and a cut-away portion 5 part-way along its length.
The switching fibre 3 is positioned with its end butted to one of the fixed fibres 2 with its end in the same Vee-groove as the fibre 2.
The fibre 1 is retained in this position under its own stiffness by flexing the fibre into the groove, as shown.
The switching action is accomplished by means of bifurcated bimetal actuators one of which is shown at 5. On the passage of an electric current through such an actuator it flexes in a predetermined manner to lift the switching fibre 1 out of the present groove to a position above an adjacent one. The current is then interrupted, the bimetal returns to its neutral position and the fibre is allowed to position itself in the new groove under the action of its own stiffness.
The bimetallic actuator is bifurcated so that the two connections for current feeding are at the fixed end of the actuator. To reset the fibre 1 from its position aligned with the fibe 3 to the original position, another actuator is used, this being indicated by the broken lines at 6. This actuator is powered from the other side of the substrate.
One actuator, or rather one pair of actuators, is needed for each channel, and for channel numbers greater than three multiple switching is needed to implement all possible channel changes. Using this architecture high precision is required only for the aligning veegrooves, all other component tolerances being much less critical.
The temperature dependence can be set during fabrication of the actuator to give a predetermined switching temperature/current.
Such a switch is usable in a variety of optical fibre systems, including submarine ones.
1. An optical fibre switch, which includes first and second optical fibres located in respective adjacent Vee-grooves, a third optical fibre having its end, when at rest, aligned with and close to the end of the first optical fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the first and the third fibres, and bimetallic actuation means having its movable portion under the third fibre at a point near its end, wherein when current flows to heat the actuation means it bends such as to lift the end of the third fibre out of alignment with the first fibre, the arrangement being such that when said current is cut off the actuation means reverts to its original position, and thereby places the end of the third fibre close to the end of the second fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the second and the third fibres.
2. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1, and wherein a second bimetallic actuator is provided, for switching the third fibre from its position in alignment with the second fibre to its position in alignment with the first fibre.
3. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the Vee-grooves are formed in the surface of a substrate which has a cut-away portion to accommodate the actuator or actuators.
4. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the or each said actuator is bifurcated so that the two electrical connections to it are on the same side of the switch.
5. An optical fibre switch as claimed in
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Optical fibre switch This invention relates to an optical fibre switch. Hitherto many such switches have been designed, many of which are complex and difficult to manufacture. Thus in many cases manufacturing tolerances are very tight, which adds to manufacturing costs. An object of this invention is to produce.an optical fibre switch which is relatively cheap to manufacture. According to the invention, there is provided an optical fibre switch, which includes first and second optical fibres located in respective adjacent Vee-grooves, a third optical fibre having its end, when at rest, aligned with and close to the end of the first optical fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the first and the third fibres, and bimetallic actuation means having its movable portion under the third fibre at a point near its end, wherein when current flows to heat the actuation means it bends such as to lift the end of the third fibre out of alignment with the first fibre, the arrangement being such that when said current is cut off the actuation means reverts to its original position, and thereby places the end of the third fibre close to the end of the second fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the second and the third fibres. In a preferred arrangement, a second bimetallic actuation means is provided for switching the third fibre from its position aligned with the second fibre to its position aligned with the first fibre. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a switch embodying the invention, while Fig. 2 is a section along the line ll-ll, for explaining how the device works. The device is designed to align a switching fibre 1 with one of a number of fixed fibres 2 and 3 to obtain optical power switching. In the arrangement shown, the fibres are all single-mode fibres. The fibres are supported in a substrate 4 having two parallel Vee-groove for the fibres, and a cut-away portion 5 part-way along its length. The switching fibre 3 is positioned with its end butted to one of the fixed fibres 2 with its end in the same Vee-groove as the fibre 2. The fibre 1 is retained in this position under its own stiffness by flexing the fibre into the groove, as shown. The switching action is accomplished by means of bifurcated bimetal actuators one of which is shown at 5. On the passage of an electric current through such an actuator it flexes in a predetermined manner to lift the switching fibre 1 out of the present groove to a position above an adjacent one. The current is then interrupted, the bimetal returns to its neutral position and the fibre is allowed to position itself in the new groove under the action of its own stiffness. The bimetallic actuator is bifurcated so that the two connections for current feeding are at the fixed end of the actuator. To reset the fibre 1 from its position aligned with the fibe 3 to the original position, another actuator is used, this being indicated by the broken lines at 6. This actuator is powered from the other side of the substrate. One actuator, or rather one pair of actuators, is needed for each channel, and for channel numbers greater than three multiple switching is needed to implement all possible channel changes. Using this architecture high precision is required only for the aligning veegrooves, all other component tolerances being much less critical. The temperature dependence can be set during fabrication of the actuator to give a predetermined switching temperature/current. Such a switch is usable in a variety of optical fibre systems, including submarine ones. CLAIMS
1. An optical fibre switch, which includes first and second optical fibres located in respective adjacent Vee-grooves, a third optical fibre having its end, when at rest, aligned with and close to the end of the first optical fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the first and the third fibres, and bimetallic actuation means having its movable portion under the third fibre at a point near its end, wherein when current flows to heat the actuation means it bends such as to lift the end of the third fibre out of alignment with the first fibre, the arrangement being such that when said current is cut off the actuation means reverts to its original position, and thereby places the end of the third fibre close to the end of the second fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the second and the third fibres.
2. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1, and wherein a second bimetallic actuator is provided, for switching the third fibre from its position in alignment with the second fibre to its position in alignment with the first fibre.
3. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the Vee-grooves are formed in the surface of a substrate which has a cut-away portion to accommodate the actuator or actuators.
4. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the or each said actuator is bifurcated so that the two electrical connections to it are on the same side of the switch.
5. An optical fibre switch as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein to switch the movable fibre between three or more nonmovable fibres separate actuators are provided for each possible switching operation.
6. An optical fibre switch, whch includes first and second optical fibres located in respective adjacent Vee-grooves formed in the surface of a substrate, a third optical fibre having its end, when at rest, in one of said Vee-grooves and aligned with and close to the end of the first optical fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the first and the third fibres, and a first bimetallic actuator located in a cut-away portion of the substrate and having its movable portion under the third fibre at a point near its end, wherein when curret flows to heat the actuator it bends such as to lift the end of the third fibre out of alignment with the first fibre, the arrangement being such that when said current is cut off the actuator reverts to its original position and thereby places the end of the third fibre in the other of said Vee-grooves and close to the end of the second fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the second and the third fibres, wherein a second bimetallic actuator is also located in the cut-away portion of the substrate with its movable portion under the third fibre at a point near to its end, and wherein when current flows to heat the second actuator it bends such as to lift the end of the third fibre out of alignment with the second fibre, the arrangement being such that when said current is cut off the second actuator reverts to its original position and thereby places the end of the third fibre in the first mentioned Veegroove and close to the end of the second fibre so that optical power can be transmitted between the first and the second fibres.
7. An optical fibre switch, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB08502914A 1985-02-05 1985-02-05 Optical fibre switch Expired GB2170615B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08502914A GB2170615B (en) 1985-02-05 1985-02-05 Optical fibre switch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08502914A GB2170615B (en) 1985-02-05 1985-02-05 Optical fibre switch

