JPH0743543A - Optical fiber line switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an optical fiber line switching device provided with a self-holding function to hold an optical fiber line in a state after switching and with simple structure and of small size and low cost. CONSTITUTION:This optical fiber line switching device 1 which holds by switching a single core fiber to an arbitrary optical fiber out of a large number of optical fibers is provided with a butting member 2 on which plural holding grooves 2a to hold one terminal side of the large number of optical fibers 7 are formed, and which connects by confronting the terminal part of the single core fiber 6 with either optical fiber 7 in each holding groove, and a mobile guide 3 on the outer periphery of which a spiral groove 3a is formed and also, whose rotary center is formed in eccentric shape, and which moves the single core fiber 6 in the arranging direction and the direction intersecting orthogonally to the arranging direction of the plural holding grooves 2a as bringing into contact with the spiral groove 3a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber line switching device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the maintenance of optical subscriber networks, optical fiber line switching systems have been put into practical use for the purpose of monitoring optical lines. An optical fiber line switching device used in this optical fiber line switching system is configured, for example, by connecting the other end of a single-core fiber having an optical measuring device connected to one end thereof to an arbitrary optical fiber of a multi-core fiber forming a communication line. However, the deterioration of the optical fiber is automatically monitored from the transmission loss of communication light.

For the purpose of power saving, it is desirable that such an optical fiber line switching device has a self-holding function of holding the switched state even when power is not supplied, except when the optical fiber is switched. As an optical fiber line switching device having such a self-holding function, for example, by moving a single-core fiber fixed to a two-axis moving stage in two axial directions by two rotary motors, each of the multi-fibers Connecting to an arbitrary adapter attached to the end portion
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-2006 is known.

[0004]

By the way, further downsizing of the optical fiber line switching device is desired in the future with the further maintenance of the optical subscriber network. For this reason, the conventional type optical fiber line switching device that achieves the rectilinear motions of the biaxial moving stage in the biaxial directions by the rotary motor has a large number of constituent parts, which is problematic in achieving a large size reduction. .

On the other hand, an optical switch using semiconductor technology has been proposed in order to realize miniaturization of the device. This optical switch has an optical element that electrically controls the transmission and reflection of light embedded in the waveguide formed on the substrate, and has the advantage of being able to achieve a significant reduction in size, but it switches the optical fiber line. Supply of electricity is indispensable for keeping the state in the latter state, and there is a problem that it does not have a self-holding function.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a self-holding function for holding an optical fiber line in a state after switching, and an optical fiber line switching device which is simple in structure and small in size and inexpensive. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber line switching device for switching and connecting a single core fiber to an arbitrary optical fiber of a large number of optical fibers is provided. A plurality of holding grooves for holding one end side of the single core fiber are formed, and a spiral groove is formed on the outer periphery of the abutting member for connecting the end portion of the single-core fiber to any one of the optical fibers in the respective holding grooves. In addition, the center of rotation is eccentric, and a configuration is provided in which the single-core fiber is provided with a movement guide that moves the single-core fiber in the arrangement direction of the plurality of holding grooves and in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction while making contact with the spiral groove. is there.

[0008]

Since the center of rotation of the moving guide is eccentric, the end of the single-core fiber is bent so as to connect the end of the single-core fiber to any of the optical fibers in each holding groove of the abutting member. If this is the case, all this bending force can be applied to the single-core fiber. Further, when switching the single-core fiber, if the moving guide with the eccentric center of rotation is rotated halfway, the end of the single-core fiber floats up from the holding groove and is guided by the spiral groove in the holding groove array direction. Move half the array pitch. Then, when the movement guide is further rotated by half a turn, the single-core fiber further moves in the arrangement direction of the holding grooves by half of the arrangement pitch, and the raised end side moves down into the adjacent holding groove to allow the other optical fibers to move. Can be switched.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, an optical fiber line switching device (hereinafter, referred to as “switching device”) 1 includes a butt member 2, a moving guide 3, and a fixing member 4, which are housed in a housing 5. . In the following description, the left-right direction shown in FIG.
The arrangement direction of holding grooves 2a, which will be described later, of the abutting member 2 orthogonal to this is called the width direction.

The abutting member 2 is a flat plate-like member having a holding groove 2a composed of four V-shaped grooves formed on the upper surface at a predetermined pitch.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the single-core fiber 6 is held on one side of an arbitrary holding groove 2a in a bent state by pressing the tip side of the holding fiber 2a to the holding groove 2a, and on the other side opposite to the holding side. In the same manner, each of the four optical fibers 7 is held with its tip bent. As a result, the single-core fiber 6 is abutted with the predetermined optical fiber 7 so as to face each other.

