JPH0829708A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extremely rapidly and surely connect optical fibers each other without making the size of a device large, etc. CONSTITUTION:A fixed frame 4 in which ferrules 2 provided on the leading edges of plural fixed side optical fibers 3a are provided in an aligned condition is provided. A movable head 9 is movably supported to a shaft 8 provided in the direction where the fixed side optical fiber 3a of the frame 4 is aligned. A pedestal 12 movable in a proximate and distant direction with respect to the frame 4 is provided on the head 9. A slider 13 movable in the proximate and distant direction with respect to the frame 4 is provided on the pedestal 12. A movable side optical fiber 3b is held on the slider 13. A motor 14 moving the pedestal 12 is provided on the head 9. A bistable solenoid 18 moving the slider 13 by moving a rod 17 whose end is fixed to the slider 13 is provided on the pedestal 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch used for an optical transmission line using an optical fiber, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical switch used for an optical transmission line or the like has a plurality of fixed side optical fibers arranged in an aligned state and a movable head provided so as to be movable in the arrangement direction of these fixed side optical fibers. A slider provided on the movable head, the slider being movably supported in the approaching and separating direction with respect to the fixed-side optical fiber, the movable-side optical fiber supported by the slider, and the slider being fixed-side optical fiber direction. And a moving mechanism including a ball screw.

That is, the slider is moved toward the fixed-side optical fiber by driving the motor of the moving mechanism in a state where the movable head is moved and the slider is arranged in front of a predetermined optical fiber of the fixed-side optical fiber. By doing so, the end faces of the fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber are brought into contact with each other to be connected.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned optical switch, since the motor having a limited rotation speed is used as the moving mechanism for moving the slider, the access time at the time of connecting the optical fibers is shortened. Was extremely difficult. Here, for example, if the number of rotations is increased by decreasing the gear ratio or the like, the torque is reduced, and there arises a problem that good optical fibers cannot be connected to each other. Further, it is possible to use a motor having a large torque, but in this case, there is a problem that the occupation ratio of the motor installation space in the movable head becomes large and the size of the entire apparatus is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical switch capable of connecting optical fibers extremely quickly and reliably without causing an increase in size of the device. Has an aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical switch according to a first aspect of the invention is a fixed frame in which a plurality of fixed side optical fibers are arranged in an aligned state, and a fixed frame is arranged in parallel with the fixed frame. A shaft provided, a movable head movably supported along the shaft, and a slider movably supported by the movable head in a direction toward and away from the fixed frame and holding a movable optical fiber. When,
It is characterized by comprising a solenoid for moving the slider.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical switch according to the first aspect, wherein the slider and the solenoid are provided on the movable head so as to be movable in the approaching and separating directions with respect to the fixed frame. The movable head is supported by a base, and the movable head is provided with a motor for moving the base in the fixed frame direction after the slider moves in the fixed frame direction by the solenoid. .

[0008]

According to the optical switch of the first aspect,
The slider rapidly moves toward the fixed frame by the solenoid, so that the movable side optical fiber supported by the slider and the fixed side optical fiber supported by the fixed frame are connected. According to the optical switch of the present invention, the solenoid rapidly moves the slider toward the fixed frame, and then the motor is driven to move the base toward the fixed frame and the slider is supported by the slider. The movable side optical fiber and the fixed side optical fiber are connected.

[0009]

Embodiments of the optical switch of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an optical switch. The optical switch 1 includes a fixed frame 4 in which a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 3a, each having a ferrule 2 at the tip thereof, are aligned in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface, and a fixed frame 4 provided on the fixed frame 4. The connecting device 5 is movably supported in the alignment direction of the side optical fibers 3a. A fixing hole 7 into which a sleeve 6 is fitted is formed in the fixed frame 4, and the ferrule 2 provided at the tip of the fixed-side optical fiber 3a is provided in the fixing hole 7 so that the tip thereof is It is provided in a state of being inserted into the sleeve 6.

The connecting device 5 is provided on a shaft 8 provided along the fixed frame 4, a movable head 9 supported by the shaft 8 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction thereof, and an upper portion of the movable head 9. And a slider device 11. The slider device 11 is movable on the movable head 9 and is supported on the base 12 so as to be movable in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the fixed frame 4, and is movable on the base 12 in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the fixed frame 4. Slider 1 supported by
3, a motor 14 provided on the base 12, a ball screw 15 that is driven by the motor 14 to move the base 12, and a support portion 16 provided upright on the base 12. The solenoid 18 has an end portion for moving the rod 17 fixed to the slider 13 by the supply of electric current.

