JPH06175051A - Switching mechanism for optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the switching mechanism for optical fibers which has high reliability, enables the high-density packaging of optical fibers, has high extensibility and does not require intricate driving control mechanisms. CONSTITUTION:An optical fiber switching unit 19 is constituted by fixing plural optical fibers 12 arrayed in a horizontal direction to its one side and supporting a driving side optical fibers 14 which parallel with these stationary side optical fibers 12, are freely movable along the arranging direction thereof and have the end faces freely attachable and detachable to and from the optical fibers 12 facing this optical fibers. This optical fiber switching unit couples optical paths by moving the end face of the driving side optical fiber 14 to the position in slight contact with or slightly apart from the end faces of the stationary side optical fibers 12. Plural pieces of such optical fiber switching units 19 are laminated and the plural driving side optical fibers 14 of the respective optical fiber switching units 19 are constituted in such a manner that these fibers can be driven by one X-Y driving unit 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber switching mechanism for switching connection of optical fiber wiring,
This is effective when performing operations such as switching the cores at optical fiber connection points in an optical fiber wiring network or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In optical fiber communications, the introduction into the trunk line system has been conventionally promoted, but now various studies are being conducted aiming at the introduction into the wiring system. Unlike the conventional point-to-point relay transmission, it is necessary to construct a network with good serviceability and efficiency for users who are distributed in a plane. Further, for such a wiring network configuration, an optical cross-connect device and an optical switch that switch paths and lines as optical signals are important.

However, these optical cross-connect devices and the like are, so to speak, large-scale optical switches, and various studies are currently being made, but it is difficult to realize a small-sized multi-input / multi-output optical switch. In addition, various problems occur when trying to realize a large-scale optical switch. That is, when the number of connections increases when the optical fibers are connected, the optical fibers become congested and the workability of the connection is extremely reduced, or the connection may be incorrect, and the connection point may be connected to another terminal. Congestion of a large number of optical fibers becomes a serious problem if any switching is attempted.

As a conventional optical switch, a 1 (single) × N (plurality) type optical switch is applied. This 1 × N type optical switch has a single-core connector arranged on one side and an N side. N single-core connectors are arranged on the same plane, and the single-sided connector on one side is conveyed by the connection switching mechanism to an arbitrary N
It is to be connected to the connector on the side. Also, N (plural)
× M (plurality) type optical switches are also applied.
The M-type optical switch is provided with a plurality of guide rails arranged in a direction orthogonal to each other so as to face each other, and an optical fiber is attached to each movable slide terminal, and the slide terminals are connected and switched. The optical fibers are connected to each other by moving the optical fibers.

FIG. 12 schematically shows a conventional optical fiber switching mechanism. As shown in the figure, a plurality of fixed side optical connectors 102 are arranged side by side on one side on the base 101, and each fixed side optical connector 102 is arranged.
The fixed-side optical fibers 103 are fixed side by side vertically. On the other side of the base 101, the left-right direction (X
Direction), a horizontal guide rod 104 is arranged, and the first moving base 105 is attached to the guide rod 104.
Is movably supported and the first moving base 10
A screw shaft 107 having a motor 106 mounted at one end is screwed into the shaft 5. A guide rod 108 is arranged on the first moving base 105 in the up-down direction (Z direction), and a second moving base 109 is movably supported by the guide rod 108 and is also supported by the second moving base 109. A screw shaft 111 having a motor 110 attached to one end is screwed.

A guide rod 112 is arranged on the second moving base 109 in the front-rear direction (Y direction), and the moving optical connector 11 is attached to the guide rod 112.
3 is movably supported, and the moving side optical connector 113 has a screw shaft 115 having a motor 114 attached to one end thereof.
Are screwed together. Then, this moving side optical connector 113
The moving-side optical fiber 116 is fixed to.

In order to perform the connection switching operation between the fixed side optical fiber 103 and the moving side optical fiber 116, first, the motor 106 is driven to drive the light through the first moving base 105 and the second moving base 109. The connector 113 is moved in the X direction and the motor 110 is driven to drive the second moving base 1.
By moving the optical connector 113 in the Z direction via 09, the end surfaces are opposed to each other so as to correspond to the fixed optical fiber 103 connecting the moving optical fiber 116. Next, by driving the motor 114 to move the optical connector 113 in the Y direction, the end face of the movable side optical fiber 116 approaches the end face of the fixed side optical fiber 103, and the optical path is connected.

[0008]

The above-mentioned conventional optical fiber switching mechanism may be adequately adapted within certain specific use conditions and restrictions, but in the future, a large amount will be used in the optical subscriber wiring network. Various problems occur when handling the above optical fiber. That is, the fixed-side optical fibers 103 are fixed to the optical connector 102 in a state of being vertically arranged, and the optical connectors 102 are arranged side by side in the X direction. The size of the optical connector 102 is larger than that of the optical fiber 103 itself. Since it is formed large, it becomes difficult to miniaturize and integrate the optical switch itself, or to easily operate the optical switch when switching a large number of optical fibers.

Further, when the drive side optical fiber 116 is connected to one selected from the plurality of fixed side optical fibers 103, the moving distance of the optical connector 113 is different for each connecting operation and the operation is troublesome. Therefore, in order to suppress the size in accordance with the number of connections, different moving mechanisms and control circuits must be manufactured each time, which makes it difficult to reduce the cost of the device. Further, it is necessary to provide an independent moving mechanism for each moving-side optical fiber 116, which causes a problem that the device, the control mechanism, and the like become large.

The present invention solves such a problem and is highly reliable, enables high-density mounting of optical fibers, is highly expandable, and does not require a complicated drive control mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switching mechanism of.

[0011]

An optical fiber switching mechanism of the present invention for achieving the above object is to fix a plurality of optical fibers in a horizontal direction on one side while fixing the plurality of optical fibers on the other side. Side optical fiber, which is parallel to the side optical fiber, is movable along the arrangement direction, and supports an optical fiber whose end face is movable toward and away from the facing optical fiber, and from the plurality of fixed side optical fibers Selected 1
An optical fiber switching unit that couples the optical paths by constructing an optical fiber switching unit by moving the end surface of the drive-side optical fiber to a position slightly contacting or slightly separating from the end surface of one optical fiber, and stacking a plurality of the optical fiber switching units In addition, the plurality of drive-side optical fibers of the stacked optical fiber switching units can be driven by one drive unit.

[0012]

In order to switch the connection of the optical fibers, first, all the driving side optical fibers in the optical fiber switching unit laminated by the driving unit are moved along the arrangement direction of the fixed side optical fibers to make a plurality of fixings. One of the side optical fibers to be connected is selected, the positions thereof are made to correspond to each other, and the end faces of the optical fibers are stopped at a predetermined position. Next, the optical path of the drive side optical fiber and the fixed side optical fiber is connected by bringing the drive side optical fiber close to the fixed side optical fiber for connection and slightly contacting or slightly separating the end faces of each other. It

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical fiber switching mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross section of an optical fiber coupling portion, FIG. 3 is a side view of the optical fiber switching mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the X-direction moving mechanism unit, FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the Y-direction moving mechanism unit, and FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the XY direction driving unit.

In the optical fiber switching mechanism of this embodiment, 10 (plural) × 10 optical switches of 1 (single) × 1000 (plural) for switching connection of the optical fibers are stacked.
This is a configuration of an optical switch of 00 (plural), and 10
The side is the driving side and the 1000 side is the plane array fixed side. That is, a single optical fiber on the drive side is supported movably in the arrangement direction and the longitudinal direction with respect to a plurality of horizontally arranged fixed side optical fibers, thereby selecting from the fixed side optical fibers. An optical fiber switching unit is configured to switch the connection by switching the end faces of the one optical fiber and the driving optical fiber that are facing each other toward and away from each other, and stacking a plurality of the optical fiber switching units and setting each driving optical fiber to 1 It can be driven by one drive unit.

The specific structure will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of optical fibers (hereinafter, fixed-side optical fibers) 12 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction in one side (right side in FIG. 1) in a box-shaped housing 11. And is positioned by the support member 13. On the other hand, on the other side (left side in FIG. 1) in the housing 11, an optical fiber (hereinafter, drive side optical fiber) 14 parallel to the fixed side optical fiber 12 is supported by a slider 15, and the fixed side optical fibers 12 are arranged. It is movably supported along the direction (X direction) and the longitudinal direction (Y direction).