Here, in the illustrated state, the single-core fiber 6 and the optical fiber 7 are merely connected to face each other, and there is a slight gap between the end faces, but a matching oil or the like is present between the end faces. By dropping the refractive index matching material, an optically appropriate butt connection state is guaranteed. The movement guide 3 supports the single-core fiber 6 in a contact state and guides the movement in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a guide groove 3a formed of a spiral V groove is formed on the outer periphery of the movement guide 3. This is a single-thread eccentric screw in which the rotating shaft 3b serving as the rotation center is eccentric. The moving guide 3 rotates in an eccentric state by rotating the rotating shaft 3b in both forward and backward directions by a driving means such as a motor (not shown), elevates and lowers the single-core fiber 6 and guides a switching movement in the width direction. . As a result, the single-core fiber 6 is switched to be opposed to any one of the four optical fibers 7 whose tips are held in the holding groove 2a at intervals of 1 pitch.

The fixing member 4 holds the single-core fiber 6 and fixes the single-core fiber 6 by pressing the tip end side of the single-core fiber 6 into the holding groove 2a of the butting member 2. The fixing plate 4b is mounted on the support block 4a. 6 is inclined with respect to the surface of the butting member 2 and fixed in a bent state. Therefore,
The single-core fiber 6 is connected to the optical fiber 7 so as to face it.
In the state shown in (1), the tip side is bent, and all the bending force acts on the single-core fiber 6. Further, from this state to the state of switching to another optical fiber 7, the single-core fiber 6 is always in the spiral guide groove 3a of the moving guide 3.
And is guided by the guide groove 3a to move.

The switching device 1 of the present invention is configured as described above, and is used as follows when switching and connecting optical fiber lines. For example, as shown in FIG.
From the state in which the single-core fiber 6 is optically butted and connected to the front optical fiber 7 among the four optical fibers 7,
When switching and connecting the single-core fiber 6 to the second optical fiber 7 from the front side, the rotating shaft 3b is rotated once by the driving means.

The rotation guide 3 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary shaft 3b.
Rotates in an eccentric state, and in the state where the single-core fiber 6 is in contact with the spiral guide groove 3a, the tip end side of the single-core fiber 6 is moved along the width direction of the holding groove 2a and is moved up and down. Therefore, by the rotation of the moving guide 3, the tip end side of the single-core fiber 6 is switched and moved in the width direction by one pitch of the holding groove 2a, and is also moved up and down.

At this time, when the moving guide 3 makes a half rotation,
The single-core fiber 6 is moved in the width direction by a half pitch of the holding groove 2a, and as shown in FIG. 3, the tip side of the single-core fiber 6 floats up from the holding groove 2a in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure.
Then, when the moving guide 3 is further rotated by a half turn, the single-core fiber 6 is further moved in the width direction by a half pitch of the holding groove 2a and is lowered in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure, so that the front end side of the single-core fiber 6 is moved. It moves into the second holding groove 2a from the front side.

As a result, the single-core fiber 6 is switched and moved by one pitch in the width direction while being in contact with the guide groove 3a, and the optical fiber 7 and the optical fiber 7 held in the second holding groove 2a from the front side. The optical fiber lines are switched by butt connection. Then, the switched single-core fiber 6 is held by the fixing member 4 and the tip side is pressed by the holding groove 2a, and is self-held in the switched state.

On the other hand, when the single core fiber 6 moved to the second holding groove 2a from the front side is moved to optically butt-connect with the original front optical fiber 7 as shown in FIG. When the rotating shaft 3b is rotated once in the reverse direction by the driving means, the original connection state can be switched by the operation reverse to the above. As described above, according to the switching device 1 of the present invention, the switching movement of the single-core fiber 6 associated with the switching operation of the optical fiber line can be achieved by the single drive means for rotating the movement guide 3 in both forward and reverse directions. Can
Moreover, since the self-holding in the switching state is performed by the bending force of the single-core fiber 6, the configuration is simple, and the device can be made small and inexpensive.

Here, a modified example of the switching device 1 will be described below, but the same components as those of the switching device 1 are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings and the description thereof will be omitted. First, the switching device is shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a fulcrum bar 8 may be provided between the abutting member 2 and the movement guide 3. With such an arrangement, the single-core fiber 6 extending from the moving guide 3 to the butt member 2 side is rotated around the fulcrum bar 8 to move up and down while the distal end side slides on the fulcrum bar 8. Move in the width direction.

