JP2001305445A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical switch decreased in optical splice loss. SOLUTION: The optical switch in this invention is an optical switch 1 for selectively making an optical connection between a 1st optical fiber 5 arranged in the optical fiber array member 3 and a 2nd optical fiber 9 moving in the direction of the array of the 1st optical fiber 5, and has a front end 7a extending in the direction of array facing a front end 3a of a fiber array member 3 and is provided with a guide rail 7 having aligned this front end 7a of the optical fiber array member 3 in position relative to the front end 3a, an actuator 8 for fixing the 2nd optical fiber 9, and a base part 2 for mounting the guide rail 7 and the optical fiber array member 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for moving a plurality of first optical fibers arranged side by side on an optical fiber aligning member so as to select a second optical fiber. The present invention relates to a mechanical optical switch configured so that an optical connection end face and an optical connection end face of a second optical fiber face each other for optical connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, there is JP-A-6-67101. In the optical switch described in this publication, the first optical fibers are arranged in a matrix by fixing a large number of first optical fibers on an optical fiber alignment member and stacking the optical fiber alignment members in multiple stages. . On the other hand, the second optical fiber is selectively optically connected to the first optical fiber while moving vertically and horizontally. At this time, the second optical fiber moves up and down along a guide rail extending perpendicularly to up, down, left and right.

[0003]

In the mechanical optical switch as described above, it is necessary to minimize the optical connection loss of a large number of optical fibers. For example, OT
In optical fiber monitoring devices such as DR, higher accuracy is required. Specifically, with more than 2,000 optical fibers,
Switching with an optical connection loss of 0.2 dB or less is desired. As described above, as the number of optical fibers to be switched increases, it is necessary to accurately regulate the end face interval between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber on the order of microns. However, in a mechanical optical switch that does not have a degree of freedom in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber, the assembly accuracy of the optical switch has a great influence on the optical connection loss of the optical switch. .

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical switch which can reduce optical connection loss.

[0005]

An optical switch according to the present invention selectively comprises a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in an optical fiber alignment member and a second optical fiber moving in the direction in which the first optical fibers are arranged. An optical switch for optically connecting the optical fiber alignment member with a front end extending in the arrangement direction opposite to the front end of the optical fiber alignment member, and a guide rail having the front end aligned with the front end of the optical fiber alignment member as a reference; A movable element for sliding the second optical fiber on the rail in the arrangement direction and a base for mounting the guide rail and the optical fiber alignment member are provided.

In a mechanical optical switch, the processing accuracy and the assembly accuracy of each component affect the optical connection loss. In particular, in an optical switch in which it is necessary to accurately regulate the end face interval between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber on the order of microns, the guide accuracy of the guide rail for moving the second optical fiber is reduced. It has been found through various experiments that the optical connection loss is greatly affected. Therefore, the first guide rail is placed on the base part.
Rather than simply extending in the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged, the front end of the optical fiber alignment member and the front end of the guide rail are made to face each other, and the guide rail is extended with respect to the front end of the optical fiber alignment member. Adjust the position of the direction.
That is, paying attention to the fact that the front end of the optical fiber alignment member is linearly processed with high precision so as to match the extending direction of the first optical fiber, and with this as a reference, the guide rail is placed on the base portion. The extension is effective as a means for reducing the optical connection loss, and the guide rail can be easily and accurately assembled on the base portion. Such a technique becomes more effective as the length of the optical fiber alignment member increases as the number of first optical fibers arranged in the optical fiber alignment member increases.

It is preferable that the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member and the front end face of the guide rail are brought into pressure contact with each other. That is, even if there is some distortion in the guide rail in the length direction, the distortion is absorbed by pressing the front end surface of the guide rail with a predetermined force with reference to the front end surface of the optical fiber alignment member. As a result, the guide rail can be accurately extended along the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member, and the parallel accuracy can be improved in the length direction of the guide rail with respect to the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers. it can.

