JPH027013A - Optical path switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately transmit light data by arranging a solenoid so that the moving direction of a plunger is parallel to the reflecting surface of a reflection body and fitting a round rod body atop of the plunger so that the rod body abuts on the V-shaped receiving groove of a stopper. CONSTITUTION:While a prism 26 is inserted into the intersection of an optical path 16, the peripheral surface of the round rod body 24 fitted atop of the plunger 18 abuts on two surfaces in the V-shaped receiving groove 28 of the stopper 19, so the rotation of the plunger 18 on its axis is restrained and the reflecting surface of the prism 26 intersects the top surface 10a of a base 10 accurately orthogonally. Therefore, light beams which are entered into this optical path switching device from 1st and 3rd port groups are reflected by the reflecting surface of each prism 26 accurately orthogonally and projected from 4th and 2nd port groups. The light data is therefore reflected accurately orthogonally groups. The light data is therefore reflected accurately orthogonally and projected from the 4th and 2nd port groups respectively. Thus, the light data is accurately transmitted and light loss can be minimized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical path switching device for switching optical communication lines in an optical communication system using optical fibers or the like.

[Prior Art] Various proposals have been made for optical path switching devices that switch optical communication lines in optical communication systems using optical fibers. An optical path switching device has been proposed that selectively inserts and exits the optical path and optically switches the optical path.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the optical path switching device. A receptacle 2a receives light from an optical fiber (not shown) on the upper surface of the case 1, which is formed into a substantially square shape.

2b, and a receptacle 3a for emitting each light incident from the first port group.
, 3b, a third port group consisting of receptacles 4a and 4b that allow light to enter from a direction perpendicular to the optical path incident from the first port group, and this third port group. A receptacle 5a that emits light incident thereon.

A fourth port group consisting of 5b is provided.

Right triangular prisms 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d with a cross section of 45'' are arranged at four intersections of each optical path.

In the case 1, as shown in FIG. 6, four solenoids 7 are disposed for vertically moving each of the prisms 6a to 6d, and a plunger 7a of each solenoid 7 has a tip end. The prism 6 is attached to. When the coil 7b of the solenoid 7 is not energized, the plunger 7a is drawn into the coil 7b by gravity or the attractive force of a permanent magnet, and the plunger 7a
The prism 6 attached to the tip of a moves downward,
The light incident from the receptacle 2a of the first port group exits as it is from the receptacle 3a of the second port group.

On the other hand, when the coil 7b of the solenoid 7 is energized, the plunger 7a moves upward, and the prism 6 attached to the tip of the plunger 7a is inserted into the optical path.

As a result, the light incident from the receptacle 2a is reflected in the right angle direction by the prism 6 and is emitted to the receptacle 5a or 5b of the fourth port group.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the optical switching device.

If only one prism 6a among the four prisms 6a to 6d is inserted into the optical path, the light incident from the receptacle 2a of the first port group is reflected in the right angle direction by the reflective surface 8 of the prism 6a. , receptacle 5 of the fourth port group
It is emitted from a. The light incident from the receptacle 2b is directly emitted from the receptacle 3b of the second port group.

Further, the light incident from the receptacle 4a of the third port group is reflected by the reflective surface 8 of the prism 6a, and is emitted from the receptacle 3a of the second port group. Receptacle 4
The light incident from port b is directly emitted from receptacle 5b of the fourth port group.

In this way, a plurality of prisms 6a to 6d are located within the intersection of the optical paths.
By inserting and withdrawing the light, it is possible to switch the light in any direction.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, even in the optical path switching device configured as described above, the following problems still remain to be solved. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the prism 6a is inserted into the optical path, the reflective surface 8 of the prism 6a
The inclination angle θ with respect to the optical path must be exactly 45°. If this angle θ deviates significantly from the above 45″, the first
The light incident from the receptacle 2a of the fourth port group is not reflected exactly 90'' by the reflecting surface 8 of the prism 6a, and as a result, it is not emitted from the receptacle 5a of the fourth port group. Even if the light of .

However, as shown in FIG. 6, since the solenoid 7 is used as a mechanism to move the prism 6 up and down, in the process of moving the plunger 7a, which has the prism 6 attached to its tip, up and down, the plunger 7a There is a concern that it will rotate around the heart. Therefore, the prism 6 also rotates. In order to suppress the rotation of the plunger 7a during the operation of the solenoid 7, the cross section of the plunger 7a may be formed into a rectangular shape, or a wire lock protrusion may be attached to the plunger 7a.
It has been considered to provide a guide body on the case 1 side to guide the rectangular cross section or the wire lock protrusion.

However, if the distance between the guide body and the rectangular cross section or the wire lock protrusion is made too narrow in order to accurately control each inclination θ mentioned above, the solenoid 7 will slide on the interface, and the response characteristics of the solenoid 7 will deteriorate. Not only does this decrease, but the amount of electric power required to drive the solenoid 7 increases.

Therefore, in the conventional device, it is difficult to improve the accuracy of the inclination angle θ of the reflective surface 8 of the prism 6 with respect to the optical path beyond a certain level.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to change the optical path of the reflective surface by arranging a solenoid so that the moving direction of the plunger is parallel to the reflective surface of the reflector. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical path switching device that can constantly control the inclination angle with high accuracy, can accurately switch and transmit optical data, and can significantly suppress optical loss.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a first port group that allows a plurality of propagated lights to enter a predetermined plane, and a second port group that outputs the incident light. a group of ports, a third group of ports into which a plurality of lights are incident in the plane from a direction perpendicular to the incident light from the first group of ports, a fourth group of ports which outputs the incident light; a plurality of reflectors that are selectively inserted at the intersections of the optical paths of each of the incident lights from the first and third port groups, and reflect each of the incident lights in a perpendicular direction and output from the fourth and second port groups; In an optical path switching device equipped with a plurality of reflector drive mechanisms for inserting and retracting each reflector with respect to the intersection of each optical path, each reflector drive mechanism has a plunger whose moving direction is parallel to the reflective surface of the reflector. A solenoid that is large and arranged parallel to the plane, a round rod that is attached to the tip of the plunger in a direction perpendicular to the plane and a reflector attached to the upper end, and a round bar that is attached to the plane and whose reflector is attached to the planer. A stopper with which the circumferential surface of the round rod comes into contact when the jar is inserted into the intersection of the optical path by the moving operation of the jar, and a V-shaped receiving groove carved in a direction perpendicular to the plane at the contact position of the circumferential surface of the stopper. It is equipped with the following.

[Operation] With the optical path switching device configured in this way, each reflection pair reflects the light incident from the first and third port groups in the right angle direction and outputs it from the fourth and second port groups. When inserted into or exited from the intersection of each optical path, it moves in a direction parallel to a plane parallel to the reflecting surface and parallel to the optical path. That is, even if the solenoid operates and the plunger moves, the angle of inclination of the reflective surface with respect to the optical path remains constant.

Furthermore, with the reflector inserted at the intersection of the optical paths, the round bar attached to the tip of the plunger comes into contact with the V-shaped receiving groove of the stopper, so rotation of the plunger around its axis is also restricted.

As a result, the attitude angle of the reflector within the intersection of the optical paths can be controlled with high precision.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the optical path switching device of the embodiment with the cover covering the top surface removed. A first port group consisting of receptacles 12a and 12b into which light is incident from the optical fiber 11 on each side of the upper surface 10a of the base 10 formed into a substantially square shape, and each light beam incident from this first port group. a second port group consisting of receptacles 13a and 13b that emit light; a receptacle 14a that allows light to enter from a direction perpendicular to the optical path of the light that entered from the first port group;
14b, and receptacles 15a and 1 that emit light incident from the third port group.
A fourth port group consisting of 5b is provided.

Solenoids 17a are provided near each of the four intersections of each optical path 16 on the upper surface 10a of the base 10, respectively.

17b, 17c, and 17d are fixed. Each of the solenoids 17a to 17d is such that the moving direction of the plunger 18 passes through each intersection of each of the optical paths 16, and each of the optical paths 16
The attitude angle of each plunger 18 is set so that it is inclined by 45'' with respect to the plunger 18.A stopper 19 is fixed to the upper surface 10a of the base 10 at a position beyond each intersection on the extension line of the moving direction of each plunger 18. ing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the two solenoids 17a taken out, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the solenoid 17 with the cover removed.
It is a figure showing the composition of a. As shown in the figure, an outer yoke 20 having a U-shaped cross section is fixed to the upper surface 10a of the base 10, a coil 22 is fixed between the outer yoke 20 and the inner yoke 21, and a coil 22 is inserted into the coil bobbin of the coil 22. The plunger 18 passes through it. Then, the plunger 18 is placed at the rear end of the plunger 18 and at an intermediate position.
The contact plate 23a regulates the movement range of the contact plate 23a.

23b is attached.

Therefore, the moving direction of the plunger 18 changes depending on the direction of the direct current applied to the coil 22 of the solenoid 17a. For example, when a drive current is applied in the forward direction, the plunger 18 moves to the right in the figure, and when a drive current is applied in the reverse direction, the plunger 18 moves to the left.

A metal round bar body 24 is attached to the top surface 1 at the tip of the plunger 18 that passes through the outer yoke 20 of the solenoid 17a.
It is attached in a direction perpendicular to 0a. A prism 26 as a reflector is attached to the upper end of this round bar body 24 via a mounting disk 25. As shown in the figure, this prism 26 has a right triangular shape with a cross section of 45 degrees, and the reflective surface 27 formed by the hypotenuse is the plunger 18 when viewed from above as shown in FIG. 3(1)).
It is fixed on the mounting disc 25 so as to coincide with the axis of the mounting disc 25.

Also, the round rod body 1 attached to the tip of the plunger 18
A V-shaped receiving groove 28 is carved in the abutting surface of the stopper 9, which the circumferential surface of the stopper 9 abuts, in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface 10a. Therefore, when the round bar body 24 attached to the plunger 18 is in contact with the stopper 19, the circumferential surface of the round bar body 24 comes into contact with two surfaces within the V-shaped receiving groove 28 of the stopper 19. Then, when the round rod body 24 is in contact with two surfaces in the V-shaped receiving groove 28 of the stopper 19, the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26 is positioned at the intersection of the optical path 16, as shown in FIG. stopper 19
The mounting position is set.

Therefore, each solenoid 17a to 17d1, each round bar body 24 attached to the plunger 18 of each solenoid 17a to 17d, and each stopper 19 in contact with each round bar body 24.
, and a V-shaped receiving groove 2 carved in this stopper 19.
Reference numeral 8 constitutes a reflector drive mechanism that inserts and withdraws the prisms 26 as each reflector into and out of the intersections of the respective optical paths.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
A condensing lens 29 is incorporated within 5a.

The operation of the optical path switching device configured in this way will be explained.

First, when a drive current is applied in the opposite direction to each coil 22 of each solenoid 17a to 17d, each plunger 18 is drawn into each solenoid 17a to 17b. The solenoid 17c in FIG. 2 shows a state in which the plunger 18 is retracted. Therefore, each prism 26 exits from within the intersection of each optical path 16. In this state, the light incident from each receptacle 12a, 12b of the first port group is directly transmitted to each receptacle 13a of the second port group.

The light is emitted from 13b. Further, the light incident from each receptacle 14a, 14b of the third port group is directly transmitted to the fourth port group.
Each receptacle 15a of the port group.

The light is emitted from 15b.

Next, when a driving current is applied in the positive direction only to the coil 22 of one solenoid 17a among the four solenoids 17a to 1.7d, the plunger 18 is sent out from the solenoid 17a, and the plunger 18 is sent out from the solenoid 17a. The attached round rod body 24 contacts two sides of the V-shaped receiving groove 28 of the stopper 19. Thus, the prism 26 attached to the upper end of the round bar body 24 via the attachment disk 25 is inserted into the intersection of the optical path 16.

Thus, the light input from the L/receptacle 12a of the first port group is reflected in the right angle direction by the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26, and is emitted from the receptacle 15a of the fourth port group. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the light incident from the receptacle 14a of the third port group is reflected by the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26 and exits from the receptacle 13a of the second port group.

Therefore, by operating the plurality of prisms 26 within the intersection of the optical path 16 and the solenoids 17a to 17d,
It is possible to switch the incident light in any direction.

In such an optical path switching device, as shown in FIG. 4, when this device is viewed from above, the solenoids 17a to 1
The moving direction of the plunger 18 7d and the direction of the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26 match. That is, no matter what position the plunger 18 is in, the prism 2
The inclination capacity θ of the reflecting surface 27 of 6 with respect to the optical path 16 is the attitude angle 4 when the solenoids 17a to 17d are installed.
5″ will be constant.