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8502914D0 GB8502914D0 (en) 1985-03-06
GB2170615A true GB2170615A (en) 1986-08-06
GB2170615B GB2170615B (en) 1988-06-22

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5024497A (en) * 1989-02-15 1991-06-18 At&T Bell Laboratories Shape memory alloy optical fiber switch
EP0550593A1 (en) * 1990-09-24 1993-07-14 Bt&D Technologies Limited Optical fiber switch
EP0569981A1 (en) * 1992-05-15 1993-11-18 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited Optical switch, optical fiber arranging member and method of manufacturing the optical fiber arranging member
EP0672931A1 (en) * 1994-03-14 1995-09-20 Hewlett-Packard Company Switching device

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2051351A (en) * 1979-04-20 1981-01-14 Perren B Sensor for a monitoring apparatus

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2051351A (en) * 1979-04-20 1981-01-14 Perren B Sensor for a monitoring apparatus

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5024497A (en) * 1989-02-15 1991-06-18 At&T Bell Laboratories Shape memory alloy optical fiber switch
EP0550593A1 (en) * 1990-09-24 1993-07-14 Bt&D Technologies Limited Optical fiber switch
EP0550593A4 (en) * 1990-09-24 1993-07-28 Bt&D Technologies Limited Optical fiber switch
EP0569981A1 (en) * 1992-05-15 1993-11-18 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited Optical switch, optical fiber arranging member and method of manufacturing the optical fiber arranging member
US5446810A (en) * 1992-05-15 1995-08-29 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Optical switch, optical fiber arranging member and method of manufacturing the optical fiber arranging member
AU666719B2 (en) * 1992-05-15 1996-02-22 Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation Optical switch
EP0672931A1 (en) * 1994-03-14 1995-09-20 Hewlett-Packard Company Switching device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8502914D0 (en) 1985-03-06
GB2170615B (en) 1988-06-22

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee