JP2001033714A - Information transmission path changeover device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a size and weight by providing a alignment device of changeover terminals and changeover terminal supporting members of an information transmission changeover device using an ultrasonic motor with brake mechanisms. SOLUTION: This information transmission changeover device 11 has the changeover terminal 12 which is disposed at the end of an information transmission path 12a on an input side, the changeover terminal 13 which is disposed at the end of an information transmission path 13a on an output side and a changeover terminal drive mechanism 14 using a vibration motor 20 which moves the changeover terminals relative to each other approximately in parallel while supporting the changeover terminal 12 and arranges the changeover terminal 12 and the changeover terminal 13 opposite to each other at the time of information transmission. The vibration motor 20 has a base member 15 having a housing frame 15a and a substrate 15b, a vibrator 16 supported at the housing frame 15a, a mover 17 for generating relative motion between itself and the vibrator 16 and a linear guide 19 having a guide member 31 and a rail member 30 and freely linearly movably supporting the mover 17. The first changeover terminal 12 is fixed to the mover 17 and the second changeover terminal 13 is fixed to the substrate 15b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information transmission line switching device, and more particularly, to an information transmission line switching device using a vibration motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an information transmission line switching device is used to switch various information transmission lines such as an optical fiber, an electric signal line, and a magnetic signal line.
In general, this information transmission path switching device is configured such that switching terminals provided at ends of an input-side information transmission path and an output-side information transmission path are opposed to each other at a predetermined distance (hereinafter, referred to as “switching terminals”). In this specification, the information is transmitted from the information transmission path on the input side to the information transmission path on the output side.

Conventionally, a switching terminal driving mechanism for driving a switching terminal in this information transmission path switching device includes an electric step motor, a combination of a servo motor and a linear stage, and a combination of an electromagnet and a linear stage. Combinations and the like have been used. For example, FIG. 5.24 on page 139 of the publication “Optical Fiber Information Network (published by Shokodo Co., Ltd., published in May 1984)” shows two input-side information transmission paths in a fixed block. There is disclosed an information transmission line switching device in which a movable block disposed in front of a fixed block so as to be supported and movable between two stoppers supports two output-side information transmission lines. In this information transmission path switching device, the movable block is linearly reciprocated with respect to the fixed block by the movable coil, thereby forming two information transmission paths on the input side.
Switch to the information transmission path on the output side of the book.

However, there is a feeling that the development of electric step motors and the like used for these switching terminal driving mechanisms has been exhausted, and it is not possible to further reduce the size and weight in terms of size and weight. was difficult. For this reason, the reduction in size and weight of the information transmission line switching device has almost reached its limit.

[0005] In particular, in the information transmission line switching device disclosed in FIG. 5.24 on page 139 of the above-mentioned "optical fiber information network", the movable block is brought into contact with one of two stoppers so that the input side is stopped. The alignment error of the axis alignment between the information transmission path of (1) and the information transmission path on the output side is secured within a predetermined range. For this reason, in this information transmission line switching device, it was not possible to align the axes of three or more input side information transmission lines and three or more output side information transmission lines.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-34897 proposes to use an ultrasonic motor for a switching terminal driving mechanism. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the information transmission line switching device 1 disclosed in this publication.
FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the entire configuration, and FIG.
8 is a perspective view extracting and showing the output side holder 5 in FIG.
(c) is an explanatory view showing the terminal component 8 traveling inside the output side holder 5.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the information transmission line switching device 1 includes an input side holder 3 for supporting an input side information transmission line 2, and an output side for supporting an output side information transmission line 4. It has a holder 5 and a positioning device 6 for aligning axes of switching terminals (not shown) provided at the ends of the input-side information transmission path 2 and the output-side information transmission path 4. Inside each of the input side holder 3 and the output side holder 5, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), a plurality of moving spaces 7 in the extending direction of the information transmission paths 2, 4 are provided. Provided. Each moving space 7 is open toward the direction in which the information transmission paths 2 and 4 extend, and the information transmission paths 2 and 4 pass through each moving space 7. As shown in FIG. 8C, a rectangular parallelepiped terminal component 8 is mounted inside each moving space 7. The terminal component 8 fixes an intermediate portion away from the end of the information transmission path 4 therein. Piezoelectric ceramics 9a to 9d that generate ultrasonic vibration are provided at the four corners of the terminal component 8,
It is arranged in a state where it comes into pressure contact with the inner surface of the moving space 7.