[0008] It is preferable that an abutment member is disposed between the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member and the front end face of the guide rail. That is, the guide rail is positioned along the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member by disposing the abutting member between the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member and the front end face of the guide rail with reference to the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member. It can be extended well. In such a configuration, by changing the outer dimensions of the abutment member, the interval between the front end faces can be appropriately changed as necessary, and in the length direction of the guide rail with respect to the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers, The parallel accuracy can be improved.

Preferably, the butting member is a butting pin having a predetermined diameter. This is the cheapest configuration for increasing the parallel accuracy.

An optical switch according to the present invention is an optical switch for selectively optically connecting a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in an optical fiber alignment member and a second optical fiber moving in the direction in which the first optical fibers are arranged. , A guide rail extending in the arrangement direction, a movable element that slides on the guide rail in the arrangement direction and fixes the second optical fiber, and a base portion on which the guide rail and the optical fiber alignment member are mounted. The optical fiber alignment member is disposed on the front surface side of the base portion, the guide rail is disposed on the rear surface side of the base portion, and the front end of the guide rail is positioned on an alignment pin that contacts the front end of the optical fiber alignment member and penetrates the rear surface side. Are brought into contact with each other.

In a mechanical optical switch, the processing accuracy and the assembly accuracy of each component affect the optical connection loss. In particular, in an optical switch in which the end face interval between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber needs to be regulated on the order of microns, the guide accuracy of the guide rail for moving the second optical fiber is less than that of the optical switch. It has been found through various experiments that it has a great influence on the connection loss. Therefore, an optical fiber arranged on the surface side of the base portion using an alignment pin penetrating the base portion, instead of simply extending the guide rail on the base portion in the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers. The alignment member and the guide rail arranged on the back side of the base portion are brought into contact with the alignment pins, thereby eliminating the need to arrange the optical fiber alignment member and the guide rail on the same plane of the base portion. Moreover, the optical fiber alignment member and the guide rail can be positioned easily and reliably. This focuses on the fact that the positioning pin can be easily and accurately formed, and based on this, the guide rail is extended on the back side of the base portion. Such means is effective in reducing the optical connection loss, and can easily and accurately assemble the guide rail on the back surface side of the base portion.

It is preferable that the positioning pin penetrates the base portion with a predetermined diameter. This is the most inexpensive configuration for achieving alignment accuracy.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an optical switch according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, an optical switch 1 has a housing (not shown), in which a base plate (base portion) 2 is fixed. The optical fiber alignment member 3 is fixed with an adhesive or a screw. The optical fiber alignment member 3 is made of silicon,
The optical fiber alignment member 3 is formed of a material having a small distortion and high rigidity such as ceramics or zirconia. An optical fiber fixing groove 4 having a V-shaped cross section is provided on the surface of the optical fiber alignment member 3. It is formed in parallel by processing.

Then, all the first optical fibers 5 are pressed from above by the holding plate 6, and the first optical fibers 5 are positioned in the optical fiber fixing grooves 4. The first optical fiber 5 is bonded and fixed. After such assembling work, the optical fiber alignment member 3
The optical fiber alignment member 3 and the first optical fiber 5 are cut off linearly with a cutter or the like in order to align the front end face 3a of the first optical fiber 5 with the front end face of the first optical fiber 5. As a result, the front end face 3a of the optical fiber alignment member 3 is linearly processed with high precision so as to coincide with the extending direction of the first optical fiber 5. The optical fiber alignment member 3 thus formed is fixed to the surface of the base plate 2 with an adhesive or a screw.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a stainless steel guide rail 7 extending in the arrangement direction X of the first optical fibers 5 is fixed on the base plate 2 with an adhesive or a screw. Then, the mover 8 slides along the guide rail 7. A second optical fiber 9 is attached to the mover 8, and the second optical fiber 9 is selectively optically connected to the first optical fiber 5 while moving stepwise in the arrangement direction X. The feeding means 12 of the mover 8 includes a screw shaft 10 extending in the arrangement direction X and a step motor 11 for rotating the screw shaft 10.

Here, the optical fiber alignment member 3 is fixed at a predetermined position on the base plate 2, but accurate positioning on the order of microns has not been carried out in order to improve work efficiency. When the optical fiber alignment member 3 is fixed to the base plate 2 based on such an operation, the movable element 8
In order to accurately move the guide rails 7 in the arrangement direction X, how to dispose the guide rails 7 on the base plate 2 with respect to the optical fiber alignment member 3 becomes a problem.

