JPH03166508A - Optical fiber relay - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily align the axial lines of both fibers and to enhance the stability of an optical cutting operation in the operation of a movable light guiding path part by providing the movable light guiding path part in a turning movable frame. CONSTITUTION:The movable light guiding path part 7 of the optical fiber relay having a stationary light guiding path part 2, the movable light guiding path part 7 and a driving means 12 is provided at the front end of the movable frame 14, the front end of which is freely turnably supported. This part is so positioned that the turning center passes the axial lines of the optical fibers 8, 9 on the movable side disposed on a supporting plate 6. The part is also so positioned that the axial lines of the optical fibers 3, 4 on the stationary side disposed on the supporting plate 6 pass the turning center. The movable light guiding path part 7 is provided in the turning movable frame 14 in such a manner, by which the axial lines of the fibers 3, 4, 8, 9 are more easily aligned and the stability in the optical cutting operation in the operation of the movable light guiding path part is enhanced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to an optical network system that uses optical fibers (hereinafter referred to as fibers) as a means of information transmission. It relates to an optical fiber relay that optically connects or disconnects (including switching) light guide paths.

[Conventional technology]

As this type of optical fiber relay, there is a structure shown in FIG. 5. This device consists of a fixed light guide section A in which fixed side fibers B and B having end faces P1P2 are adhered to both sides of a support plate C, and a fixed side fiber having end faces P, P4 and the end faces thereof are bonded to both sides of a support plate C. A movable light guide section D in which fibers E and E on the movable side that can face the end faces of B and B are bonded and disposed on both sides of a support plate C, and a drive member G that drives the movable light guide section D are provided. It has a driving means F, and these are attached to a base H. Then, in response to the operation of the driving means F, that is, the driving member G, both fibers are optically connected or disconnected.

To explain in more detail, the fixed and movable light guide section A,
The support plate C that supports D is formed of a relatively thin metal plate, and the movable light guide portion D is formed by punching out an angular C-shape approximately at the center. Therefore, the movable light guide portion D can be displaced in the thickness direction using the narrow connecting portion Da as a fulcrum. Further, the portion of the support plate C that faces the end face of the portion where the movable light guide portion D produces the maximum displacement becomes the fixed light guide portion 8. Reference numeral J denotes a puck stopper that regulates the position of displacement of the movable light guide portion D, and is screwed onto the support plate C by an adjustment screw K.

The driving means F is an electromagnetic device, and is driven by two U-shaped iron cores Fa. It consists of a coil Fb, a coil Fb, and an armature which is a driving member G. One opposing leg piece of each iron core Pa, Fa overlaps, and the tip surfaces of the other opposing leg piece face each other via a gap Fc.A coil Fb is wound around the overlapping opposing leg piece, An armature (driving member) G is disposed at a position that can block Fc. This armature G is attached to the movable light guide section D so as not to compress the fiber E, and the coil Fb
When not energized, each core Fa. Facing each iron core Fa with a predetermined gap therebetween, each iron core Fa. It is attracted to Pa. End faces P of the fibers B and B on the fixed side mentioned above. P2
and the end face P3 of the fibers H, H on the movable side. P.
are facing each other when the coil pb is not excited, and when the coil pb is excited, the armature G is connected to the iron core Fa. When attracted by Pa, the end surface P, will face the end surface P2. That is, as shown in FIG. 4(a), P, -Pf
f. P2-P. The one that was connected to is shown in Figure 4 (b
'), it switches to pg-P3.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Due to its structure, the conventional device described above can achieve the desired optical cutting action if the manufacturing dimensions of each component are maintained with high precision, but in order to do so, the manufacturing of each component is troublesome. This results in high costs.

That is, in this structure, the fibers on the fixed side and the movable side are both disposed on both sides of the support plate C, making it susceptible to variations in the thickness of the support plate. In addition, since the movable light guide section D undergoes angular displacement using the connecting section Da as a fulcrum, when the movable side fiber E and the fixed side fiber 〇 face each other, their axes do not coincide, so there is no tolerance for the deviation. There are few degrees. In addition, the coil is energized. Although the position of the movable light guide section D when the coil is not present can be adjusted using the backstopper J, the position of the movable light guide section D when the coil is excited and displaced cannot be adjusted. Furthermore, fixed and movable light guide section A. Since the fibers D are made of glass or plastic and are bonded to the metal support plate C, there is a possibility that the fibers may peel off due to repeated operations or external mechanical and thermal forces.