A connecting terminal 16 is fixed to the tip of each of the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 12, and a cylindrical sleeve 17 with a slit is attached to the connecting terminals 16, while the driving-side optical fibers are A connection terminal 18 is fixed to the tip portion of 14. Therefore, the fixed side optical fiber 12
With respect to the drive side optical fiber 14, the optical fibers 12 and 14 can be switched to each other through the sleeve 17 by moving them away from each other. In this way, one optical fiber switching unit 19 is constructed. Although the sleeve 17 is attached to the connection terminal 16 of the fixed side optical fiber 12, it may be attached to the connection terminal 18 of the drive side optical fiber 14, and in this case, the sleeve 17 in the optical fiber switching unit 19 is omitted. be able to.

In this embodiment, ten optical fiber switching units 19 are laminated to form an optical fiber switching mechanism. Then, each drive side optical fiber 14 (slider 15) of the optical fiber switching unit 19 is connected to one XY.
It can be driven by the directional drive unit 20.

The X-Y direction drive unit 20 is constructed by combining an X direction movement mechanism unit 21 and a Y direction movement mechanism unit 22. In the X-direction moving mechanism unit 21, as shown in FIG. 4, a rail 24 is laid on the support base 23 along the X-direction.
A moving member 25 is movably attached to the moving member 4, and a support table 26 is fixed to the moving member 25. A ball screw shaft 27, which is also adjacent to the rail 24 and extends in the X direction, is rotatably supported by a bracket 28 so as to be immovable in the axial direction. The ball screw shaft 27 is screwed to a moving member 25. A driven pulley 29 is fixedly coupled to one end of the ball screw shaft 27, while a drive pulley 31 is fixedly coupled to a drive shaft of a drive motor 30 mounted on the support base 23. A belt 32 is drivingly connected to the pulley 29.

In the Y-direction moving mechanism unit 22, as shown in FIG. 5, a moving base 33 having an upward U-shape.
Are movably supported in the X direction by a pair of guide rods 35 parallel to the frame 34. A ball screw shaft 36 along the Y direction is rotatable on the moving base 33, and is supported immovably in the axial direction. The ball screw shaft 36 is screwed onto a moving table 37. The driven gear 38 is fixed to one end of the ball screw shaft 36, while the drive motor 3 mounted on the moving base 33 is fixed.
A drive gear 40 is fixedly coupled to the drive shaft of 9, and the drive gear 40 and the driven gear 38 mesh with each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, the X-direction moving mechanism unit 21 and the Y-direction moving mechanism unit 22 respectively configured as described above have a Y-direction on the X-direction moving mechanism unit 21.
The direction moving mechanism unit 22 is placed on the support table 2
The XY direction drive unit 20 is formed by the upper surface of 6 being in close contact with and fixed to the lower surface of the moving base 33. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the moving table 37 and the slider 15 are connected by a transmission shaft 41.

Therefore, when the drive motor 30 is driven, its driving force is transmitted to the ball screw shaft 27 via the drive pulley 31, the belt 32, and the driven pulley 29, and the ball screw shaft 27 rotates, and together with the support table 26. The moving base 33 and the moving table 37 move in the X direction. Then, the sliders 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 19 stacked via the transmission shaft 41 move in the same direction, and the drive side optical fiber 14 is appropriately selected from the plurality of fixed side optical fibers 12. The tips can be made to face each other.

When the drive motor 39 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the ball screw shaft 36 via the drive gear 40 and the driven gear 38, the ball screw shaft 36 rotates, and the moving table 37 moves in the Y direction. Moving. Then, the optical fiber switching unit 1 stacked via the transmission shaft 41
Each slider 15 of 9 moves in the same direction to bring the tip end surface of the drive side optical fiber 14 toward or away from the tip end surface of the fixed side optical fiber 12 which is opposed, whereby the optical path can be switched. it can.

