JPH02114216A - Optical fiber switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect one transmission line with each of numerous transmission lines at a small connecting loss by providing a moving device which processes the output signal of a position detector for detecting the position of markers formed in one body with a matrix and moves a ferrule onto the end face of a desired optical fiber. CONSTITUTION:A movable base 7 is moved by driving feeding mechanisms 8 and 9 by controlling stepping motors 10 and 11 in accordance with the address of the terminal of an optical fiber on a matrix 3 corresponding to a transmission line previously stored in an internal memory. A CCD camera 6 moves on the matrix 3 while the camera 6 detects light radiated from LEDs (light emitting diodes) 41-44 and moves a ferrule 5 onto the end face of the optical fiber on the matrix 3 corresponding to the transmission line. A laser light beam is radiated from the ferrule 5 after the laser light is transmitted through an optical fiber and made incident on the end face of the optical fiber on the matrix 3. Therefore, the one transmission line can be connected easily with each of the numerous transmission lines at a small connecting loss.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" This invention relates to an optical fiber switching device used to switch connections between multiple transmission lines and one transmission line in a transmission line network using optical fibers. Regarding.

"Prior Art" In recent years, optical fibers have come to be used in various transmission line networks. Since most of the line facilities of this transmission line network are installed outdoors, they are more or less influenced by the natural and social environment. Also,
Unlike conventional copper cables, the optical fiber cables used in these line facilities are prone to breakage and deterioration of transmission characteristics over time. Therefore, as a device to search for these various failures, OTDR (Optical Time
There is a failure point search device called a domain controller.

This involves injecting laser light, etc. into an optical fiber transmission line network.
The position of various obstacles present on the optical fiber is searched based on the attenuation state of backscattered light such as laser light.

"Problem to be Solved by the Invention" By the way, the above-mentioned optical fiber transmission line network is composed of a large number of small optical fibers, and it is difficult to locate a fault occurring in the transmission line using a single fault point locating device. Although it is desirable to do this efficiently, the disadvantage is that each transmission line and this fault point search device can be easily connected and switched with little connection loss, and it cannot be overcome if a small and durable switching device is used. was there.

This invention was made in view of two consecutive circumstances, and is a compact and durable optical fiber switching device that can connect and switch between multiple transmission lines and a single transmission line with low connection loss. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a matrix in which terminals of optical fibers having a certain number of square meters are arranged at predetermined intervals, and a matrix provided at a predetermined distance from the matrix in the optical axis direction of the matrix. A ferrule for inputting and outputting light to one of the terminals of the fiber, a marker formed integrally with the matrix, a position detector attached integrally with the ferrule and detecting the position of the marker, and a position detector for detecting the position of the marker. The present invention is characterized by comprising a moving device that processes the output signal and moves the ferrule onto the end face of a desired optical fiber.

"Operation" According to the present invention, first, the marker formed integrally with the matrix is detected by the position detector. Next, the moving device processes the output signal of the position detector to move the ferrule onto the end face of the desired optical fibers arranged in the matrix. Thereby, light can be input and output from the ferrule to the terminal of this optical fiber.

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical fiber switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, l is an optical fiber switching device, and 2 is a multi-host optical fiber in which each transmission line is grouped together. The cable 3 is a matrix in which the respective terminals of the optical fiber cable 2 are arranged, and an enlarged view thereof is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure,
The matrix 3 is divided and arranged into several blocks, and this block is further composed of a block on which a concentric optical fiber is terminated and whose end face is polished to a mirror finish.

In addition, in FIG. 1, 41 to 44 are four corners located a predetermined distance away from the matrix 3 (at least two points in the diagonal direction).
LEDs (light emitting diodes) are formed integrally with the matrix 3, but LEDs 43 and 44 are not shown. 5 is an i-centered ferrule which is connected to a failure point search device and which injects a laser beam into the end face of each optical fiber arranged in the matrix 3, and into which backscattered light generated within these optical fibers is incident; This is a COD camera that detects the light radiated from the LEDs 4 to 44.

Further, reference numeral 7 denotes a moving table to which the ferrule 5 and CCD camera 6 are attached, 8 a feeding mechanism for moving the moving table 7 in the X-axis direction on the matrix 3 shown in FIG. 2, and 9 the moving table 7 as shown in FIG. 10 and 11 are feeding mechanisms 8 and 9 that move the matrix 3 in the Y-axis direction.
12 is a support stand to which the above-mentioned components 3 to 11 are attached.

