JPH04151118A - Multiunit matrix optical fiber switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the assembly efficiency, facilitate the repair and maintenance, and to eliminate the need for an excessive-length processing part by moving ferrules in a row or column direction and positioning them at optional abutting positions, and moving a unit in an abutting direction and inserting and extracting the ferrules. CONSTITUTION:Ferrule positioning driving parts 20-1 and 20-2 select a unit in a desired row or column, a ferrule driven mechanism 11 for the selected unit 10 is driven, and ferrules 2a and 2b which forms the terminals of desired coated optical fibers 1a and 1b are released from being connected. The ferrules 2a and 2b are moved in the row or column direction to the positions opposite ferrules 2a and 2b forming the terminals of coated optical fibers 1a and 1b to be connected, and the ferrules 2a and 2b are made to abut on each other. At this time, even when the ferrules 2a and 2b move, the coated optical fibers 1a and 1b which have their terminals formed of the ferrules 2a and 2b move only in the unit 10 and optional units 10 are attached to and detached from a multiunit matrix optical fiber switch, unit by unit. Consequently, the assembly efficiency is improved, the repair and maintenance are facilitated, and the excessive-length processing part is unnecessary because of the structure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an optical fiber that can be
The present invention relates to a multi-fiber matrix optical fiber switch that selects arbitrary optical fibers one by one and switches optical path connections freely and with low loss.

(Prior Art) Research and development of optical switching mechanisms, which are an element of optical communication systems, have been progressing for the past.

In general, optical switches as optical components inserted into optical transmission lines are desirable to have low loss, low crosstalk independent of wavelength, polarization, and voltage, high-speed switching, and maintenance of no-power state. requires a multi-core device with a large matrix size.

However, a practical device that satisfies the above requirements has not been realized (devices connected by optical connectors satisfy the requirements except for the requirement for high-speed switching).

As a mechanical switch with a large matrix size,
Bainerman, J., Piezoelectric.
cs 5w1tchOptical Signals,
La5ers & Applications, D
light beam moving matrix switch 100X100 as described in Ecember, 1984.
is being developed.

However, this matrix switch requires fiber axis alignment with μm precision and has tolerance for fiber alignment errors, so it is limited to application to multimode fibers.

In addition, as a practical non-mechanical switch, H
, A. Roberts, 0ptical with
ing-Readyfor switching, P
As described in Roc Natl Commu Forum, 43°pp, 827-831.1989, the current matrix size is as small as 8×8.

Generally, when manufacturing an NXN large-scale matrix switch with a complete group using small-scale matrix switches, the number of small-scale matrix switches and their drivers is required in proportion to N2, and the maximum loss is approximately proportional to N. increases. Additionally, a fixed optical fiber bend radius (e.g.
If small-scale matrix switches are connected using fibers with a limit of 20 mmR) or less, the loss at the connection section will increase and the dimensions of the wiring section will increase, making it impossible to satisfy the above requirements due to the increase in the number of switches. In this way, the matrix size N
As , becomes larger, various problems occur.

Therefore, the applicant proposes to
We proposed a multi-core matrix optical fiber group I-Sochi, which allows optical path connections to be switched freely and with low loss by selecting one arbitrary optical fiber from each group (for example, in Utility Model Application No. 1-148188). No., Application No. 1-148189
(see issue).

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a specific overall configuration of a conventional multi-core matrix optical fiber switch.

In addition, in FIG. 2, only one set of ferrules is shown in the connected state for the purpose of simplifying the drawing, and in reality, the number of sets corresponding to the number of rows and columns is provided.

In a conventional multi-core matrix optical fiber switch, as shown in FIG. 2, optical fiber cores 1a, lb are terminated by ferrules 2a, 2b. Further, the ferrules 2a, 2b are held by ferrule holding parts 3a, 3b, and part of the optical fiber cores la, lb are supported by fiber supports 4a, 4b.

The ferrules 2a and 2b are positioned using a three-axis positioning mechanism 5a (5b is omitted) common to the optical fiber group on one side, and first moved to the guide rails 6a and 6b in the desired row or column, and then moved to the ferrule holding part 3a. , 3b,
Guide rail 5a.

6b. At this time, the optical fiber coated wire 1a is moved by the length of the optical fiber coated wire corresponding to the amount of movement of the ferrule holding parts 3a and 3b.

an extra length processing section 7a that extends and retracts 1b;
7b is provided to keep the optical fibers 1a, lb always stretched in the row or column direction.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) One unit in the row or column direction of the above conventional multi-core matrix optical fiber switch consists of ferrule holding parts 3a, 3b,
It consists of extra length processing parts 7a, 7b, guide sills 6a, 6b, etc., and these are used to handle tensioned optical fiber cores 1a, lb
It is connected by

When assembling this optical switch, for example, after the guide rails 6a and □b are installed and fixed, the pitch is 3 mm, that is, the ferrule holding parts 3a and 3b with a thickness of 3 mm are installed on the guide rails 6a and 6b. Extra length processing section 7a
, 7b are fixed and assembled one unit at a time in the row or column direction.

However, in this case, while installing and fixing the parts,
There is a risk of breakage due to local bending or twisting of the optical fiber cores 1a and 1b, and there is a drawback that the parts and core wires must be handled with great care, and assembly takes a considerable amount of time. On the other hand, it has the disadvantage that it is extremely difficult to remove just one unit from the optical fiber switch for repair or maintenance.

In addition, the multi-core matrix optical fiber switch shown in FIG.
a, lb, and the three-axis positioning mechanism 5a, all of the optical fibers on the same side so that they do not come into contact with or intersect with each optical fiber in the same side optical fiber group during the ferrule replacement operation. It is necessary to align the optical fibers in such a manner that they are stretched parallel to each other in the row or column direction on the ferrule abutting side from the movement space of the three-axis positioning mechanism.

For this reason, the extra length processing units 7a and 7b for feeding out and feeding in the optical fibers 1a and lb cannot be omitted. Therefore, there is also the problem that reliability is lowered due to the existence of the extra length processing section having a movable section.

Conventionally, in order to omit this extra length processing, F, BLANC was used.

A, CASAL, P, FAUGERAS, G, 0U
LLET, and J, 5OURGENS: 'Mu
ltiservice 5ubscriber con
nection made with an optom
mechanical switching equipment
ment', EC0CProceeding, 19
87. A method of reducing fiber travel is known, as described in pp. 264-265.

Also, A, R, Dias, R, P, Kalman,
Goodmanand, J.W., and Sawchu, A.A.
k, Fiber-optic crossbars
witchwlth broadcast capab
ility, 0ptical Engineerin
g, 27.11. pp, 955-960.198
8, there is a method of configuring a so-called crossbar switch that eliminates the movement of fibers.

However, in both methods, the input optical power is divided into N on the input side, so there is a division loss of 10·log (1/N) only on the input side.

For this reason, similar to the case where the above-mentioned small-scale matrix is used, a problem occurs due to the matrix size N becoming large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a switch that is easy to assemble, easy to repair and maintain, and does not require an extra length processing unit for optical fiber cores. Our purpose is to provide a core matrix optical fiber switch.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the optical fibers of two groups of optical fibers in which the end faces with no ends formed by ferrules are arranged opposite to each other, A multi-ferrule positioning mechanism comprising one ferrule positioning mechanism that positions the ferrules of a group in the row direction of the matrix, and the other ferrule positioning mechanism that positions the ferrules of the other optical fiber core group opposing this in the column direction of the matrix. In the core matrix optical fiber switch, each of the ferrule positioning mechanisms includes a ferrule driven mechanism that moves the ferrule in the row or column direction, and a partition plate that separates adjacent optical fibers from each other. A plurality of these are stacked together as one unit, and the end faces of the ferrules face each other,
Two unit groups are arranged such that the ferrule moving directions are perpendicular to each other, and a driving force is applied to the ferrule driven mechanism from the outside of each unit for each unit, and the ferrules are moved in the row or column direction and brought into arbitrary alignment. A ferrule positioning drive unit is provided for positioning the ferrule at a certain position and for moving the entire unit or a part of the unit in the butting direction to insert and remove the ferrule.

(Function) According to the present invention, in order to switch the optical fiber switch, first, a unit in a desired row or column is selected by the ferrule positioning drive section.

Next, the ferrule follower mechanism of the selected unit is driven, and the connection state of the ferrule that does not form the end of the desired coated optical fiber is released. This ferrule is moved in the row or column direction to a position where it faces a ferrule that does not have an end formed on the optical fiber core to be connected, and the ferrules are butted against each other.

At this time, even if the ferrule moves, the optical fiber whose terminal is formed by the ferrule moves only within the unit.

Further, any unit can be easily attached to and detached from the multi-core matrix optical fiber switch on a unit-by-unit basis.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of one unit constituting a multi-core matrix optical fiber switch according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an external view of a multi-core matrix optical fiber switch constructed using a plurality of units shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 showing the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

That is, 1a (lb is omitted) is an optical fiber core, 2a, 2
b is a ferrule.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a unit constituting one ferrule positioning mechanism, which includes a ferrule driven mechanism 11 that moves the ferrule in one axis direction, that is, in the X or Y direction of the orthogonal coordinate system set in FIG. 3, and an adjacent optical fiber core. It is composed of a partition plate 12 for separating the parts from each other.

The ferrule driven mechanism 11 includes a frame 110,
It is attached to the lower side 110a of the frame 110 so as to be slidable in the X or Y direction, and the optical fiber core 1
A slider 111 that supports the ferrules 2a and 2b forming terminals in two directions with compression springs 111a, and four pulleys 11 that are pivotally supported at the four corners of the frame 110.
2-1, 112-2, 112-3.

112-4 and these pulleys 112-1 and 112-2
, 112-3.

A stainless steel tape (for example, width 0.7 + am, thickness 0.1 mm) 113 is hung on 112-4 and a predetermined range in two directions with respect to the upper side 110b of the frame 110 on which the stainless steel tape 113 is hung. Tensioner 1 consists of a pulley 114a that is movably attached and a spring 114b that is suspended from the pulley 114a, and applies tension to the stainless steel tape 113 with elastic force.
14 and the upper center of the upper edge 110b of the frame 110 is formed by cutting out the upper center. A hook (to be described later) is used to partially pull out the entire ferrule driven mechanism 11 in two directions. 209 and a pull-out handle 115 to which it is locked.

The partition plate 12 has switch casings 1 to be described later on both ends thereof.
Leg-shaped locking portions 121-1 and 121-2 are formed to be engaged and locked with respect to 00.

Furthermore, guide parts 122-1 and 122-2 are provided on both sides of one surface of the partition plate 12 to guide the sides LIOc and 1lOd of the frame 110 of the ferrule driven mechanism 11 in two directions, and the upper center part Optical fiber core 1
A supporting fixing part 123 is provided for fixing the unit 10 in a predetermined position, and hook holes 124-1° 124 are provided on both sides of the upper part to be used when pulling out the entire unit 10 in two directions from the switch casing 100, which will be described later. -2 is formed.

Further, the relative fixation of the ferrule driven mechanism 11 and the partition plate 12 is achieved by using the frame 110 of the ferrule driven mechanism 11.
the upper side 110b and the guide portion 122-1 of the partition plate 12,
This is done by suspending tension springs 13-1 and 13-2 between 122-2.

Note that the locking portions 122-1 and 122-2 of the partition plate 12 for the switch casing 100 are strongly held in the Z direction (fixed It is configured as follows.

Furthermore, the tension of the tension springs 13-1 and 13-2 is the same as the compression spring 111a of the slider 111 of the ferrule driven mechanism 10.
The force is set to be greater than or equal to the force generated by

By stacking a plurality of units 10 having the above configuration, two unit groups 101 and 10 are formed as shown in FIG.
2 is configured. These two unit groups 101, 10
2, the ferrules 2a, 2 are aligned with the moving sides of the ferrules.
b so that they face each other, and the ferrules 2a, 2b
switch casing 10 such that the moving directions of
It is contained in 0.

In addition, two unit groups 101. As shown in FIG. 1, a ferrule sleeve 14 is adhesively fixed to the ferrule group on one side of LO2.

Further, 20-1, 20-2 is a ferrule positioning drive unit, which is installed on both sides of the switch casing 100, specifically, facing the end face of each unit group 101, 102,
A mechanism for moving in the row or column direction, that is, y or a tool and its driving part;
The ferrule driven mechanism 11 is composed of two moving mechanisms for inserting and removing the entire ferrule driven mechanism 11 in two directions.

Fig. 4 shows the ferrule positioning drive section 20-1゜20-
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration example of No. 2;

The ferrule positioning drive unit 20-1.20-2 is the fourth
As shown in the figure, a base 201 having a substantially U-shape in which leg portions 201b and 201c are provided on both sides of a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped frame 201a, and a frame 201a of the base 201.
A long screw 202 is threaded through both sides of the
-1.