The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and an object thereof is to provide an optical fiber relay in which the stability of the optical cutting operation in the operation of the movable light guide section can be improved.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the optical fiber relay according to claim (1) has a fixed light guide section, a movable light guide section, and a driving means. The axis of the optical fiber on the movable side, which is provided at the tip of the movable frame that is supported so as to be freely movable and is arranged on the support plate, is positioned so as to pass through the center of rotation, and the axis of the optical fiber on the fixed side, which is arranged on the support plate, is also aligned. It is positioned so that it passes through the center of rotation.

The optical fiber relay according to claim (2) is the optical fiber relay according to claim (1).
) A plurality of optical fibers on the fixed side and the movable side of the optical fiber relay described in ) are arranged, and the axis of each optical fiber arranged on the support plate is positioned on the same plane so that it passes through the center of rotation. be.

The optical fiber relay according to claim (3) is the optical fiber relay according to claim (1).
) or (2), the optical fibers on the fixed side and the movable side of the optical fiber relay are inserted into a metal ring rod fixed to a support plate.

The optical fiber relay according to claim (4) is the optical fiber relay according to claim (1).
), (2), or (3), an adjustment member is added to the optical fiber relay described in (2) or (3) to adjust the restriction position of the rotation direction of the movable frame.

The optical fiber relay according to claim (5) is the optical fiber relay according to claim (1).
), (2), or (3), an adjustment member is added to the optical fiber relay described in (2) or (3), which allows adjustment of the restriction position in a direction perpendicular to the rotating direction of the movable frame.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, since the movable light guide path section is provided on the movable frame that rotates, the axes of both fibers can be easily aligned.

Furthermore, since both fibers are inserted into a metal ring rod fixed to the support plate, the strength of fixing the fibers is greatly increased.

Furthermore, since an adjustment member is added to the movable frame provided with the movable light guide path portion, desired adjustment can be made even if there are variations in dimensions of each member.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The optical fiber relay 1 includes a fixed light guide section 2 in which a fixed fiber 3.4 having an end face is disposed on a support plate 6 via a metal ring rod 5, and a fixed fiber 3 having an end face, the end face of which is disposed on a support plate 6. Fiber 8 on the movable side that can face the end face of .4
．． Reference numeral 9 denotes a movable light guide section 7 disposed on the support plate 11 via a metal ring rod 10, and a drive member 13 for driving the movable light guide section.
and a movable frame l4 provided with a movable light guide section 7, which are mounted on a device stand 15.

The device stand 15 is made of synthetic resin (preferably liquid crystal resin, which has good dimensional stability) and is shaped like a thick plate, and has an accommodating part 15a for accommodating the driving means 12 in the center, and a fixed light guide on the left and right sides of one end. Receiving plate t made of non-magnetic metal material for attaching part 2
5b, isb, a shaft portion 15c having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion for rotatably supporting the movable frame 14 is provided on the other end side, and a terminal 15d. 15d is penetrated and fixed.

The fixed light guide section 2 has a support plate 6 made of a non-magnetic metal material attached to the end faces of the receiving plates 15b, 15b protruding from the upper surface of the instrument base l5, and a non-magnetic metal plate such as a stainless steel plate attached to the support plate 6. Metal ring bars 5, 5 made of a magnetic metal material are fixed together by resistance welding, laser welding, etc., and fibers 3, 4 are inserted into the metal ring rods 5, 5.

The fibers 3 and 4 have an outer diameter of O. It is approximately several mm thick, and is covered except for approximately 51III+ on the tip side. Further, the metal ring rods 5, 5 have an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the fibers 3, 4, and a length of about 5 mm. This metal ring offering 5,
5 has an inner end face inside the support plate 6 so that the respective axes pass through the center of the shaft portion 15c, the two axes form a predetermined angle α, and are located at equal distances from the center of the shaft portion 15c. Align and secure it to the side end face. And the end face p of fibers 3 and 4
．． ,p! is inserted into the inner hole of the metal ring rods 5, 5 in alignment with the inner end surfaces thereof. The fibers 3, 4 are therefore located on the same plane.

The movable frame 14 is made of resin (preferably liquid crystal resin, which also has good dimensional stability), and has a through hole 14c on the base end side through which the small diameter portion of the shaft portion 15c is inserted, and the distal end surface is supported. so that there is a slight gap between the inner end surface of the plate 6,
And a mounting part 14 to which the driving member 13 is mounted on the distal end side.
a, and a accommodating portion 14b in the center in which the driving means 12 can be accommodated with plenty of room. Also, the mounting part 14a
The upper surface of the receiving plate I5b. It should be on the same plane as the end face of 15b. Furthermore, on the outside near the middle of the mounting part 14a and the housing part 14b, there are narrow grooves 14d, 14 which are open at the bottom.
d is provided.