When an appropriate drive signal is input to the piezoelectric ceramics 9a to 9d, each of the piezoelectric ceramics 9a to 9d generates an ultrasonic vibration. As a result, the terminal component 8 supporting the piezoelectric ceramics 9a to 9d moves in the direction of the double arrow in FIG. 8A while supporting the intermediate point between the information transmission paths 2 and 4. With such movement of the terminal component 8, the information transmission paths 2, 4
The switching terminal provided at the front end of the moving member also moves.

The alignment of the switching terminals provided at the tips of the information transmission paths 2 and 4 is performed inside the positioning device 6. In this axial alignment, the switching terminal provided at the tip of the information transmission path 2 on the input side and the switching terminal provided at the tip of the information transmission path 4 on the output side are positioned within a positioning error range of about several μm. Inside.

[0010]

In the information transmission line switching device 1 shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate point of each of the information transmission line 2 on the input side and the information transmission line 4 on the output side is connected to the piezoelectric ceramic via the terminal component 8. Supported by 9a-9d. However, each of the information transmission paths 2 and 4 generally has flexibility and is bent and deformed. For this reason, if the alignment device 6 is not provided in the information transmission line switching device 1 shown in FIG. 8, from the intermediate point of the information transmission lines 2 and 4 to the end of the information transmission lines 2 and 4 where each switching terminal is mounted. In this case, the information transmission paths 2 and 4 are bent and deformed, and the switching terminals cannot be opposed to each other with high accuracy within a positioning error of about several μm. Therefore, in the information transmission line switching device 1, the positioning device 6
Was indispensable.

[0011] In addition, even when the terminal component 8 stops, the terminal component 8 itself surely stops at a predetermined position. However, since each of the switching terminals is separated from the intermediate point supported by the terminal component 8, the positioning device is not used. It is also necessary to provide a brake mechanism on a member (not shown) for supporting the switching terminal inside 6 to stop accurately at a predetermined position.

As described above, the conventional information transmission line switching device 1 shown in FIG. 8 uses an ultrasonic motor having a self-holding property and a high-precision positioning property held at the position when stopped. In addition, the switching terminal positioning device 6 has become indispensable, and a member for supporting the switching terminal has to be provided with a brake mechanism. Therefore, the information transmission line switching device 1 using the ultrasonic motor has room for further reduction in size and weight.

The present invention solves the problems of such a conventional information transmission path switching device, and can achieve a further reduction in size and weight without providing a dedicated positioning device or a brake mechanism. An object of the present invention is to provide an information transmission line switching device, and further to provide an information transmission line switching device capable of further improving the positional accuracy of a switching terminal.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a first information transmission line provided at one end of an input side information transmission line and an output side information transmission line is provided.
, A second switching terminal provided at the other end of the input-side information transmission path and the output-side information transmission path, and one of the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal. And a switching terminal driving mechanism using a vibration motor that moves the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal to face each other at the time of information transmission, while supporting the information. A transmission line switching device is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission line switching device according to the first aspect, the vibration motor includes a base member, a vibrator supported by the base member, and the vibrator. A relative movement member that generates relative movement, a linear guide member fixed to the relative movement member, and a linear rail member slidably fitted to the guide member and fixed to the base member. And a linear guide that supports the relative motion member so as to be movable linearly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission line switching device according to the second aspect, one of the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal is a relative movement member or a guide member. And the other of the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal is fixed to the base member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission line switching device according to the third aspect, the surface on which the relative movement member or the guide member fixes one switching terminal, and the base member fixes the other switching terminal. It is characterized in that it is formed substantially parallel to the surface to be formed.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
In the information transmission line switching device described in any one of the above items, an alignment error between the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal that are arranged opposite to each other during information transmission is within 2 μm. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission line switching device according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the first vibrator vibrates in a direction of relative motion. It is a vibrator of a linear drive type that excites vibration and second vibration that vibrates in a direction intersecting with the vibration direction of the first vibration.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) An embodiment of an information transmission line switching device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, an example in which the information transmission path is an optical fiber and the vibration motor is an ultrasonic motor using an ultrasonic vibration region.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the information transmission line switching device 11 of the present embodiment in a partially broken state. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow B in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the information transmission line switching device 11 of the present embodiment comprises a first switching terminal 12.
, A second switching terminal 13, and a switching terminal driving mechanism 14. Hereinafter, these components will be sequentially described.

[First Switching Terminal 12] The information transmission line switching device 11 of the present embodiment has a first switching terminal 12. The first switching terminal 12 is formed in, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape from a resin material, and is fixed and mounted in a state where the end of the information transmission path 12a on the input side is penetrated. First switching terminal 12
On one end face, the end face of the information transmission path 12a is arranged on the same plane.

In this embodiment, as the information transmission path 12a, a core provided at the center and having a refractive index of n ₁ and a refractive index provided at the outer periphery of the core having a refractive index of n ₂ (n ₂ <n ₁ ). A stepped optical fiber having a cladding and a jacket provided on the outer periphery of the cladding and made of a material having much greater light absorption than the cladding was used.

The first switching terminal 12 is provided on a substrate 15b (described later) of two planes of a moving element 17 described later.
Is fixed by a suitable means on a plane facing the. Thus, the first switching terminal 12 is arranged so as to be movable together with the movable element 17 in the directions indicated by the double arrows in FIGS. The first switching terminal 12 of the present embodiment is configured as described above.

[Second Switching Terminal 13] The information transmission line switching device 11 of the present embodiment has five second switching terminals 13. Each of the second switching terminals 13 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by, for example, a resin material, and is fixed and mounted in a state where the ends of the five output-side information transmission paths 13a are respectively penetrated. On one end face of each of the second switching terminals 13, the end face of each information transmission path 13a is arranged so as to be on the same plane.

FIG. 1 shows a case where five second switching terminals 13 are arranged side by side to simplify the drawing and facilitate understanding, but the present invention is not limited to this. The same applies to the case where more second switching terminals are arranged in parallel. In addition, the information transmission path 13a
Is a step type optical fiber like the information transmission line 12a.

The second switching terminal 13 is fixed to a plane facing the moving element 17 of the two planes of the substrate 15b by appropriate means. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second switching terminal 13 is fixed to the substrate 15 b such that its installation height matches the installation height of the first switching terminal 12. As a result, the first switching terminal 12 moves in the direction of the double arrow in FIGS.
Of the switching terminal 12 and the second switching terminal 13 are aligned. The second switching terminal 13 of the present embodiment is configured as described above.

[Switching Terminal Driving Mechanism 14] The information transmission path switching device 11 of this embodiment has a switching terminal driving mechanism 14. The switching terminal drive mechanism 14 includes (i) the base member 1
5, (ii) vibrator 16, (iii) mover 17, (i)
and v) an ultrasonic motor 20 comprising a pressure support mechanism 18 and (v) a linear guide 19. Hereinafter, the components of the ultrasonic motor 20 will be sequentially described.

(I) Base Member 15 The base member 15 includes a housing frame 15a, a substrate 15b, and a ceiling plate 15c. The housing frame 15a is a frame body having a groove-shaped cross-sectional shape, and includes a vibrator 1 therein.
6, the moving element 17, the pressure support mechanism 18, and the linear guide 19 are accommodated.

The housing frame 15a is fixed by fixing the inner surface of the housing frame 15a to the side surface of the substrate 15b. Further, the substrate 15b is placed on a plane facing the moving element 17 in the second direction.
Is mounted and fixed.

The ceiling plate 15c is a member that forms the upper surface of the groove-shaped housing frame 15a, and is configured to bend into a substantially L-shape as shown in FIG. The ceiling plate 15c supports a vibrator support member 24 and a coil spring 28, which will be described later.

That is, the housing frame 15a of the base member 15
Supports the vibrator support member 24 and the coil spring 28 via the ceiling plate 15c, and
b is a linear guide 1 that movably supports the mover 17
9 and the second switching terminal 13 are supported.

(Ii) Vibrator 16 FIG. 4 shows the vibrator 16 and the mover 1 in this embodiment.
7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of each of FIGS. Also, FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing waveform examples of two different vibrations L1 and B4 generated in the vibrator 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the vibrator 16 used in the present embodiment includes an elastic body 21 and a piezoelectric body 22 mounted on one plane of the elastic body 21. Elastic body 21
Is desirably made of a metal material having a large resonance sharpness such as steel, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, or Elinvar material, and is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The dimensions of each part of the elastic body 21 are determined by the natural frequency f of the generated primary longitudinal vibration L1 and the generated quaternary bending vibration B4.
_L1 and _fB4 are set so that they substantially match.

A piezoelectric body 22, which will be described later, is mounted on one plane of the elastic body 21 by, for example, bonding. In the other plane of the elastic body 21, two grooves are provided in the width direction of the elastic body 21 at a predetermined distance from each other in the relative movement direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 4). In each of these grooves, a rod-shaped sliding member having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, which is mainly composed of a polymer material, is fitted and mounted, and is mounted so as to protrude. Examples of the polymer material include polymer materials such as PTFE, polyimide resin, polyacetal, PPS, and PEEK.

The sliding member is used as a driving force take-out portion 21.
Functions as a and 21b. Therefore, the elastic body 21 comes into pressure contact with the moving element 17 via the driving force extracting portions 21a and 21b formed of these sliding members.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the driving force extracting portions 21a and 21b is divided into two in the width direction of the vibrator 16, and each of the divided driving force extracting portions 21a and 21b is divided into two.
a, 21 a ′, 21 b, and 21 b ′ are arranged on the end side in the width direction of the vibrator 16. Thus, in the present embodiment,
Each of the driving force extracting portions 21a and 21b is configured by two sliding members.

The driving force take-out portions 21a and 21b are
As shown in FIG. 5, a position corresponding to two antinode positions l _{1 and} l4 located outside of the _four antinode positions l ₁ to l ₄ of the fourth-order bending vibration B4 generated in the elastic body 21. Provided. In addition, the driving force extracting portions 21a and 21b
The four antinodes l ₁ , l ₄ do not need to be provided exactly at the positions corresponding to the antinodes l ₁ , l ₄ , and may be provided near these antinodes l ₁ , l ₄ .

In the present embodiment, the piezoelectric body 22 is composed of a single thin plate-shaped piezoelectric element made of PZT (lead titanium zirconate). FIGS. 4 and 5 show the piezoelectric body 22.
As shown in the figure, the input regions 22a and 22c to which the A-phase drive signal _VA is input and the A-phase drive signal have a phase of about (π
/ 2) shifted B phase input region 22b of the drive signal V _B is input, 22 d and is formed. Each input area 22a-2
As shown in FIG. 5, each of 2 d is continuously formed in four regions partitioned by _five nodal positions n _{1 to} n ₅ of the bending vibration B <b> 4 generated in the elastic body 21. That is,
Each of the input areas 22a to 22 that are deformed by the input of the drive signal
d does not straddle the nodal positions n _{1 to} n ₅ which are fixed points. Therefore, variations in the input area 22a~22d is not to be inhibited by the nodal positions n ₁ ~n _5. Thereby, the electric energy input to each of the input areas 22a to 22d can be converted into the mechanical deformation of the elastic body 21 with maximum efficiency.

At the nodal positions n ₂ and n ₄ of the bending vibration B4, detection areas 22p and 22p 'for outputting electric energy by the longitudinal vibration L1 generated by the vibrator 16 are provided. Thus, the vibration state of the longitudinal vibration L1 generated by the vibrator 16 is monitored.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, each input area 22a to 22d and each detection area 22p,
2p 'means that each surface is formed of a silver electrode 23a-23
d, 23p and 23p '. As a result, a drive signal can be input to each of the input regions 22a to 22d independently, and a detection signal can be output independently from each of the detection regions 22p and 22p '. In order to simplify the drawings and facilitate understanding, FIGS. 2 and 3 show silver electrodes 23a.
23d, 23p and 23p 'are omitted. Lead wires (not shown) for transferring electric energy are soldered and connected to the silver electrodes 23a to 23d, 23p and 23p '.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the vibrator 16 is formed so as to be point-symmetric about the center of the plane. As a result, the elliptical motion generated in each of the driving force extracting portions 21a, 21a ', 21b, 21b' can be made to have substantially the same shape, and the driving difference due to the reversal of the relative motion direction is almost eliminated.

From the oscillator of the oscillator driving device (not shown),
A signal having a frequency corresponding to each of the longitudinal vibration L1 and the bending vibration B4 of the vibrator 16 is output. The output from the oscillator is branched, and one of the outputs is amplified by an amplifier, and then, as an A-phase drive signal _VA , the input regions 22a, 22a
c is applied to the silver electrodes 23a and 23c. Also, the other output branched, after the drive signal V _B of the drive signals of the A phase (π / 2) B phase out of phase by phase shifter, the input region 22b through an amplifier, 22 d of Silver electrode 2
3b and 23d.

The output voltages from the detection areas 22p and 22p 'are input to the control circuit of the vibrator driving device. The control circuit includes a preset reference voltage and each detection area 22p,
22p 'is compared with the output voltage from the detection area 22p'.
When the output voltages from p and 22p 'are smaller, the oscillator is controlled so as to lower the frequency. On the other hand, the control circuit controls the oscillator so as to increase the frequency when the output voltages from the detection regions 22p and 22p 'are higher. Thereby, the vibration amplitude of the vibrator 16 is maintained at a predetermined magnitude.

Thus, the input area 2 of the piezoelectric body 22
2a, in 22c, inputs the driving signal V _A of the A phase with a longitudinal vibration L1 and the bending vibration B4 frequency that matches the natural frequency of each. The input region 22b, the 22d to the driving signal of the A phase and inputs the drive signal V _B of the B phase having a phase difference of (π / 2). Then, as shown in FIG.
In the elastic body 21, a first-order longitudinal vibration L1 vibrating in the relative movement direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) and a fourth-order bending vibration B4 vibrating in the up-down direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction are simultaneously generated. .

The generated longitudinal vibration L1 and bending vibration B4 are combined, and the driving force extracting portions 21a, 21a 'and the driving force extracting portions 21b, 21b' are mutually phase-shifted as illustrated in FIG. Respectively, an elliptic motion in which .pi. Thus, the vibrator 16 generates a relative linear motion in the vibration direction of the longitudinal vibration L1 between the vibrator 16 and the moving member 17 that comes into pressure contact.

As described above, the vibrator 16 of the present embodiment is
Longitudinal vibration L1, which is the first vibration oscillating in the direction of relative motion
And a second drive type vibrator that excites a second vibration B4 that vibrates in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction of the first vibration. In order to reverse the direction of the relative movement, the B-phase drive signal may be set to have a phase difference of (−π / 2) with respect to the A-phase drive signal.

(Iii) Moving Element 17 In this embodiment, a long plate-like member is used as the moving element 17. The mover 17 is made of stainless steel, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, or the like, and is mounted on a substrate 15b of the base member 15 via a linear guide 19 described later.

As described above, of the two planes of the moving element 17, the driving force extracting portions 21a, 21a ',
The first switching terminal 12 is fixed by appropriate means to one end of a plane opposite to the plane contacting 21b and 21b ', that is, one end of the plane facing the substrate 15b.

Of the two planes of the moving element 17, the substrate 15
The plane facing b is formed substantially parallel to the plane facing the moving element 17 among the two planes of the substrate 15b. The mover 17 is, as described later with reference to FIGS.
Via the pressure support mechanism 18, the driving force extracting portions 21 a and 21 a ′ and the driving force extracting portions 21 b and 21 b ′ of the vibrator 16 are arranged in pressurized contact with an appropriate pressing force.

As a result, when the vibrator 16 is started, the moving element 17 causes the driving force extracting portions 21a and 21a 'and the driving force extracting portions 21b and 21b' to move in an elliptic motion generated by shifting their phases by π. Accordingly, the linear guide 19 is guided by a linear guide 19 fixed on the base member 15 and moves linearly. That is, the moving element 17 of the present embodiment functions as a relative movement member that performs relative movement with the vibrator 16.

(Iv) Pressure Support Mechanism 18 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultrasonic motor 2 of this embodiment
Numeral 0 has a pressure supporting mechanism 18 that supports the vibrator 16 and makes a pressure contact with the moving element 17. That is, the vibrator support member 24 is provided on the lower surface of the ceiling plate 15 c of the base member 15.
Is screwed. The vibrator support member 24 includes the vibrator 16
And a support plate 24b that is screwed to the lower surface of the ceiling plate 15c while supporting the pressing member 24a.

An accommodation hole 25 for accommodating a coil spring 28 to be described later is provided substantially in the center of the upper surface of the pressing member 24a. Pressing projections 26a and 26b are provided at both ends of the lower surface of the pressing member 24a in the direction of relative movement in contact with the upper surface of the vibrator 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pressing projection 26a is divided into two projections 26a and 26a 'in the width direction of the vibrator 16, and the pressing projection 26b is also divided into two projections in the width direction of the vibrator 16. The projections 26b and 26b 'are divided. As a result, the pressing projections 26a, 26b and the silver electrodes 23a to 23d, 23p,
Interference with the raised portion due to soldering of 23p 'and the lead wire is prevented.

The pressurizing projections 26a and 26a 'are
6 is provided on the position corresponding to nodal positions n ₂ of the fourth order bending vibration B4 occur, also pressurizing protrusions 26b, 26b '
Is provided at a position corresponding to the node position n ₄ of the fourth-order bending vibration B4 generated in the vibrator 16. As a result, the pressing projections 26a, 26a ', 26b, 26b'
The damping of the bending vibration B4 due to the contact with is suppressed.

Pressing member 2 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of relative movement
Two through holes are provided at both ends of 4a, and one end sides of the restraining pins 27a and 27b are fitted and fixed to these through holes by interference fit. Restraining pins 27a, 27b
The other end side of each has a gap in a groove 16a, 16b having a semicircular horizontal cross section provided substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of both sides of the vibrator 16 in the thickness direction of the vibrator 16. And fit.

Further, since the support plate 24b is bent and displaced around the screwing position to the ceiling plate 15c, the pressing member 24a is supported so as to be displaceable substantially linearly and minutely in the vertical direction.

For this reason, the vibrator 16 is restrained by the vibrator support member 24 in the relative movement direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2), and is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2). Freely supported.

One end of a coil spring 28 is mounted in the accommodation hole 25 provided on the upper surface of the pressing member 24a.
The other end of the coil spring 28 abuts on the lower surface of a screw portion 29 screwed to a substantially central portion of the ceiling plate 15c. The length of the coil spring 28 is changed by changing the screwing position of the screw portion 29 into the ceiling plate 15c. Thereby, the spring force generated by the coil spring 28, that is, the pressing force for pressing the vibrator 16 against the moving element 17 is adjusted.

As described above, the vibrator support member 24 restrains the vibrator 16 in the relative movement direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2) and can be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 2). The vibrator 16 is pressed against the moving element 17 with an appropriate pressing force by the pressing force generated by the coil spring 28.

(V) Linear Guide 19 The movable element 17 is disposed so as to be movable in the direction of the double arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the linear guide 19 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 15b. The linear guide 19 has a rail member 30 and a guide member 31. Rail member 30
Is a square bar-shaped linear member fixed to a plane facing the moving element 17 among the two planes of the substrate 15b. The guide member 31 is a member that is fixed to a plane facing the substrate 15b among the two planes of the movable element 17, and is slidably fitted to the rail member 30.

Thus, the moving element 17 can move linearly in the direction of the double arrow in FIGS.
It is mounted on the substrate 15b. As described above, in the present embodiment, the vibrator 16 is fixed to the base member 15 and the moving element 1
7 is configured to move relative to the vibrator 16.

The ultrasonic motor 20 and the switching terminal drive mechanism 14 of the present embodiment are configured as described above. As described above, the switching terminal drive mechanism 14 of the present embodiment uses the moving element 17 of the ultrasonic motor 20 to drive the information transmission path 1 on the input side.
2a, which supports the first switching terminal 12 provided at the end of the information transmission path 13a on the output side by the base member 15 of the ultrasonic motor 20.
Are fixed. And the ultrasonic motor 20
The first switching terminal 1 is driven by the driving force generated by the oscillator 16 of FIG.
The second and second switching terminals 13 are relatively moved substantially parallel in the directions of the double arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2. This allows
At the time of information transmission, axis alignment can be performed in which the first switching terminal 12 is stopped in front of the desired second switching terminal 13 and arranged to face each other.

In this embodiment, one first switching terminal 1
Since a large number of the second switching terminals 13 are arranged for each of the two, the stop position of the ultrasonic motor 20 is appropriately changed to perform the axial alignment with the large number of the second switching terminals 13 so that the number of the second switching terminals 13 is large. Of the information transmission path 13a.

The ultrasonic motor 2 used in the present embodiment
A value of 0 can easily control the position in the driving direction to about 1 μm. Further, the linear guide 19 disposed between the substrate 15b of the base member 15 and the moving element 17 also
Since the running parallelism between 5b and the moving element 17 can be maintained at 1 μm or less, the plane of the substrate 15b to which the second switching terminal 13 is fixed and the moving element 17 to which the first switching terminal 12 is fixed. Can be made 1 μm or less. Furthermore, the parallelism between the substrate 15b and the moving element 17 is not affected by components other than the linear guide 19. That is, the position accuracy in the driving direction is controlled to about 1 μm by the ultrasonic motor 20, and the position accuracy in the height direction orthogonal to the moving direction is guaranteed to be 1 μm or less by the linear guide 19. Therefore, when the shafts are aligned, the alignment accuracy between the first switching terminal 12 and the second switching terminal 13 disposed opposite to each other can be controlled within about 2 μm. This allows information communication between the first switching terminal 12 and the second switching terminal 13 without the intervention of an auxiliary member such as a rod lens. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to use the rod lens or the positioning device 6 which is indispensable in the device shown in FIG.

According to the present embodiment, when the ultrasonic motor 20 is not driven, a holding force is generated between the vibrator 16 and the moving element 17 due to a frictional force. Therefore, when the information transmission path 13a is switched, the ultrasonic motor 20 is activated to switch the information transmission path 13a, and after the switching, the ultrasonic motor 20 is stopped.
0, the information transmission path 12 on the input side
a and the connection state between the information transmission line 13a on the output side is maintained. Thus, the first switching terminal 12 and the second switching terminal 1 can be connected without using an auxiliary member such as a rod lens.
3 enables information communication. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to use the rod lens or the brake mechanism of the switching terminal, which is indispensable in the device shown in FIG.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the following description will be made with respect to portions different from the first embodiment, and the common portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the information transmission line switching device 11-1 of this embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is an information transmission line switching device 11-1 of this embodiment corresponding to FIG. Of B
It is an arrow view.

The information transmission line switching device 11-1 of this embodiment
However, the difference from the information transmission line switching device 11 of the first embodiment is that the first switching terminal 12 is provided on a guide member 31-1 fixed to the movable member 17.

That is, in the present embodiment, the guide member 31 of the first embodiment has a square rod-shaped cross-sectional shape.
A linear guide member 31-1 having a longer overall length is used. The guide member 31-1 is fixed to a plane facing the substrate 15b among the two planes of the moving element 17, and the first switching terminal 12 is fixed to the upper surface of the guide member 31-1.

On the other hand, a rail member 30-1 slidably fitted to the guide member 31-1 is fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 15b. The second switching terminal 13 is fixed on the upper surface of the substrate 15b. At this time, the second switching terminal 13 is fixed to the board 15b such that its installation height matches the installation height of the first switching terminal 12. As a result, the first switching terminal 12 moves in the direction of the double arrow in FIG. 6, whereby the axes of the first switching terminal 12 and the second switching terminal 13 are aligned.

Information transmission path switching device 11-1 of this embodiment
According to the above, the same effects as those of the information transmission line switching device 11 of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, according to the information transmission line switching device 11-1 of the present embodiment, the first switching terminal 12 is installed so as to be exposed upward, so that The workability of mounting the first switching terminal 12 is improved, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

(Modification) In the description of each embodiment, the case where the vibration motor is an ultrasonic motor using an ultrasonic vibration region is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the ultrasonic motor, and is equally applicable to a vibration motor using a vibration region other than the ultrasonic wave.

In the description of each embodiment, the vibrator is
A case of a so-called odd-mode degenerate type vibrator having a rectangular plate-like outer shape and exciting primary longitudinal vibration and fourth-order bending vibration is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the order of each of the longitudinal vibration and the bending vibration. For example, when a first-order longitudinal vibration and bending vibrations of various orders such as secondary, sixth-order, eighth-order, etc. are generated, and when a third-order longitudinal vibration and eighth-order bending vibration are generated, The same applies. Further, the present invention is not limited to the mode of vibration generated in the vibrator, that is, the combination of longitudinal vibration and bending vibration, and is similarly applied to a vibrator using another combination of vibrations.

That is, the vibration motor of the present invention comprises:
The same applies to a vibration motor having a vibrator that excites the first vibration that vibrates in the direction of the relative motion and the second vibration that vibrates in a direction that intersects the vibration direction of the first vibration. Further, the driving mode of the vibrator is not limited to the linear driving type described in the embodiment, but may be applied to, for example, a rotary driving type.

In the description of each embodiment, the information transmission line switching device has one first switching terminal and the second switching terminal.
The case where a plurality of switching terminals are provided is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and is similarly applied to a case where one or more first switching terminals and one or more second switching terminals are provided. When a plurality of first switching terminals are provided, a plurality of first switching terminals may be provided in parallel with the movable member or the guide member, similarly to the second switching terminal.

In the description of each embodiment, the first switching terminal is supported by the vibration motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. The second switching terminal is supported by the vibration motor, and the first switching terminal is supported by the vibration motor. May be supported by a base member that supports the vibration motor.

In the present invention, the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal are relatively moved substantially in parallel. However, it is not always necessary to relatively move these first and second switching terminals substantially in parallel. The vibration motor may be arranged so that the second switching terminal can be moved.

In the description of each embodiment, the case where the vibration motor includes the base member, the vibrator, the relative motion member, and the linear guide is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. If the vibration motor is capable of moving one of the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal while supporting and moving the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal to face each other at the time of transmitting information, it is equally possible. Applied. As such a vibration motor, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-939
A rod-type vibration motor disclosed in JP-A-63-63 may also be used. In this case, it is exemplified that the first switching terminal is arranged on the rotor, and a plurality of second switching terminals are arranged radially around the rotor away from the rotor.

The base member, the vibrator, the relative motion member and the linear guide in each embodiment are
These are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments.

Further, in the description of each embodiment, the case where the linear guide has the guide member and the rail member is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the relative movement member is moved linearly. If it is a linear guide that supports freely,
Applies equally.

Further, in the description of each embodiment, the case where the information transmission path is an optical fiber is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this optical fiber, and is similarly applied to various information transmission lines such as an electric signal line and a magnetic signal line, particularly, a flexible information transmission line. .

[0083]

As described in detail above, claims 1 to 5
According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to further reduce the size and weight without providing a dedicated positioning device or a brake mechanism, and to further improve the position control system of the switching terminal. An information transmission line switching device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an information transmission line switching device according to a first embodiment;
It is a perspective view shown in a partially broken state.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of each of a vibrator and a moving element in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing waveform examples of two different vibrations L1 and B4 generated in the vibrator in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an information transmission line switching device according to a second embodiment corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B of the information transmission path switching device of the second embodiment corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an information transmission line switching device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-34897;
FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the entire configuration, and FIG.
8 (c) is a perspective view showing the output side holder extracted from FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing terminal components traveling inside the output side holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Information transmission path switching apparatus 12 1st switching terminal 12a Input side information transmission path 13 2nd switching terminal 13a Output side information transmission path 14 Switching terminal drive mechanism 15 Base member 15a Housing frame 15b Substrate 16 Vibrator 17 Movement Child 18 Pressure support mechanism 19 Linear guide 20 Vibration motor 30 Rail member 31 Guide member

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H041 AA14 AB18 AC01 AC08 AZ02 AZ06 AZ08 5H680 AA00 AA08 AA19 BB01 BB13 BC00 CC02 DD01 DD15 DD23 DD39 DD53 DD55 DD59 DD72 DD74 DD82 DD92 EE07 EE24 FF04 FF05 GG27 GG25 GG25 GG25 GG25 GG25 GG25 GG25 GG33

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first switching terminal provided at one end of an input-side information transmission line and an output-side information transmission line; and a first switching terminal provided between the input-side information transmission line and the output-side information transmission line. A second switching terminal provided at the other end of the first and second switching terminals, while supporting one of the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal, relatively moving them substantially in parallel;
An information transmission line switching device, comprising: a switching terminal driving mechanism using a vibration motor that opposes the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal during information transmission. 2. The vibration motor, wherein: a base member; a vibrator supported by the base member; a relative movement member that generates relative movement between the vibrator; A linear guide having a linear guide member and a linear rail member slidably fitted to the guide member and fixed to the base member, and linearly and movably supporting the relative motion member; The information transmission path switching device according to claim 1, comprising: 3. One of the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal is fixed to the relative movement member or the guide member, and the first switching terminal and the second switching terminal. 3. The information transmission line switching device according to claim 2, wherein the other switching terminal of the two switching terminals is fixed to the base member. 4. A surface on which the relative movement member or the guide member fixes the one switching terminal is formed substantially parallel to a surface on which the base member fixes the other switching terminal. The information transmission line switching device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an alignment error between said first switching terminal and said second switching terminal, which are opposed to each other during said information transmission, is within 2 μm. An information transmission line switching device according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. A linear drive type which excites a first vibration vibrating in a direction of the relative movement and a second vibration vibrating in a direction intersecting with a vibration direction of the first vibration. 6. The vibrator of claim 2, wherein:
The information transmission line switching device according to any one of the above.