Therefore, the front end face 7a of the guide rail 7 is
The front end face 3a of the guide rail 7 is pressed against the front end face 3a of the optical fiber alignment member 3 with a predetermined force.
The pressing force at this time varies depending on the material of the optical fiber alignment member 3 and the guide rail 7, but in the length direction,
Generally, a load of about 1.5 kgw per cm is applied. Thereby, even if the guide rail 7 has some distortion in its length direction, the guide rail 7 is accurately extended along the front end face 7a of the optical fiber alignment member 7 so as to absorb the distortion. Can be. Therefore, in the length direction of the guide rail 7 with respect to the arrangement direction X of the first optical fibers 5, the parallel accuracy can be improved.

As described above, the guide rail 7 can be extended on the base plate 2 with reference to the front end face 3a of the optical fiber alignment member 3. Therefore, the first optical fiber 5 on the selected side and the second optical fiber 9 on the side moving linearly are selected.
Can be reduced, and the guide rail 7 can be easily and accurately assembled on the base plate 2. Such a technique is more effective as the number of the first optical fibers 5 arranged on the optical fiber alignment member 3 increases and the length of the optical fiber alignment member 3 becomes longer.

[Second Embodiment] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical switch 20 has a housing (not shown), in which a base plate (base portion) 22 is fixed. An optical fiber alignment member 23 is fixed to the surface with an adhesive or a screw. The optical fiber alignment member 23 is formed of a material having high rigidity such as ceramics or zirconia. On the surface of the optical fiber alignment member 23, an optical fiber fixing groove 24 having a V-shaped cross section is provided side by side.
An optical fiber introduction groove 25 is formed so as to correspond one-to-one with each optical fiber fixing groove 24. Each optical fiber fixing groove 24 is formed in parallel by cutting, and each optical fiber introduction groove 25 is also cut at the same time.

Further, all the first optical fibers 5 are pressed from above by the holding plate 26, and the first optical fibers 5 are positioned in the optical fiber fixing grooves 24, and are inserted into the respective optical fiber fixing grooves 24. The first optical fiber 5 is bonded and fixed. After such an assembling operation, the first rotating blade A (see FIG. 6) is used to cut the distal end face of the first optical fiber 5 between the optical fiber fixing groove 24 and the optical fiber introducing groove 25. Then, a separation groove 33 is formed.

At this time, the front end face 23a of the optical fiber alignment member 23 is cut off linearly by a second rotary blade B (see FIG. 6) parallel to the first rotary blade A. As a result, the front end face 23a of the optical fiber alignment member 23 is
Is processed very linearly with high precision so as to coincide with the arrangement direction X. Such an optical fiber alignment member 23 is fixed to the surface of the base plate 22 with an adhesive or a screw.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a stainless steel guide rail 27 extending in the arrangement direction X of the first optical fibers 5 is fixed on the base plate 22 with an adhesive or a screw. The movable element 2 is moved along the guide rail 27.
8 slides. The mover 28 has a second optical fiber 9
The second optical fiber 9 is selectively optically connected to the first optical fiber 5 while step-moving in the arrangement direction X. The feed means 32 of the mover 28 includes a screw shaft 30 extending in the arrangement direction X and a step motor 31 for rotating the screw shaft 30.

In making selective optical connection,
The second optical fiber 9 is selectively introduced into the optical fiber introduction groove 25 from above. At this time, the second optical fiber 9 is pressed from above by a pressing element (not shown).

Here, the optical fiber alignment member 23 is fixed at a predetermined position on the base plate 22, but accurate positioning on the order of microns is not performed because of work efficiency. When the optical fiber alignment member 23 is fixed to the base plate 22 based on such an operation, the guide rail 27 is moved to the optical fiber alignment member 23 in order to accurately move the mover 28 in the arrangement direction X. However, how to dispose it on the base plate 22 becomes a problem.