Therefore, as compared with the case of the above-mentioned embodiment, the single-core fiber 6 moves up and down in a locus similar to vertical movement as shown by the arrow in the figure, so that it is abutted with the optical fiber 7. Interference can be avoided. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the switching device forms a spiral guide groove 8b formed of a single thread on the outer periphery of the fulcrum bar 8 on which the rotating shafts 8a and 8a are eccentric, The fulcrum bar 8 may be configured to rotate in synchronization with the movement guide 3a.

With such a structure, when the single guide fiber 6 is switched and moved by the moving guide 3 in the width direction, the front end of the single fiber 6 is moved in a direction parallel to the holding groove 2a of the abutting member 2. It can be switched and moved. For this reason,
During the switching operation of the single-core fiber 6, the tip side can be reliably lowered into the holding groove 2a of the abutting member 2, and a smooth butt connection with the optical fiber 7 is achieved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the switching device may guide the tip end side of the single-core fiber 6 with a guide block 9. In this guide block 9, a fulcrum bar 9b is stretched over a gate-shaped main body 9a, and the main body 9a is movable in the width direction by a feed screw 9c. The feed screw 9c is rotated in synchronization with the moving guide 3. . With this configuration,
The movement of the single-core fiber 6 can be guided more smoothly.

Further, like the switching device 10 shown in FIG. 8 and the switching device 12 shown in FIG. 9, the fulcrum bar 8, the guide block 9, and the moving guide 3 are different from the switching devices shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The positions of and may be exchanged. With this configuration,
The fixing member 4 that holds the single-core fiber 6 is not always necessary, and the fixing member 4 can be omitted. In addition, the movement guide is, as shown in FIG.
The rotary shaft 3b may be provided at the other end of the rotary arm 3c whose one end is rotatably attached, and the eccentric rotary shaft 3b may be used for rotation.

Here, the guide groove 3a of the moving guide 3 is
If it is possible to guide the movement of the single-core fiber 6 in the width direction at the same pitch as the holding groove 2a formed in the butt member 2, it is also possible to use a spiral projection. In addition to the V groove shown in the above embodiment, the guide groove may be a round groove according to the outer shape of the single-core fiber 6 to be guided, or a trapezoidal guide groove 3a like the moving guide 3 shown in FIG. May be a guide groove 3a that is a combination of a round groove and a trapezoidal groove, like the moving guide 3 shown in FIG.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to switch and move single-core fibers with a single moving guide, and further, to keep the optical fiber line in the state after switching. (EN) A self-holding function, a simple structure, a small size, and an inexpensive optical fiber line switching device are provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an optical fiber line switching device of the present invention in section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an optical fiber and a single-core fiber are oppositely connected on a butt member.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a switching state of single-core fibers.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a modification of the switching device, in which a fulcrum bar is added to the switching device shown in FIG. 1.

5 is a front view showing a state of the single-core fiber in a state where the movement guide is half-turned from the state of FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a modification of the switching device in which a spiral groove is formed on the fulcrum bar shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another modification in which a guide block is arranged on the tip side of a single-core fiber extending from a moving guide.

8 is a front view of a switching device showing a modification example in which the positions of a movement guide and a fulcrum bar are exchanged in the switching device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a switching device showing a modification in which the positions of the moving guide and the guide block are exchanged.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a modified example of the movement guide.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing another modification of the guide groove of the movement guide.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing still another modification of the guide groove of the movement guide.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 switching device 2 abutting member 2a holding groove 3 movement guide 3a guide groove 3b rotating shaft 3c rotating arm 4 fixing member 6 single-core fiber 7 optical fiber 8 fulcrum bar 9 guide block 10 switching device 12 switching device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Motohiro Yamane 2-6-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Innovator Nobuo Tomita 1-6, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber line switching device for switching and connecting a single-core fiber to an arbitrary optical fiber of a large number of optical fibers, wherein a plurality of holding grooves for holding one end side of the plurality of optical fibers are formed, A spiral groove is formed on the abutting member and the outer periphery for connecting the end portion of the core fiber to each of the holding grooves so as to face each other, and the rotation center is eccentric, and the single-core fiber is formed into the spiral shape. An optical fiber line switching device comprising: a moving guide that moves the holding grooves in the arrangement direction of the plurality of holding grooves and in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction while being in contact with the grooves.