The movable light guide portion 7 includes a support plate 11 made of a non-magnetic metal material and having a size corresponding to the mounting portion 14a of the movable frame 14, and a metal ring rod 10. made of a non-magnetic metal material such as a stainless steel plate. 1
0 is fixed by resistance welding, laser welding, etc., and the metal ring 10. By inserting fiber 8.9 into 10,
It is attached to the upper surface of the attachment part 14a.

The fibers 8, 9 and the metal ring rods 10, 10 have substantially the same shape and dimensions as those of the fixed light guide section 2, and the respective axes of the metal ring rods 10, 10 are aligned with the shaft section 15.
The outer end surface is aligned and fixed to the outer end surface of the movable frame 14 so that both axes form a predetermined angle α passing through the center of the shaft portion 15c and are located equidistant from the center of the shaft portion 15c. Then, the end face P1P4 of the fiber 8.9 is connected to the metal ring 10. 1
0, and insert it into the inner hole so that it is aligned with the outer end surface of 0. Therefore, the fibers 8, 9 are located on the same plane, and their end faces h. P. are fixed side fibers 3 and 4
The end face p. , p2, and by rotation of the movable frame 14, its end surface P or P4 can face the end surface P2 or P.

The drive means 12 are constituted by a t-magnet arrangement and therefore the yoke 1
6. It consists of an iron core 17, a coil 18 wound around the iron core 17 via a coil frame, and an armature that becomes the driving member 13. The yoke 16 extends from the base end of the base portion 16a to the connecting portion 16.
b are magnetic pole parts 16C and 16d facing each other from both sides of the other end;
However, each has a bent shape. The iron core 17 has a base end fixed to the connecting part 16b, and the other end fixed to the magnetic pole part 16c. 16
The central magnetic pole portion 17e is located at the center of d. Therefore, three magnetic pole parts 16c, 17e, 1 located in parallel
Between 6d, there are two gaps with equal distance. This driving means 12 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 15a of the container stand 15, and is attached by appropriate means.

In addition, the armature (driving member) 13 has two contacts and a pole piece 13.
A, 13b and permanent magnet 13c form a U-shape,
Each armature piece 13a. 13b is mounted on the mounting portion 14a of the movable frame 14 so as to be located within each of the above-mentioned gaps. Each armature piece 1
3a. 13b has a thickness that is sufficiently smaller than the distance between each gap, so that the armature (driving member) 13 has magnetic pole parts 16c,
It can move between 17e and between 17e and 16d, and by this movement, the movable frame l4, that is, the movable light guide section 7, can move between the shaft section 15.
It will rotate with the center of c as the rotation center. In this case, the rotation angle of the movable frame 14 is set so as to ensure at least the above-mentioned predetermined angle α.

This electromagnetic device is bistable, and when the coil 18 is not excited, each armature piece 13a, 13b is ? For example, the magnetic pole portion 16c. 17e, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 13c flows through the closed magnetic circuit formed at that time and maintains that state, and when the coil 18 is excited so that a magnetic flux flows in a direction that cancels this magnetic flux, each armature piece 13a. 13.b maintains its state even if it is demagnetized by being connected to the magnetic pole portions 17e and 16d. The relative position of each of the above-mentioned fibers 3.4.8.9 is determined in relation to the operation of this armature l3, and in this embodiment each of the armature pieces 13a. 13b is in contact with the magnetic pole parts 16c and 17e, the end face P. P, and I'
! +P4 face each other, and each armature piece 13a. When the magnetic pole parts 17e and 16d are connected to each other, only the end faces P and P3 face each other.

Next, a structure for adjusting the regulating position with respect to the movable frame 14 will be explained. Reference numerals 21 and 22 designate rotational direction adjustment members, and support plates 15b. A screw is screwed into position 15b so that the tip is located inward. The tip of this screw (adjusting member) 2L22 protrudes as the amount of screwing increases, thereby reducing the amount of displacement of the movable frame 14, thereby making it possible to adjust the restriction position of the movable side fibers 3, 4 in the rotation direction.

23 and 24 are adjustment members in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction;
The tip end is a thin groove 14d of the movable frame l4. inserted into 14d,
The base end is supported by a thin plate spring fixed to the device stand 15 via a support stand 25.25. Because the movable frame l4 rotates, there is some play between the shaft portion 15c and the through hole 14c, and as a result, the tip also has play in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction. These thin leaf springs (adjustment members) 23 and 24 also support this backlash, and by deforming the support base 25 and 25, their tips are displaced in the width direction, and the movable frame 14
The tip of the fiber 8.90 on the movable side can be moved up and down, thereby adjusting the regulating position in the direction perpendicular to the rotating direction of the fiber 8.90 on the movable side.