In order to switch the connection between the fixed side optical fiber 12 and the driving side optical fiber 14, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the driving side optical fiber 14 is moved to move a plurality of fixed side optical fibers. The fixed-side optical fiber 12 to be connected from the fiber 12 is associated with the position thereof. That is, the drive motor 30 is driven to move the moving table 37 in the X direction, and each slider 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 19 stacked via the transmission shaft 41 is moved in the same direction to move the drive side optical fiber 14. An appropriate one is selected from the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 12 and stopped at a predetermined position where the tip ends face each other.

Next, the end faces of the drive side optical fiber 14 and the fixed side optical fiber 12 for connection are brought close to each other and coupled. That is, the drive motor 39 is driven to move the moving table 37.
In the Y direction, each slider 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 19 stacked via the transmission shaft 41 is moved in the same direction, and the tip end surface of the drive side optical fiber 14 faces the tip end of the fixed side optical fiber 12. The optical paths are connected to each other by bringing them close to each other.

As described above, in the optical fiber switching mechanism of this embodiment, the plurality of optical fibers 12 are arranged and fixed in parallel on one side, and the optical fiber 14 which is movable in the arrangement direction and the longitudinal direction is arranged on the other side. By supporting the optical fiber switching unit 19, a plurality of the optical fiber switching units 19 are laminated and each driving side optical fiber 14 is connected to one driving unit 20 by the transmission shaft 41. Since each drive-side optical fiber 14 is driven to switch the connection of the optical fibers, each component is made into a unit to simplify the structure and facilitate the coupling between the units. Not only the connection switching operation can be performed easily, but also the device itself becomes compact.

In the above embodiment, the X-Y direction drive unit 20 is connected to the X-direction movement mechanism unit 21 and the Y-direction drive unit 20.
Although it is configured by combining the direction moving mechanism units 22, both may be configured integrally. Different X in Figure 7
The perspective view of a -Y direction drive unit is shown. As shown in the figure, in the XY drive unit 50, the support frame 5
A moving base 53 is movably supported by the pair of guide rods 52 in one direction along the X direction, and a ball screw shaft 54 along the X direction is screwed onto the moving base 53, so that the ball screw shaft 54 A driven pulley 55 is fixed to one end of the drive motor 56, and a drive pulley 57 is fixed to a drive shaft of a drive motor 56. The drive pulley 57 and the driven pulley 55 are drivingly connected by a belt 58. Further, a rail 59 extending in the Y direction is laid on the moving base 53 to movably support a moving table 60, and a driving shaft 62 of an electromagnetic solenoid 61 is connected to the moving table 60.

Therefore, when the drive motor 56 is driven, the drive force is transmitted to the ball screw shaft 54 via the drive pulley 57, the belt 58, and the driven pulley 55, and the ball screw shaft 54 rotates to move the moving table 53. It can move in the X direction. When the electromagnetic solenoid 61 is driven, the driving force of the electromagnetic solenoid 61 is transmitted via the drive shaft 62.
It can be moved to the Y direction by being transmitted to 7.

Further, FIG. 8 shows a cross section showing an optical fiber switching mechanism by an XY driving unit using a solenoid, and FIG. 9 shows a cross section of a modification thereof. The members having the same functions as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the housing 11, a plurality of fixed side optical fibers 12 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and are supported by a supporting member 13. The drive-side optical fiber 14 is supported by the slider 15 so as to be parallel to the fixed-side optical fiber 12, and is movably supported along the X and Y directions. A connection terminal 16 and a sleeve 17 are attached to the tip of the fixed-side optical fiber 12, and a connection terminal 18 is fixed to the tip of the drive-side optical fiber 14. Then, a large number of this one optical fiber switching unit 19 are laminated, and the X side of the drive side optical fiber 14 is formed in the lower part.
The −Y direction drive unit 65 is arranged to form an optical fiber switching mechanism. In the XY drive unit 65, the moving table 66 is supported by the rotation of the ball screw shaft 68 along the guide rail 67 so as to be movable in the X direction, and the transmission shaft 6 that connects the sliders 15 is also supported.
The lower end of 9 is supported by an electromagnetic solenoid 70 on a moving table 66 so as to be movable in the Y direction.

In order to perform the connection switching operation between the fixed side optical fiber 12 and the drive side optical fiber 14, first, the screw shaft 68 is rotated by the drive motor to move the moving table 66 in the X direction, and the transmission is transmitted. The sliders 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 19 stacked via the shaft 69 are moved in the same direction to correspond to the fixed side optical fiber 12 connecting the drive side optical fiber 14 at a position where their end faces face each other. Stop. Next, the solenoid 70 is driven to drive the transmission shaft 6
Each of the sliders 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 19 laminated via 9 is moved in the Y direction to drive the optical fiber 1 on the drive side.
The optical paths of the fixed optical fibers 12 are connected to each other by slightly contacting the distal surfaces of the fixed optical fibers 12 with each other.

In the optical fiber switching mechanism shown in FIG. 8, the one shown in FIG. 9 moves each slider 15 of the laminated optical fiber switching unit 19 by the guide rails 71 provided along the X direction. A guide rail 7 that is freely supported and provided along the Y direction
It is movably supported by 2. Therefore, the movement of the slider 15 at the time of switching the optical fiber connection is smooth, and the movement accuracy is improved, so that the connection switching operation is smooth and the position reproducibility is excellent. The optical fiber connection switching operation is the same as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical fiber switching mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the optical fiber switching mechanism. The members having the same functions as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

In the optical fiber switching mechanism of this embodiment, the driving-side single optical fiber is moved in the arrangement direction and the vertical direction with respect to the fixed-side optical fibers in the plurality of horizontally arranged guide grooves. By freely supporting the optical fiber switching unit, one optical fiber selected from the fixed-side optical fibers and the driving-side optical fiber are moved toward and away from each other so as to switch the connection. A plurality of units are laminated and each drive-side optical fiber can be driven by one drive unit.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in a box-shaped housing 11, one side (the right side in FIG. 10) has V-shaped guide grooves 8 which are parallel to each other on the upper surface.
A fiber array 82 in which a plurality of 1's are formed in parallel is fixed. Then, the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 12 are inserted into the guide groove 81 and positioned by the support member 83. On the other hand, the other side of the housing 11 (see FIG.
A drive side optical fiber 14 which is parallel to the fixed side optical fiber 12 is supported by a slider 15 on the left side in FIG. The slider 15 is movably supported in the arrangement direction (X direction) of the fixed-side optical fibers 12 and is also swingably supported in the vertical direction (Z direction) by a horizontal axis.

Therefore, the slider 15 is moved in the X direction to align the drive side optical fiber 14 with the fixed side optical fiber 12, and the slider 15 is swung in the Z direction to drive the drive side optical fiber. The tip ends of the optical fibers 14 are inserted into the guide grooves 81 so that their end faces are brought close to each other, so that the connection between the optical fibers 12 and 14 can be switched. In this way, one optical fiber switching unit 8
4 are configured. In the present embodiment, ten optical fiber switching units 84 are laminated and the XZ direction drive unit 85 is arranged in the lower part to form an optical fiber switching mechanism.

In the XZ direction driving unit 85, as shown in FIG. 11, the moving table 86 is supported along the guide rail 87 so as to be movable in the X direction, and
Ball screw shaft 88 having a motor (not shown) mounted at one end
Can be driven by being rotated by rotating the ball screw shaft 88. Also, the moving table 8
A drive shaft 89 of a motor (not shown) is horizontally rotatably supported on the drive shaft 6, and a rotation restricting plate 90 is fixed to the drive shaft 89. Then, the rotation restricting plate 90
A notch 91 is formed in the movable table 86, while a restricting member 92 is fixed to the moving table 86 to restrict the rotation range of the rotation restricting plate 90. The rotation restricting plate 90 and each slider 15 of the laminated optical fiber switching unit 84 are connected by a pair of transmission links 93.
The slider 15 can be swung in the Z direction by turning 0.

In order to perform the connection switching operation between the fixed side optical fiber 12 and the drive side optical fiber 14, first, the screw shaft 88 is rotated by the motor to move the moving table 86 in the X direction and the transmission link. The sliders 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 84 stacked via 93 are moved in the same direction, and stopped at positions where their end faces face each other corresponding to the fixed side optical fiber 12 connecting the drive side optical fiber 14. Let Next, the motor is driven to rotate the rotation restricting plate 90 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 11 via the drive shaft 89, and each slider 15 of the optical fiber switching unit 84 stacked via the transmission link 93 is moved. Swing in the Z direction,
The optical paths are connected to each other by inserting the tip of the drive-side optical fiber 14 into the guide groove 81 and slightly contacting the tip of the tip-side with the tip-side of the opposing fixed-side optical fiber 12.

In the above-described embodiment, the motor is mounted as the drive source in the drive unit, but this motor may be appropriately selected from stepping motors, DC servo motors and the like for use. Further, as the drive transmission system, a slide screw, a ball screw, a belt or the like may be appropriately used.

[0040]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments, according to the optical fiber switching mechanism of the present invention, a plurality of optical fibers are horizontally aligned on one side and fixed on the other side. An optical fiber that is movable in parallel with the fixed-side optical fiber and that is movable along the array direction, and that has an end surface that can move toward and away from the opposing optical fiber, and is driven with respect to the end surface of the fixed-side optical fiber An optical fiber switching unit that couples the optical path by moving the end surface of the side optical fiber to a position slightly contacting or slightly separated is configured,
Since the plurality of optical fiber switching units are laminated and the plurality of drive side optical fibers of each optical fiber switching unit can be driven by one driving unit, the device is configured as a unit having independent functions, It is highly flexible in selecting the optical fiber coupling mode and the number of cores, and it is possible to achieve miniaturization by improving the reliability as a whole by reducing the size and eliminating the need for a complicated drive control mechanism. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical fiber switching mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a coupling portion of an optical fiber.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an optical fiber switching mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an X-direction moving mechanism unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a Y-direction moving mechanism unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an X-Y direction drive unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an integrated XY drive unit.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical fiber switching mechanism by an XY drive unit using a solenoid.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example showing an optical fiber switching mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical fiber switching mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber switching mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional optical fiber switching mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Housing 12 Fixed Side Optical Fiber 13,83 Supporting Member 14 Drive Side Optical Fiber 15 Slider 16,18 Connection Terminal 17 Sleeve 19,84 Optical Fiber Switching Unit 20,50,65 XY Direction Driving Unit 21 X Direction Moving Mechanism Unit 22 Y-direction moving mechanism unit 41, 69 Transmission shaft 81 Guide groove 82 Fiber array 85 X-Z direction drive unit 93 Transmission link

Front page continued (72) Inventor Shunichi Mizuno 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Watanabe 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries Co., Ltd. Company Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Izumi Mikawa 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of optical fibers are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on one side, while being parallel to the optical fibers on the other side on the other side, and movable along the arrangement direction. An end face of the drive side optical fiber is slightly supported with respect to an end face of one optical fiber selected from the plurality of fixed side optical fibers. An optical fiber switching unit that couples optical paths by contacting or moving to a slightly separated position is configured, and a plurality of the optical fiber switching units are laminated and a plurality of driving-side optical fibers of each of the laminated optical fiber switching units. An optical fiber switching mechanism, characterized in that it can be driven by one drive unit. 2. The optical fiber switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the driving side optical fiber is movably supported in the optical fiber switching unit along the arrangement direction of the fixed side optical fibers, and the driving side optical fibers are opposed to each other. On the other hand, the optical fiber switching mechanism is characterized in that its end face is supported so as to be able to move closer to and away from it, and can be driven by transmitting a driving force from a driving unit provided outside the optical fiber switching unit. 3. The optical fiber switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fixed side optical fiber and the driving side optical fiber are fixed to terminals at opposite ends thereof, and the terminals of the respective optical fibers are coupled by a sleeve having a slit. An optical fiber switching mechanism characterized in that. 4. The optical fiber switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fixed-side optical fiber and the driving-side optical fiber are fixed to terminals at opposite ends, and a sleeve with a slit is provided for coupling the terminals of the respective optical fibers. Is fixed to either one of the fixed-side optical fiber and the driving-side optical fiber. 5. The optical fiber switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit for moving the optical fiber is constituted by combining a plurality of moving mechanism units capable of moving in only one direction. Switching mechanism.