In the state where the front end face 23a of the optical fiber alignment member 23 and the front end face 27a of the guide rail 27 face each other, a plurality of (for example, two on both sides) abutting pins (abutting members) are provided therebetween. 29 is arranged. The abutment pin 29 is a stainless steel or iron cylinder or cylinder having a predetermined diameter (for example, 2 to 10 mm) for regulating the distance between the front end face 23a and the front end face 27a. Specifically, the front end surface 27a of the guide rail 27 is brought into contact with the butting pin 29 with a predetermined force. As for the contact force at this time, a load of about 1.0 kgw is applied per one place in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the guide rail 27.

Such a configuration can be achieved by changing the outer dimensions of the abutment pin 29 or the number of used pins, or by changing the front end face 23a and the front end face 27.
The distance from “a” can be changed as needed. Therefore, in the length direction of the guide rail 27 with respect to the arrangement direction X of the first optical fibers 5, the parallel accuracy can be improved.

As described above, the guide rail 27 is connected to the base plate 2 with reference to the front end face 23a of the optical fiber alignment member 23.
2 can be extended. Therefore, the optical connection loss between the first optical fiber 5 on the selected side and the second optical fiber 9 on the side moving linearly can be reduced,
The guide rail 27 can be easily and accurately assembled on the base plate 22. Such a technique becomes more effective as the number of the first optical fibers 5 arranged on the optical fiber alignment member 23 increases and the length of the optical fiber alignment member 23 increases.

[Third Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 7, the optical switch 40 has a casing (not shown), in which a base plate (base portion) 42 is fixed. The optical fiber alignment member 43 is fixed with an adhesive or a screw. This optical fiber alignment member 43
The optical fiber alignment member 43 is formed of a highly rigid material such as ceramics or zirconia. On the surface of the optical fiber alignment member 43, an optical fiber fixing groove 44 having a V-shaped cross section is juxtaposed, and one-to-one with each optical fiber fixing groove 44. An optical fiber introduction groove 45 is formed correspondingly.

Each optical fiber fixing groove 44 is formed in parallel by cutting, and each optical fiber introducing groove 45 is also cut at the same time. Further, all the first optical fibers 5 are pressed from above by the holding plate 46, and the first optical fibers 5 are positioned in the optical fiber fixing grooves 44, and the first optical fibers 5 are inserted into the respective optical fiber fixing grooves 44. The fiber 5 is bonded and fixed.

At this time, the front end face 4 of the optical fiber alignment member 43 is moved by the second rotary blade B (see FIG. 6) parallel to the arrangement direction X.
3a is cut off linearly. As a result, the front end face 43a of the optical fiber alignment member 43 is linearly processed with extremely high accuracy so as to coincide with the arrangement direction X of the first optical fibers 5. Such an optical fiber alignment member 4
3 is fixed to the surface of the base plate 42 with an adhesive or a screw. A plurality of (for example, two) optical fiber alignment members 43 independent of each other are fixed on the base plate 42 so as to be arranged side by side.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a stainless steel guide rail 47 extending in the arrangement direction X of the first optical fibers 5 is provided on the back side of the base plate 42 with an adhesive or a screw. , And the mover 48 slides along the guide rail 47. The second optical fiber 9 is attached to the mover 48, and the second optical fiber 9 is selectively optically connected to the first optical fiber 5 while moving stepwise in the arrangement direction X. In addition, the feeding means 52 of the mover 48
Is a screw shaft 50 extending in the arrangement direction X;
And a step motor 51 for rotating 0.

In order to perform selective optical connection, the second optical fiber 9 is selectively introduced into the optical fiber introduction groove 45 from above. At this time, the second optical fiber 9 is pressed from above by a pressing element (not shown).

Here, in order to align the optical fiber alignment member 43 and the guide rail 47, positioning pins 55 penetrating from the front surface to the rear surface are provided on the base plate 42.
Are fixed in advance. Then, each alignment pin 49
The ends of the front end face 43a of the optical fiber alignment member 43 and the front end face 47a of the guide rail 47 are brought into contact with each other.
The alignment pins 49 are arranged between the front end face 43a and the front end face 47.
a is aligned in a straight line, and is formed as a stainless steel or iron column or cylinder.

Specifically, the front end face 43a of the optical fiber alignment member 43 and the front end face 47a of the guide rail 47 are brought into contact with the positioning pins 49 with a predetermined force, and while maintaining this state, the Fiber alignment member 43
The guide rail 47 is fixed to the base plate 42 with screws or an adhesive. The contact force at this time is
In the direction orthogonal to the length direction of the guide rail 47, a load of about 1.0 kgw is applied per one place.

By utilizing such positioning pins 49, the optical fiber alignment member 43 and the guide rail 47 can be easily and reliably aligned. This focuses on the fact that the positioning pin 49 can be easily and accurately formed, and based on this, the guide rail 47 is attached to the base plate 4.
2 on the back side. Such means is effective in reducing the optical connection loss, and is effective in assembling the guide rail 47 to the base plate 42 simply and accurately.

[0037]

As described above, the optical switch according to the present invention has the following effects. That is, in an optical switch for selectively optically connecting a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in an optical fiber alignment member and a second optical fiber moving in the direction in which the first optical fibers are arranged, the optical switch is provided at the front end of the optical fiber alignment member. A front end extending in the arrangement direction, facing the front end of the optical fiber alignment member, and a guide rail which is aligned with the front end of the optical fiber alignment member; And a base for mounting the guide rail and the optical fiber alignment member.
Optical connection loss can be reduced.

Further, the optical switch according to the present invention comprises a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in an optical fiber alignment member;
In an optical switch for selectively optically connecting a second optical fiber moving in an arrangement direction of an optical fiber, a guide rail extending in the arrangement direction, and a second optical fiber slid on the guide rail in the arrangement direction. A movable element for fixing the optical fiber alignment member, and a base portion on which the guide rail and the optical fiber alignment member are mounted.The optical fiber alignment member is arranged on the front surface side of the base portion, and the guide rail is arranged on the back surface side of the base portion. The optical connection loss can be reduced by contacting the front end of the guide rail with the positioning pin which comes into contact with the front end of the fiber alignment member and penetrates the back side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the optical switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a jig for cutting the optical fiber alignment member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 20, 40: optical switch, 2, 22, 42: base plate (base portion), 3, 23, 43: optical fiber alignment member, 3a, 23a, 43a: front end face (front end) of optical fiber alignment member, 5 first optical fiber, 7, 27, 47 guide rail, 7a, 27a, 47a front end face (front end) of guide rail, 8, 28, 48 mover, 9 second optical fiber, 29 projection Contact pin (butting member), 49: positioning pin, X: arrangement direction.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical switch for selectively optically connecting a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in an optical fiber alignment member and a second optical fiber moving in an arrangement direction of the first optical fibers, wherein the optical fiber A guide rail having a front end extending in the arrangement direction facing the front end of the alignment member, and a guide rail having the front end aligned with the front end of the optical fiber alignment member as a reference; and the arrangement direction on the guide rail. While sliding on
An optical switch, comprising: a mover for fixing the second optical fiber; and a base for mounting the guide rail and the optical fiber alignment member. 2. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the front end face of the optical fiber alignment member and the front end face of the guide rail are brought into pressure contact with each other. 3. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein an abutment member is disposed between a front end surface of said optical fiber alignment member and a front end surface of said guide rail. 4. The optical switch according to claim 3, wherein said abutment member is an abutment pin having a predetermined diameter. 5. An optical switch for selectively optically connecting a plurality of first optical fibers arranged on an optical fiber alignment member and a second optical fiber moving in an arrangement direction of the first optical fibers, wherein the arrangement direction is And a guide rail extending in the direction of the arrangement on the guide rail,
A movable element for fixing the second optical fiber; and a base portion on which the guide rail and the optical fiber alignment member are mounted. The optical fiber alignment member is arranged on a surface side of the base portion, and An optical switch, wherein the guide rail is disposed on a rear surface side, and the front end of the guide rail is brought into contact with an alignment pin that comes into contact with the front end of the optical fiber alignment member and penetrates into the rear surface side. 6. The optical switch according to claim 5, wherein said positioning pin penetrates said base portion with a predetermined diameter.