Next, we will explain the operation. Now, without exciting the coil 18, as shown in FIG. 3(a), each armature piece 13a. 13b is in contact with the magnetic pole parts 16c and 17e, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the end faces PI,
P3, Pg, and P4 face each other, and fibers 3,
8 and 4.9 are optically connected. This state is
It is held by the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 13c.

In this state, when the coil 18 is excited in a direction that cancels the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 13c, the armature pieces 13a, 13b and the magnetic pole parts 16c, 17e, 16d become polarized as shown in FIG. A repulsive force is generated in the polarized portion, and an attractive force is generated in the open polarized portion, so that each armature piece 13a, 13b becomes magnetic pole portion 17e, 1
Connect to 6d. As a result, the movable frame l4 rotates by a predetermined angle α, and as shown in FIG. 4(b), the end face PZ. Only P3 faces and fiber 4.8 is optically connected. Even if the coil 18 is demagnetized in this state, it is held by the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 13c.

In this way, both the fixed and movable fibers are optically connected, disconnected, or switched in response to the operation of the driving means (electromagnetic device) 12.

In this embodiment, two fibers each are provided on the fixed side and two fibers on the movable side, but it is also possible to use one fiber each or three or more fibers each. Further, since the armature also substantially rotates, if you look closely, the armature surface will be in one-sided contact.

Therefore, if you want to avoid this, you can add a slight inclination to each armature surface. We have also explained the so-called bistable type, which maintains its state even after the coil is energized and then demagnetized. It can also be of a so-called monostable type, which returns to its original state afterward.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The optical fiber relay of the present invention has the following effects. In the device described in claims (1) and (2), since the movable light guide section is provided on a rotating movable frame, the axes of both fibers can be easily aligned, and the optical direction in the operation of the movable light guide section can be improved. The stability of the cutting operation is increased.

In addition to the above-mentioned effects, the fibers according to claim (3) are each inserted into a metal ring rod fixed to the support plate, so that the fiber fixing strength is significantly increased. In addition to the above-mentioned effects, the devices described in claims (4) and (5) add an adjusting member for the movable frame provided with the movable light guide, so even if there are variations in dimensions among the members, Desired adjustments can be made.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
3(a) and 3(b) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the same as the above, FIGS. a') and b' are explanatory diagrams showing switching states of the light guide circuit of the same as above and the conventional example; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional example. 1 - optical fiber relay 2... - fixed light guide section, 3.4 - optical fiber p. ，
p. - one end surface, 5- metal ring rod, 6- support plate, 7- movable light guide section, 8.9- optical fiber P1P, one end surface, 10- one metal ring rod, 11- support plate, l2--1 driving means (electromagnetic device), 16-1 yoke, 1
6c, 16d--Magnetic pole part, 17--One iron core, 17e
One central magnetic pole part, IB-coil, 13--One drive member (armature), 13a. 13b-
- Armature piece, 14 --- Movable frame, 14a, 1 mounting part, 14b, 1 accommodating part, 14c, -- Through hole, 1
4d--Narrow groove, l5 one-piece stand, 15c one-shaft part (center is rotation center), 21
．． 22-11 Adjustment member (screw), 23.24 1-Adjustment member (thin leaf spring), α-・Predetermined angle formed by the axis of the optical fiber.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A fixed light guide section in which a fixed side optical fiber having an end face is arranged on a support plate, and a movable side optical fiber having an end face and whose end face can face the end face of the fixed side optical fiber is arranged on a support plate. In an optical fiber relay, the optical fiber relay has a movable light guide section and a drive means including a drive member for driving the movable light guide section, and optically connects and disconnects both optical fibers in response to the operation of the drive means. The optical path section is provided at the tip of a movable frame whose base end is rotatably supported, and the optical fiber on the movable side, which is disposed on the support plate, is positioned so that its axis passes through the center of rotation, and is disposed on the support plate. An optical fiber relay characterized in that the axis of the optical fiber on the fixed side is also positioned to pass through the center of rotation. (2) A claim characterized in that a plurality of optical fibers on the fixed side and the movable side are arranged and are located on the same plane so that the axis of each optical fiber arranged on the support plate passes through the center of rotation. (1) Optical fiber relay. (3) Claim (2) characterized in that the fixed side and movable side optical fibers are inserted into a metal ring rod fixed to a support plate.
The optical fiber relay described in 1) or (2). (4) The optical fiber relay according to claim (1), (2) or (3), further comprising an adjustment member that can adjust the restriction position in the rotation direction of the movable frame. (5) Claim characterized in that an adjustment member is added that can adjust the restriction position in the direction orthogonal to the rotational direction of the movable frame (
The optical fiber relay according to 1), (2) or (3).