202-2, a pulley 203-1 pivotally supported on one end of the long screw 202-1, a pulley 203-2 and 203-3 pivotally supported on one end of the long screw 202-2, and a motor capable of forward and reverse rotation. 204, the drive pulley 204a of the motor 204, the pulley 203-3, the pulley 203-1, and the pulley 20
3-2 and the passed drive belts 205-1 and 20
5-2, a load 206-1, 206-2 whose one end is rotatably supported at a predetermined interval in the center of the frame 201a of the base 201, and a thread groove is formed at the tip, and each load 206- 1. A board 207 screwed together so that 206-2 passes through it, a rotary solenoid 208 disposed approximately in the center of the board 207, and a rotary solenoid 208.
is rotated around the z-axis by
A hook 209 that is locked to the pull-out handle 115 of No. 0, a pulley 210-1 that is pivoted to the rod 20B-1, and a pulley 210-2.2 that is pivoted to the rod 206-2.
10-3, a drive belt 211 that is passed between pulleys 210-1 and 210-2, a motor 212 that transmits the rotational force of the drive pulley 212a to the pulley 210-3 by frictional force, and a base 201. Leg-shaped parts 201b, 201c
A driving wheel 215-1.215- is provided at the tip of the drive wheel 215-1, which is rotated by the motors 214-1 and 214-2 and transmits the rotational force to the pulleys 112-1 and 112-2 of the ferrule driven mechanism 12 of each unit 10. It is composed of 2.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the base 201, the long screw 202-1
．． 202-2, pulley 203-1.203-2.20
3-3, motor 204 and belt 205-1, 20
5-2 constitutes a y or X movement mechanism, and the motor 2
14-1, 214-2 and drive vehicle 215-1.215
-2 constitutes a θ rotation mechanism, and rods 206-1.
206-2, board 2o7, pulley 210-1°210
-2.210-3, belt 211 and motor 212
A two-movement mechanism is constructed.

Next, a switching operation according to the above configuration will be explained.

First, the motor 20 of the ferrule positioning drive unit 20-1 and 20-2 installed on both sides of the switch casing 100
4 to rotate its pulley 204a in a desired direction, the base 201 is moved in the y or x direction, and a desired row or column unit 1° is selected.

Next, by driving the motor 212 to rotate the pulley 212a in a predetermined direction, the substrate 207, that is,
The hook 209 is moved in two directions, the rotary solenoid 208 rotates the hook 209, and the hook 209 is moved to the pull-out handle 1 of the ferrule driven mechanism 11.
15 to lock it.

In this state, the rotational direction of the motor 212 is reversed, and only the ferrule driven mechanism 11 is partially pulled out.

At the same time, the ferrule 2a that was connected to the opposing ferrule 2b is also pulled out from the ferrule sleeve 14.

Next, the motors 214-1 and 214-2 are driven to rotate the driving wheels 215-1 and 215-.
Two pulleys 112- in contact with 5-1 and 215-2
1. By rotating 112-2 as a driven wheel,
Slide the slider 111, that is, the ferrule 2a, along the rail through the stainless steel tape 113 in the X or Y direction (
(row or column direction).

In addition, for positioning the ferrule, if paint is baked onto the stainless steel tape 113 at equal intervals and the amount of movement is counted using a photo sensor, the ferrule can be positioned at the desired matrix position in the X or Y direction with accuracy within ±0.5 mm. can.

After the opposing ferrules 2b are similarly positioned at desired positions, the opposing ferrule driven mechanisms 11 are inserted into each other using two moving mechanisms including the motors 212 of the ferrule positioning mechanisms 20-1 and 20-2.

At the same time, the ferrules 2a and 2b are butt-connected via the ferrule sleeve 14, and the compression spring 111a of the slider 111 applies a butt force between the end faces of the ferrules 2a and 2b.

In the above-described two-direction pulling out or insertion operation of the ferrule driven mechanism 11, the locked state between the partition plate 12 and the switch casing 100 by the lock portions 121-1 and 122-2 is not released.

Note that the positioning tolerance of the ferrule 2a in the X or Y direction is the same as that of the ferrule 2b and the ferrule sleeve
It is ±0.5w from the sum of the chamfer amounts, and the ferrule can be replaced.

In the above description, when replacing the ferrules 2a and 2b, only a portion of the ferrule driven mechanism 11 is pulled out or inserted, but the partition plate 12 may also be pulled out or inserted together, that is, as a unit 10.

In addition, when positioning the ferrule, the pulley 112-1
．． Although the stainless steel tape 113 is moved by rotating two driven wheels 112-2, it is of course possible to adopt a structure in which the stainless steel tape is wound up using a pulley.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the unit 10
is easy to assemble into the switch casing 100,
Conversely, in order to repair or maintain any one unit, the partition plate 12 can be hung using holes 124-1 and 124-2.
Any one unit 10 integrated with the ferrule driven mechanism 12
can be pulled out from the switch casing 100.

Furthermore, equipment can be increased or decreased on a unit-by-unit basis to meet demand.

On the other hand, the optical fiber core wire 1a (lb) within the unit moves only within the unit 10 as the ferrules 2a and 2b move, and the ferrule positioning drive unit 20-1.
Since the unit group 20-2 and the unit groups 101 and 102 are separated, a so-called surplus length processing section for the optical fiber core becomes structurally unnecessary.

Therefore, for example, in the case of 100 x 100 terminals, if the pitch between rows or columns is designed to be 3 mm and the minimum bending radius of the optical fiber core due to movement of the ferrule is 20 mm or more, the ferrule positioning drive unit 20-1°20 -2 can be constructed with outer diameter dimensions of 350 x 350 x 500 mm or less.

In addition, the insertion loss of an optical fiber switch is determined from the performance of a single-core optical connector, and the insertion loss of a single-mode optical fiber (wavelength 1.3
~1.55 μm) and as small as 1 dB on average.

Furthermore, for example, 60X 90X 180 (high)
cm frame into four stages, remove the ferrule positioning drive parts 20-1 and 20-2 from the optical fiber switch, and install two in each stage, so that the ferrule positioning drive parts are shared by the racks. Then, an optical fiber switch with 800 to 1000 terminals can be constructed, and an optical MD
Can be used as F, etc.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, a multi-core matrix optical fiber switch is constructed in unit units, so it is easy to assemble, and any unit can be removed, making repair and maintenance easy. Yes, equipment can be increased or decreased as necessary.

Additionally, the extra length processing section is structurally unnecessary, and reliability is improved by eliminating the movable section.

Furthermore, like a connector, low insertion loss and stable transmission characteristics can be obtained, and a practical multi-core matrix optical fiber switch can be constructed, and it is effective when applied to, for example, an optical MDF.

Furthermore, even if the matrix size becomes large, problems such as increased loss will not occur.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of one unit constituting a multi-core matrix optical fiber switch according to the present invention;
The figure is a schematic diagram of a conventional multi-core matrix optical fiber switch, FIG. 3 is an external view of a multi-core matrix optical fiber switch configured using a plurality of units shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a ferrule according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of a positioning drive part. In the figure, la, lb... optical fiber core wire, 2a, 2b...
... Ferrule, 10... Unit, 11... Ferrule driven mechanism, 12... Partition plate, 20-1.20
-2... Ferrule positioning drive unit, 100... Switch casing, 101, 102... Unit group.

Claims (1)

[Claims] One ferrule positioning method of positioning the ferrules of one optical fiber group in the row direction of a matrix among two groups of optical fibers in which end faces each formed by a ferrule are arranged opposite to each other. In a multi-fiber matrix optical fiber switch, each ferrule positioning mechanism is provided with a ferrule positioning mechanism that positions the ferrules of the other group of optical fibers facing the ferrules in the column direction of the matrix. It has a ferrule driven mechanism that moves the ferrule in the row or column direction, and a partition plate that separates adjacent optical fiber cores from each other, and each ferrule positioning mechanism is a unit, and a plurality of these are stacked, so that the end faces of the ferrules Two unit groups are arranged such that the ferrules face each other and the ferrule movement directions are orthogonal to each other, and for each unit, a driving force is applied from outside the unit to the ferrule driven mechanism to move the ferrules in the row or column direction. A multi-core matrix optical fiber switch, characterized in that it is provided with a ferrule positioning drive unit that positions the ferrule at an arbitrary abutting position and moves the entire unit or a part of the unit in the abutting direction to insert and remove the ferrule.