In addition, before shipping this optical fiber switching device l as a product, the matrix 3 and LEDs 41 to 44 are
The address of the terminal of each optical fiber is stored in advance in a memory in a control device (not shown) by measuring the relative position with respect to the optical fiber.

In such a configuration, in order to search for a fault in each transmission line using the above-mentioned fault point search device and destination fiber switching device 1, the fault point search device and the optical fiber switching device 1 are connected to one optical fiber. Immediately after the optical fiber switching device 1 and each transmission line are connected using the optical fiber 2 and a coupler (not shown), etc., backscatter of the laser light incident on each transmission line from the fault point search device is performed. It is necessary to measure the normal transmission characteristics of light in advance and store it in a memory (not shown).

First, in order to measure the normal transmission characteristics of a certain transmission line, a control device (not shown) controls the switching motor according to the address of the terminal of the optical fiber on the matrix 3 corresponding to this transmission line, which is stored in an internal memory in advance. 10 and 11 to drive the feed mechanisms 8 and 9, and
move.

As a result, the CCD camera 6 reads L E D 4 + ~ 4
The ferrule 5 is moved onto the end face of the optical fiber on the matrix 3 corresponding to this transmission line by moving on the matrix while detecting the light radiated from the ferrule 4. In this case, the positioning accuracy of the optical axis of the ferrule 5 with respect to the optical axis of the end of each optical fiber is required to be approximately ±05 μm.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, the feed mechanisms 8 and 9 are preferably provided with position detectors such as linear scales for feedback control.

Next, the laser beam from the failure point search device! enters the optical fiber of the heart. Thereby, the laser light is transmitted within this optical fiber, radiated from the ferrule 5, and input to the terminal of the optical fiber of the matrix 3.

After the laser beam is transmitted through the optical fiber 2, it passes through an unillustrated coupler, etc., and is transmitted through this transmission line.
The signal reaches a receiver (not shown) or the like.

By going through the above process, the backscattered light of the laser light on this transmission line is incident on the fault point search device.
The waveform shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display of this device. In FIG. 3, 13 is attenuation in the optical fiber switching device 1, etc., I4... is reflection at a connector (not shown), 15... is attenuation in the fusion part where each optical fiber is fused and connected, Reference numeral 16 indicates a reflection at a receiver (not shown) or the like. This waveform and data regarding this waveform are then stored in a memory within the device.

Next, normal transmission characteristics of other transmission lines are measured in the same manner as described above and stored in memory.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the transmission characteristics of each transmission line are measured again using the same method as described above, and compared with the normal transmission characteristics of each transmission line originally stored in memory, the optical fibers are checked for breakage or deterioration. monitor the status of If a break or deterioration occurs, for example, if a break occurs in one of the optical fibers in one block in matrix 3 in Figure 2, this block is replaced with a new block for maintenance. I do.

The search for fault points occurring in each transmission line by the fault point search device is programmed into the control device in advance, and is performed once a day.
By scanning the ferrule 5 over the matrix 3 in the optical fiber switching device l once a week or once a week, various faults that occur in these transmission lines can be discovered quickly, and their maintenance can be done easily. This can be done promptly.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily connect and switch between a large number of transmission lines and one transmission line with little connection loss, and moreover, only the terminal of each optical fiber can be connected. Because they are arranged in a matrix, they can be made smaller, and because they are non-contact, they are more durable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical fiber switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the matrix 3 in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a figure showing an example of a waveform. 1...Optical fiber switching device, 3...Matrix, 4, ~44...LEDl 5...
... Ferrule, 6... CCD camera, 8.
9...Feeding mechanism, 10.11...Stepping motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A matrix in which terminals of a plurality of optical fibers are arranged at predetermined intervals, and a matrix is provided at a position separated from the matrix by a predetermined distance in the optical axis direction of the matrix, and light is input to any one of the terminals of the optical fiber. a ferrule to output, a marker formed integrally with the matrix, a position detector attached integrally with the ferrule to detect the position of the marker, and an output signal of the position detector processed to detect the ferrule. An optical fiber switching device comprising: a moving device for moving the optical fiber onto a desired end face of the optical fiber.