A holding hole 21 is formed in the slider 13, and a ferrule 2 provided at the tip of the movable side optical fiber 3b is arranged in the holding hole 21, and the tip is fixed. It projects in the direction of the frame 4. Further, the ferrules 2 arranged in the fixing holes 7 of the fixed frame 4 and the holding holes 21 of the slider 13 are urged by springs 22 in directions toward each other. As the solenoid 18, a so-called bistable solenoid that can move the rod 17 in any of the front-rear direction depending on the direction of the supplied current is used.

Next, the operation of connecting the optical fibers 3a and 3b to each other by the optical switch 1 having the above configuration will be described. After moving the movable head 9 in order to arrange the movable optical fiber 3b in front of the fixed optical fiber 3a to be connected, first, a current is supplied to the solenoid 18. By doing so, the rod 17 of the solenoid 18 is fixed to the fixed frame 4
The slider 13 is quickly moved in the direction of the fixed frame 4. At this time, the ferrule 2 of the movable side optical fiber 3b held by the slider 13 is stopped before coming into contact with the ferrule 2 of the fixed side optical fiber 3a. Then, in this state, when the motor 14 is driven, the base 12 is moved in the fixed frame 4 direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the ferrule 2 of the movable side optical fiber 3b held by the slider 13 moves toward the ferrule 2 direction of the fixed side optical fiber 3a so that the end faces of the ferrules 2 are inside the sleeve 6. Are contacted and connected in the state of being positioned.

When the connection is released, a reverse current is supplied to the solenoid 18, the motor 14 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the slider 13 and the base 12 are moved away from the fixed frame 4, respectively. By doing so, the movable optical fiber 3b in which the slider 13 is held is held.
Moves very quickly in a direction away from the fixed frame 4, and the connection between the optical fibers 3a and 3b is released. As described above, according to the optical switch 1 of the above-described embodiment, since the solenoid 18 having an extremely fast moving speed is used, the access time when the optical fibers 3a and 3b are connected to each other can be significantly shortened, and the operation can be performed. The speed can be shortened. Further, in the above embodiment,
After the slider 13 is moved by the solenoid 18, the motor 14 is moved together with the base 12 at a relatively low speed to bring the end faces of the ferrules 2 into contact with each other. The impact at the time of contact can be mitigated, and thus, the end surface of the ferrule 2 at the time of connection can be prevented from being damaged.

The solenoid 18 may be the only moving mechanism for moving the slider 13. Also,
The specific configuration and structure of the optical switch 1 of the above embodiment is as follows.
It is not limited to the embodiment.

[0015]

As described above, according to the optical switch of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the optical switch of the first aspect, since the movable side optical fiber can be moved quickly by the solenoid, the access time at the time of connecting the optical fibers can be greatly shortened. As a result, the operation speed of the optical switch can be shortened. According to the optical switch of the second aspect, the movable side optical fiber moved by the solenoid is further moved at a relatively low speed by the motor to connect the optical fibers to each other. It is possible to mitigate the impact on the end face of the fiber, thereby preventing breakage and damage of the end face of the optical fiber at the time of connection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an optical switch illustrating a configuration and a structure of an optical switch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an optical switch for explaining a connecting operation by the optical switch according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical switch, 3a ... Fixed side optical fiber, 3b ... Movable side optical fiber, 4 ... Fixed frame, 8 ... Shaft, 9 ...
Movable head, 12 ... Base, 13 ... Slider, 14 ... Motor, 18 ... Solenoid

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fixed frame in which a plurality of fixed side optical fibers are arranged in an aligned state, a shaft provided in parallel with the fixed frame, and a movable head movably supported along the shaft. An optical switch comprising: a slider that is supported by the movable head so as to be movable in a direction toward and away from the fixed frame and holds a movable optical fiber; and a solenoid that moves the slider. . 2. The slider and the solenoid are supported by a base provided on the movable head so as to be movable toward and away from the fixed frame, and the movable head is provided with the solenoid. The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising a motor for moving the base in the fixed frame direction after the slider has been moved in the fixed frame direction.