JP2964343B2 - Optical switch for fault detection - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch suitable for use in, for example, optical fiber communication, and more particularly to an optical switch for detecting a failure.

2. Description of the Related Art An optical switch is a very important component as a basic element in an optical switch and optical fiber communication.

When arbitrary optical signals are independently switched from among N optically connected input / output lines for the purpose of detecting or diagnosing an optical line failure, if the number of input / outputs increases, the number of input / output lines increases as shown in FIG. It is necessary to use a plurality of basic switches for 2 × 2 switching as shown in FIG. 5 and a plurality of such switches as shown in FIG.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, connecting a plurality of basic switches, in addition to the connection loss of the optical path switching unit of each switch,
A connection loss due to an optical connector or the like that connects the switches is also added, which may result in a connection loss that is unacceptably large for the optical transmission system as a whole.

In addition, since the number of optical connections passing through differs depending on the line to be switched, the connection loss of each line greatly varies. Hindered.

Further, the optical fiber used for connection between the switches requires extra processing such as winding the optical fiber over an allowable bending radius (approximately 50 to 10 mm) in order to attach and detach the optical connector and protect the optical fiber itself. This not only increases the size of the device in the configuration of a switch having a large number of inputs and outputs, but also increases the cost because many connecting parts such as optical connectors are used. Difficulty leads to lower system reliability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems inherent in the related art, and accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection that has a large number of inputs and outputs and can switch any input independently. An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost low-loss optical switch.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a fault detection optical switch according to the present invention is arranged such that n input optical fibers and a focal point are located at end faces of these input optical fibers. N input fiber collimators integrating the obtained lenses, and opposed n output fiber collimators for receiving light emitted from these input fiber collimators,
The optical elements arranged drivably between the optical paths of these output fiber collimators, and when the optical elements of the individual lines are inserted in the optical paths, the optical path from the input fiber collimator is changed to generate an optical signal. A switching input optical fiber collimator and a switching output optical fiber collimator arranged so as to be switched directly through an optical path common to each line and to be guided to the output fiber collimator; At the same time as guiding the optical path of the i-th collimator lens for the input optical fiber to the collimator lens for the switching output optical fiber, and simultaneously changing the optical path of the collimator lens for the switching input optical fiber to the i-th output. It is characterized in that it is led to a fiber collimator lens.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings with regard to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, 1a to 1n (n is a positive integer) are input optical fibers, 3a to 3n are collimator lenses (selfocs) for input optical fibers, 2a to 2n are output optical fibers, and 4a to 4n.
Indicates the output optical fiber collimator lens, respectively.
These elements form the input and output fiber collimators. The input and output fiber collimators of each line are arranged substantially linearly so as to be optically connected.

Reference numerals 5a to 5n denote optical elements (for example, prisms used in the present embodiment, hereinafter referred to as prisms 5a to 5n) which are drivably arranged in the optical paths of the respective input / output lines and which include a prism or a reflector. is there. 6 is a switching input optical fiber, 7 is a switching output optical fiber, 8 is a switching input optical fiber collimator lens, and 9 is a switching output optical fiber collimator lens.

Here, the input optical fiber collimator lenses 3a to 3n,
Output optical fiber collimator lenses 4a-4n, prism 5a
5n, switching input optical fiber 6, switching input optical fiber collimator lens 8, optical fibers 1a-1n, 2a-2n,
Parts of 6 and 7 are housed in one package 10.

The prisms 5a to 5n, whose slopes are provided with a metal reflecting surface by a method such as vapor deposition, have their input fiber collimators (input optical fibers 1a to 1n and The optical path from the input optical fiber collimator lens 3a to 3n) is switched so as to be guided to the switching output collimator lens 9, and at the same time, the optical path from the switching input optical fiber collimator lens 8 is switched to corresponding output. They are arranged so as to be guided to fiber collimators (output optical fibers 2a to 2n and output optical fiber collimator lenses 4a to 4n).

In FIG. 1, an i-th input / output line among input / output lines a to n will be described as an example. Usually, as shown in FIG. 3, the prism 5i is arranged off the optical path. Therefore, the optical signal is transmitted from the input fiber collimator to the output fiber collimator on the ith line. If the optical signal of the i-th line is switched without affecting other input / output lines, the prism 5i is connected to the optical path between the i-th input fiber collimator and the output fiber collimator as shown in FIG. , The optical path from the i-th input fiber collimator is changed to be guided to the switching output optical fiber collimator lens 9. At the same time, the optical path from the switching input optical fiber collimator lens 8 is also changed and guided to the i-th output optical fiber 4i.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to omit the conventional optical wiring between the optical switches by sharing the switching optical path (not housed in one package and wired). Thus, an inexpensive optical switch with low connection loss can be manufactured.

As described above, for convenience of explanation, the input and output sections of the switching input fiber 6, the switching input fiber collimator lens 8, and the switching output fiber 7 and the switching output fiber collimator lens 9 are described here. Obviously, if only one is used, only one of the optical paths needs to be provided. In this case, a reflecting mirror or the like may be used as an optical element for optical path conversion other than the prism.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

. By arranging optical elements (prisms or reflecting mirrors) between individual input / output lines, it is possible to switch an optical signal of an arbitrary line from among a plurality of input / output lines without affecting other lines.

. Since each element of the switch is housed in one package (case) and the optical wiring between the basic switches is omitted, an optical switch with small insertion loss can be provided.

. Since the optical wiring between the basic switches is omitted, an optical connection device such as a connector can be omitted, so that a small and low-cost optical switch can be manufactured.

. Since the optical path for switching from each line is switched directly from the optical element to the output fiber collimator, an optical switch having a small difference in insertion loss between the individual switching lines can be provided. N times loss occurred at the same time).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an optical switch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an end view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is FIG. FIG. 4 is an end view showing a case where an optical element deviates from an optical path, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a crossover type optical switch, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bypass type optical switch, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical switch according to the first embodiment. 1a to 1n input optical fiber, 2a to 2n output optical fiber, 3a to 3n input optical fiber collimator lens, 4a
~ 4n …… Collimator lens for output optical fiber, 5a ～ 5n…
... Prism, 6 ... Switch input optical fiber, 7 ... Switch output optical fiber, 8 ... Collimator lens for switch input optical fiber, 9 ... Collimator lens for switch output optical fiber, 10 ... Package

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input optical fiber collimator lens connected to an input optical fiber, and n optical fiber collimator lenses optically disposed to face the input optical fiber collimator lens and connected to an output optical fiber. N output optical fiber collimator lenses, optical elements respectively disposed so as to be movable between the optical paths of the pair of input optical fibers and output optical fibers so as to change the optical paths, and the optical elements. A switching input optical fiber collimator lens, which is disposed so as to be optically connectable to the changed optical path, and is connected to another pair of input optical fiber and output optical fiber, the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber; A collimator lens for a switching output optical fiber, wherein each of the collimator lens and the optical element is a single package. The optical path of the i-th input optical fiber collimator lens is guided to the switching output optical fiber collimator lens by accommodating and operating the i-th optical element of the optical elements, and the switching input optical fiber An optical switch for detecting a failure, wherein an optical path of a collimator lens is guided to the i-th output fiber collimator lens.