Furthermore, when the prism 26 is inserted into the intersection of the optical path 16, the circumferential surface of the round rod body 24 attached to the tip of the plunger 18 comes into contact with two surfaces in the V-shaped receiving groove 28 of the stopper 19. Therefore, the rotation of the plunger 18 around the axis is also restricted, and the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26 is accurately orthogonal to the upper surface 10a of the base 10.

Therefore, the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26 has an angle of inclination of exactly 45'' with respect to the optical path 16, and the upper surface 1 of the base 10
Exactly orthogonal to 0a.

Incidentally, although no particular restrictions are placed on the vertical positioning of the prism 26, as long as the reflective surface 27 maintains an angle of exactly 90'' with respect to the upper surface 10a, vertical fluctuations will not particularly adversely affect the optical path switching operation. There isn't.

Therefore, the light incident on this optical path switching device from the first and third port groups is accurately reflected at right angles by the reflecting surface 27 of each prism 26, and is emitted from the fourth and second port groups, respectively. .

Therefore, optical data can be transmitted accurately, and optical loss in this optical path switching device can be suppressed to a minimum.

Furthermore, for example, after using it for a long time, V of bar 19
If the inner surface of the V-shaped receiving groove 28 wears out, or the part of the round bar body 24 that contacts the V-shaped receiving groove 28 wears out, the amount of movement of the plunger 18 increases, and the position of the prism 26 may change. Even if it deviates from its original position, the inclination angle θ of the reflective surface 27 of the prism 26 with respect to the optical path 16 does not change.

Therefore, even if used for a long period of time, the Prism 2
The readjustment work of the 6th grade optical system can be reduced to the minimum.

Furthermore, the cycle of replacing parts due to wear becomes longer, so it is possible to extend the life of the entire device.

Note that in the present invention, each of the first to fourth port groups is configured so that two sets of light are input/output, but the number of optical signals configured in each port group is not particularly limited, and may be changed as necessary. It can be set arbitrarily.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the optical path switching device of the present invention, the solenoid is arranged so that the moving direction of the plunger is parallel to the reflective surface of the reflector, and a stopper is provided at the tip of the plunger. By attaching a round bar body that abuts the V-shaped receiving groove, the inclination angle of the reflective surface with respect to the optical path can be controlled with high accuracy at all times, allowing accurate switching and transmission of optical data and greatly suppressing optical loss.

Moreover, accurate optical path switching function can be maintained for a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 4 show an optical path switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the orientation of the solenoid and each optical path, and Figure 2 shows the entire device. A top view, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of each solenoid, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the moving direction of the prism, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical path switching device, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the conventional device. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the conventional device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Base, 10a... Upper surface, 11... Optical fiber, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, 14a. 14 b, 15 a, 15 b - Receptacle, 16... Optical path, 17a to 17d... Solenoid, 18... Plunger 19... Stopper 22... Coil, 24... Round bar Body, 26... Prism, 27... Reflective surface, 28... V-shaped receiving groove. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first port group (12a, 12b) that allows a plurality of propagated lights to enter into a predetermined plane (10a), a second port group (13a, 13b) that outputs this incident light, and a third port group (
14a, 14b), a fourth port group (15a, 15b) that outputs this incident light, and the intersection of the optical path of each incident light from the first and third port groups,
Each of the incident lights is reflected in a perpendicular direction to the fourth and second lights.
In an optical path switching device comprising a plurality of reflectors (26) for emitting light from a group of ports, and a plurality of reflector drive mechanisms for inserting and retracting each of the reflectors with respect to intersections of the respective optical paths, each of the reflectors The drive mechanism includes solenoids (17a to 17d) arranged such that the moving direction of the plunger (18) is parallel to the reflective surface of the reflector and parallel to the plane.
a round rod body (24) attached to the tip of the plunger in a direction perpendicular to the plane and having the reflector attached to its upper end; a stopper (
19), and a V-shaped receiving groove (28) carved in a direction perpendicular to the plane at a position where the stopper contacts the circumferential surface.
An optical path switching device comprising: