JPH09133885A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the optical switch which can easily be manufactured in a short time at low cost. SOLUTION: On an optical fiber mount base 9, plural reception-side optical fibers 3 which are led out of a ribbon 6 of optical fibers are mounted in parallel, the base end sides of the optical fibers 3 are fixed with an adhesive, and the connection end surfaces 15 of the reception-side optical fibers 3 are projected from the tip 12 of the optical fiber mount base 9. A V-groove formed substrate 13 which has plural V grooves 5 formed and has a master optical fiber 4 fixed in a V groove 5a is arranged opposite the reception-side optical fibers 3, a master moving mechanism 25 moves the master optical fiber 4 in the X and Y directions in the figure integrally with the V-groove formed substrate 13 to insert the connection end surfaces 15 of the reception-side optical fibers 3 into the V grooves 5a selectively, and then the connection end surfaces 16 and 15 of the master optical fiber 4 and reception-side optical fibers 3 are put opposite each other in the V grooves 5, thereby connecting the master optical fiber 4 and recepiton-side optical fibers 3 together so that they can freely be switched.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch for selecting one or more optical fibers from among a plurality of optical fibers for switching connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when inspecting and inspecting an optical transmission line or an optical transmission abnormality of a plurality of optical fiber cores (optical lines) of an optical circuit, an inspection device is applied to an optical line of each core on a wiring or circuit side. The optical line (optical fiber) on the side is switched and connected to inspect and inspect each heart, and an optical switch is used for the switching connection of the optical line.

As the optical switch, for example, a type in which an optical path is switched by a lens, a prism, or the like, or an optical connector group provided with a plurality of optical connectors and an optical connector on the moving stage are opposed to each other, and the optical switch on the moving stage is provided. A mechanical optical switch such as a type in which an optical connector is moved to perform switching connection with any optical connector in the optical connector group is generally used, but recently, a master optical fiber (optical fiber on the moving side) is used. A so-called optical fiber direct movement type optical switch has been proposed in which a fiber) is directly fixed to a moving stage and the master optical fiber is moved with respect to a plurality of fixed and fixed optical fibers.

In this type of optical switch, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, an optical fiber array member 1 formed by arranging a plurality of V-grooves 5 in parallel is provided with an optical fiber 3 on a receiving side and a connecting end face 15 side. The V-grooves 5 are immersed in the longitudinal direction and fixed in an array, and the master optical fiber 4 is moved to the connection end face 15 side of the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side, and the connection end face 16 side of the master optical fiber 4 is arranged in the optical fiber array. It is to be selectively inserted into one of the V grooves 5 of the member 1.

The master optical fiber 4 is moved while being fixed to a movable stage 24 which is movable in, for example, the X direction and the Y direction in the figure, and the master optical fiber 4 is moved into the V groove 5a.
This master optical fiber 4
The connection end face 16 of the optical fiber 3a and the connection end face 15 of the receiving side optical fiber 3a face each other, and the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving side optical fiber 3a are optically connected. Then, the master optical fiber 4 is moved by the moving stage 14 and inserted into the V groove 5b as shown by the chain line in the figure. At this time, the connection end face 16 of the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving side optical fiber 3b are connected. The master optical fiber 4 and the receiving optical fiber 3b are connected so that the end face 15 faces each other.

Incidentally, in the optical switch shown in FIG.
The optical fiber array member 1 is provided with a tape coating portion mounting surface 11 formed on a surface lower than the area where the V groove 5 is provided, on the base end side of the area where the V groove 5 is provided. A coating portion 8 of an optical fiber tape 6 formed by arranging a plurality of receiving-side optical fibers 3 in parallel is mounted on the tape coating portion mounting surface 11.

In this type of optical switch, as described above, a large number of V grooves 5 are formed in the optical fiber arranging member 1 and the master optical fiber 4 is selectively inserted into the V grooves 5 so that the receiving side of Optical fiber 3 and master optical fiber 4
By connecting the switch and the switch freely, the size of the device can be significantly reduced and the mounting density of switchable optical fibers can be improved as compared with a mechanical optical switch that moves an optical connector and the like.

[0008]

However, in the above optical switch, the number of V-grooves 5 in which the optical fiber arranging member 1 is formed is 400 to 800 when the number is large. In order to form the optical fiber arraying member 1 by arranging the V-grooves 5 with high accuracy, a high level of technology is required, which causes a problem that the cost of the optical fiber arraying member 1 increases.

Further, in the above optical switch,
In order to connect the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side and the master optical fiber 4 with low connection loss, for example, when inserting the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side into each of a large number of V grooves 5 of 400 to 800, It is necessary to prevent the optical fibers 3 on each receiving side from floating from the bottom surface side of each V groove 5, and to precisely fix the optical fibers 3 in close contact with the V groove forming surface. However,
A large number of optical fibers 3 on the receiving side of 400 to 800 cores
~ 800 It is very difficult to precisely fix and fix each V-groove 5 in each V-groove 5, and it takes a lot of time for the work, which leads to high cost of the optical switch. Was there.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable optical fibers on the receiving side to be easily arrayed and fixed in a short time, thereby producing the optical fibers. It is to provide an optical switch that is easy and inexpensive.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides means for solving the problems by the following constitution. That is, the first aspect of the present invention is directed to an optical fiber mounting table and a plurality of receiving sides that are mounted on the optical fiber mounting table and are arranged in parallel with the connecting end face side protruding forward from the tip of the optical fiber mounting table. Of the optical fiber and one or more V-shaped grooves are arranged in parallel, and the optical fiber V is movable relative to the optical fiber on the side opposite to the optical fiber on the receiving side arranged to project from the optical fiber mounting table. A groove forming substrate, and at least one of the V-shaped grooves of the V groove forming substrate
In one, the master optical fiber is inserted and fixed by immersing the master optical fiber in the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped groove with the connecting end face side facing the receiving side optical fiber, and the master optical fiber is integrated with the V-groove forming substrate. To the V-shaped groove on the connecting end face side of the master optical fiber to selectively insert the receiving side optical fiber into the connecting end face of the master optical fiber and the connecting end face of the receiving side optical fiber. The optical fiber on the receiving side and the master optical fiber are connected so that they can face each other and can be switched.

Further, the connection end face side of the master optical fiber and the receiving end optical fiber inserted in the V-shaped groove on the connection end face side of the master optical fiber are set to the V-shaped groove side of the V-groove forming substrate. It is also a characteristic configuration of the first aspect of the present invention that a common fixing member for the connecting optical fibers that is pressed and restrained together is provided.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber mounting base and the connection end face side mounted on the optical fiber mounting base are immersed inward from the tip of the optical fiber mounting base or in parallel without being immersed. It has a plurality of optical fibers on the receiving side arranged side by side, and the connection end face side of the optical fibers on the receiving side is supported without being fixed to the optical fiber mounting table, while one or more V-shaped grooves are arranged in parallel. Then, the V-groove forming substrate, which is movable relative to the optical fiber on the side facing the optical fiber on the receiving side, which is supported and arranged on the optical fiber mounting table, has each V-shaped groove on the lower side. The master optical fiber is inserted into at least one of the V-shaped grooves of the V-groove forming substrate in the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped groove with its connection end face side facing the optical fiber of the receiving side. It is inserted and fixed, and the master By moving the fiber integrally with the V-groove forming substrate and selectively inserting the receiving-side optical fiber into the V-shaped groove on the connecting end face side of the master optical fiber, the connecting end face of the master optical fiber and the above-mentioned The optical fiber mounting base is made to face the connection end surface of the receiving side optical fiber, and the connection end surface side of the receiving side optical fiber and the connection end surface side of the master optical fiber are formed by the V-shaped groove forming surface of the V groove forming substrate. The optical fiber on the receiving side and the master optical fiber are switchably connected by being pressed and restrained to the side.

In the present invention having the above-described structure, the plurality of optical fibers on the receiving side are placed on the optical fiber mounting table. In the first invention, the connection end face side of the optical fiber is forward from the tip of the optical fiber mounting table. In the second aspect of the present invention, the connection end face side of the optical fiber is not fixed to the optical fiber mounting table and is supported inwardly from the tip of the optical fiber mounting table. Has been done.

Therefore, in the present invention, unlike the conventional optical switch, an expensive optical fiber array member in which a plurality of V-grooves for inserting a plurality of optical fibers on the receiving side are precisely formed is not required. Further, it is possible to omit the labor and time-consuming operation of accurately arraying and fixing the receiving side optical fibers in the respective V grooves of the optical fiber array member, and to mount the plurality of receiving side optical fibers. It suffices to carry out an easy operation such as placing them in parallel with each other.

On the other hand, in the present invention, a V-shaped groove (V in the present specification) for fixing the master optical fiber is used.
(U-shaped groove is used in a wide concept including U-shaped groove)
However, the number of V-shaped grooves formed in the V-groove forming substrate is far smaller than that of the V-grooves formed in the conventional optical fiber array member, and the master light is used. Since the number of cores (the number of cores) of the fiber is much smaller than the number of cores of the optical fiber on the receiving side, the V-groove forming substrate used for the optical switch of the present invention does not increase the cost.
Further, the operation of inserting and fixing the master optical fiber into the V-shaped groove of the V-groove forming substrate can be easily performed in a short time.

From the above, the optical switch of the present invention is
An optical switch that can be easily manufactured in a short time and is low in cost is provided, and the above problems are solved. Then, in the present invention, the master optical fiber is fixed to the V-groove forming substrate and moved integrally with the V-groove forming substrate, and the receiving optical fiber is placed in the V-shaped groove on the connection end face side of the master optical fiber. By selectively inserting the optical fibers on the receiving side, even if the optical fibers on the receiving side are not arranged as accurately as the conventional optical switch, the connecting end surface of the master optical fiber and the connecting end surface of the optical fiber on the receiving side are V-shaped. The receiving side optical fiber and the master optical fiber are switchably and optically connected with low connection loss by facing each other on the V-shaped groove of the formation substrate.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the conventional example, and the duplicated description is omitted. FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of a first embodiment of an optical switch according to the present invention. In the figure, the flat optical fiber mounting surface 18 of the optical fiber mounting table 9 is shown.
An optical fiber tape 6 formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers 3 on the receiving side is placed on the upper side and fixed by an adhesive (not shown). The coating of the optical fiber tape 6 is removed. The plurality of exposed optical fibers 3 on the receiving side are arranged side by side with the connecting end surface 15 side thereof protruding forward from the tip 12 of the optical fiber mounting table 9.

A V-groove forming substrate 13 in which one or more (five in the figure) V-grooves (V-shaped grooves) 5 are arranged in parallel on the side facing the plurality of optical fibers 3 is a master moving mechanism 25. The V-groove 5 of the V-groove forming substrate 13 is provided so as to be movable relative to the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side.
1 (V groove 5a) of the master optical fiber 4 toward the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side of the connection end face 16 side, the V groove 5
It is inserted and fixed in the longitudinal direction of a.

The master moving mechanism 25 moves the master optical fiber 4 integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13 to select the receiving optical fiber 3 in the V groove 15 on the connection end face 16 side of the master optical fiber 4. By inserting the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side so that the connecting end face 16 of the master optical fiber 4 and the connecting end face 15 of the receiving side optical fiber 3 face each other and the receiving side optical fiber 3 and the master optical fiber 4 are switchably connected. It has become.

The embodiment is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the coating portion 8 side of the optical fiber tape 6 is arranged on the optical fiber mounting surface 18 of the optical fiber mounting base 9, and as shown in FIG. The coating portion 8 side is fixed on the optical fiber mounting base 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the exposed receiving-side optical fiber 3 on the tip side of the optical fiber tape 6 is in a state in which the connecting end face 15 side thereof is projected forward from the tip 12 of the optical fiber mounting table 9. It is arranged in parallel.

The optical fibers 3 on the receiving side are arranged almost uniformly on the optical fiber tape 6 when the optical fiber tape 6 is formed. Therefore, by arranging the optical fiber tapes 6 side by side without a gap, the optical fiber mounting table 9 is provided. The side of the connection end surface 15 of the optical fibers 3 protruding from the side is arranged at a substantially uniform pitch. The arrangement pitch of the optical fibers 3 on the receiving side need not be extremely accurate.

In this state, the master optical fiber 4 fixed in the V groove 5 of the V groove forming substrate 13 is arranged with its connecting end face 16 side facing the connecting end face 15 side of the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side, and the master is moved. By the mechanism 25, the master optical fiber 4 is moved integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13 in the X direction in the figure, and the master optical fiber 4 is connected to the receiving optical fiber 3.
(For example, 3a) is moved to the lower side. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the master moving mechanism 25 moves the V-groove forming substrate 13 in the direction of the arrow Y in the figure, that is, to the upper side, so that the optical fiber 3a on the receiving side is selectively inserted into the V-groove 5a. . Then, at this time, the receiving-side optical fibers 3b and 3c arranged on both sides of the receiving-side optical fiber 3a respectively have V-grooves 5 on both sides of the V-groove 5a.
b, 5c.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the connection end face 15 of the receiving side optical fiber 3a inserted in the V groove 5a.
And the connection end face 16 of the master optical fiber 4 face each other on the V groove 5a, and the receiving side optical fiber 3a and the master optical fiber 4 are optically connected.

Also, the selected optical fiber 3 on the receiving side.
When connecting the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side different from a and the master optical fiber 4, the V-groove forming substrate 13 is moved to the lower side in the drawing by the master moving mechanism 25 from the state shown in FIG. After that, the V-groove forming substrate 13 is moved in the X direction in FIG. 1 so that the V-groove 5a of the V-groove forming substrate 13 corresponds to the lower side of the optical fiber 3 on the other receiving side. Then, the optical connection between the receiving optical fiber 3 and the master optical fiber 4 is performed by the same operation as described above.

According to this embodiment, the master optical fiber 4 is fixed to the V-groove forming substrate 13 on which the V-groove 5 is formed, the master optical fiber 4 is moved integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13, and the master optical fiber 4 is moved. By selectively inserting the receiving optical fibers 3 into the V groove 5a on the connection end face 16 side of the optical fiber 4, a plurality of receiving optical fibers 3 are accurately inserted into the optical fiber array member 1 as in the conventional case. Even if it is not fixed, the optical connection between the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side and the master optical fiber 4 can be switched freely and with a low connection loss.

According to the present embodiment, unlike the conventional optical switch, it is possible to omit the expensive optical fiber arranging member 1 in which a large number of V-grooves 5 are precisely arranged and formed. Since the optical fiber mounting base 9 having the flat optical fiber mounting surface 18 may be provided, the cost of the optical switch can be made very low.

Further, according to this embodiment, unlike the conventional example, a plurality (a large number) of receiving-side optical fibers 3 are arranged in each V-groove of the optical fiber arranging member 1 and arranged accurately. It is not necessary to fix, and the optical fibers 3 on the receiving side can be arranged by an easy operation of placing the optical fiber tapes 6 in parallel on the optical fiber placing table 9 and fixing the base end side thereof. Therefore, it is possible to omit the labor and time for accurately arranging and fixing the receiving optical fibers 3 one by one in each V groove of the optical fiber arranging member 1, and in a short time and easily. The optical fibers 3 on the receiving side can be arranged and fixed. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the labor and time required for manufacturing the optical switch, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to easily manufacture the optical fiber in a short time, the cost is low, and the master optical fiber and the optical fiber on the receiving side are accurately formed. It is possible to provide an excellent optical switch capable of performing a freely switchable optical connection.

FIG. 3 shows a second optical switch according to the present invention.
The configuration and operation of the essential parts of the embodiment of FIG. Note that the optical switch of the present embodiment example has substantially the same configuration as the optical switch of the first embodiment example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the present embodiment example is the same as the first embodiment example. A different characteristic is that a V groove is formed on the connection end face 16 side of the master optical fiber 4 and on the connection end face 15 side of the receiving side optical fiber 3 inserted into the V groove 5 on the connection end face 16 side of the master optical fiber 4. The common fixing member 14 of the connecting optical fiber which is pressed and restrained together with the V groove 5 of the substrate 13 is provided. The rest of the configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

The example of the present embodiment is configured as described above, and also in the example of the present embodiment, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment,
The V-groove forming substrate 13 is moved relative to the receiving side optical fiber 3 by the master moving mechanism 25, and the master optical fiber 4 is moved to the lower side of the receiving side optical fiber 3 to be connected. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the V-groove forming substrate 13 is moved to the upper side as shown by an arrow Y ₁ ,
The optical fiber 3 on the receiving side is inserted into the V-shaped groove 5, but in this embodiment, the common fixing member 14 is moved to the lower side as shown by the arrow Y ₂ at this time, and (b) in FIG. As shown in FIG.
The connection end face 15 side of (1) and the connection end face 16 side of the master optical fiber 4 are pressed together against the V groove 5 side to be restrained.

According to the present embodiment, the above-mentioned operation results in
Similar to the first embodiment, the master optical fiber 4
It becomes possible to connect the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side and the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side with high precision and freely. Further, as in the first embodiment, the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side can be connected to the optical fiber mounting base 9 as well.
By forming the optical switch by mounting and fixing them in parallel on the upper side, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, according to this embodiment, the common fixing member 14 for the connecting optical fibers is provided, and the common fixing member 14 connects the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving side optical fiber 3 inserted in the V groove 5. Since the end face 15 is pressed against the V-groove 5 side to be restrained together, the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side can be inserted and fixed in the V-groove 5 more reliably, and
The connection end face 15 of the optical fiber 3 and the connection end face 16 of the master optical fiber 4 can be aligned extremely accurately on the receiving side. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the optical connection between the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving-side optical fiber 3 can be made more accurately.

FIG. 4 shows a third optical switch according to the present invention.
The configuration of the essential parts of the embodiment example of FIG. Like the first and second embodiments, the present embodiment is also configured to have the optical fiber mounting base 9 and the V-groove forming substrate 13. In the present embodiment, the V-groove forming substrate 13 is used. Are arranged so that the respective V-grooves 5 are on the lower side, and each of the three master optical fibers 4 has one connection end face 16 side thereof, as shown in FIG. It is soaked in the longitudinal direction and inserted and fixed in each V groove 5. In addition, as shown in FIG.
A master moving mechanism 25 is connected to 13 as in the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the optical fiber mounting table 9 has an optical fiber mounting surface on which the receiving optical fiber 3 is mounted.
18 and a tape coating portion mounting surface formed on a surface lower than the optical fiber mounting surface 18 on the base end side of the optical fiber mounting surface 18.
11 and are formed. The optical fiber tape coating portion 8 is mounted on the tape coating portion mounting surface 11, and the optical fiber mounting surface 11
On the 18 side, the receiving side optical fibers 3 are arranged in parallel while being supported without being fixed to the optical fiber mounting table 9 by immersing the optical fiber mounting table 9 side inward from the tip 12 of the optical fiber mounting table 9. ing.

Also in this embodiment, the optical fiber mounting surface 18 is formed as a flat surface, but a plurality of optical fibers 3 on the receiving side are arranged on the optical fiber mounting surface 18 side. An adhesive blocking groove 21 and a cutting relief groove 20 are formed with a space therebetween in a direction traversing substantially vertically. The adhesive blocking groove 21 connects the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side to the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side, as shown in FIG. 5, when the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side is fixed to the optical fiber mounting base 9 with the adhesive 10. End face 15
The optical fiber mounting base 9 is thus formed with the adhesive blocking groove 21 so that the receiving end side of the optical fiber connecting end surface 15 side is placed on the optical fiber mounting surface. Instead of being fixed to 18, the base end side of the receiving side optical fiber 3 and the covering portion 8 of the optical fiber tape 6 can be fixed onto the optical fiber mounting base 9. Note that FIG. 4 is shown with the adhesive 10 omitted.

Further, the cutting relief groove 20 is for collectively cutting and aligning the connection end faces 15 of the plurality of receiving side optical fibers 3 arranged on the optical fiber mounting base 9. By collectively cutting the receiving-side optical fibers 3 along the groove 20 with, for example, a dicing saw, the connection end faces 15 of the plurality of receiving-side optical fibers 3 can be easily and accurately aligned. ing.

The configuration of this embodiment other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment.
The configuration is the same as that of the embodiment, and in this embodiment as well, the master optical fiber 4 is moved integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13 by the master moving mechanism 25. Then, in the present embodiment example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the master optical fiber 4 is moved to the upper end side of the optical fiber 3 on the receiving end side of the connection end face 16 and, as shown by an arrow Y in the figure, , The master optical fiber 4 is moved integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13 to the lower side. Then, as shown in (b) of the figure, the master optical fiber 4 is placed on the optical fiber mounting surface 18 which is formed on the front side of the connection end surface 15 of the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side. Is placed, the connection end face 15 side of the receiving side optical fiber 3 is inserted into the V groove 5 of the V groove forming substrate 13, and the receiving side optical fiber 3 and the master optical fiber 4 are inserted.
Each of the connection end surfaces 15, 16 is fixed to the V groove 5 while being sandwiched between the V groove forming substrate 13 and the optical fiber mounting surface 18 of the optical fiber mounting table 9.

When switching the optical connection between the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving optical fiber 3, the master moving mechanism 25 moves the master optical fiber 4 integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13 to the upper side. Then, in that state, the master optical fiber 4 is moved to the upper side of the optical fiber 3 on the different receiving side, and the different receiving side is operated by the same operation as described above as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. Of the master optical fiber 4 on the connection end face 16 side
The master optical fiber 4 is inserted into the groove 5 and the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving optical fiber 3 are optically connected in the same manner as described above.

According to the present embodiment, the above-mentioned operation results in
By moving the master optical fiber 4 integrally with the V-groove forming substrate 13 and selectively inserting the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side into the V-groove of the V-groove forming substrate 13, the first and second embodiments The same effect as the example can be obtained.

Further, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, the connecting end face 16 of the master optical fiber 4 is formed by the V-groove forming substrate 13 and the optical fiber mounting base 9.
The optical fiber 3 on the receiving side and the connection end face 15 side of the receiving side are fixed in the V groove 5 so as to perform optical connection between the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving side optical fiber 3.
Common fixing member 14 for connecting optical fibers provided in the embodiment example
The master optical fiber 4 and the receiving side optical fiber 3 can be optically connected to each other extremely accurately even without providing the above, and the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving side optical fiber 3 can be reliably and switchably switched. Can be connected with low connection loss.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can take various modes. For example,
In the third embodiment described above, the escape groove 20 for cutting and the adhesive blocking groove 21 are provided on the optical fiber placing surface 18 side of the optical fiber placing table 9, but the escape groove 20 for cutting and the adhesive agent are provided. Block groove 21
Can be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the tape coating portion mounting surface 11 is formed on the base end side of the optical fiber mounting surface 18 of the optical fiber mounting table 9, but the tape coating portion mounting surface 11 is formed. The optical fiber mounting base 9 can be formed by omitting.

Further, in the second embodiment, the connection end surface 15 of the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side is arranged side by side so as to be recessed from the tip 12 of the optical fiber mounting table 9. 5A may be omitted from the chain line 30 to the tip 12 of FIG. 5A, and the connection end surface 15 of the optical fiber 3 on the receiving side may be arranged without being immersed from the tip of the optical fiber mounting table.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, one master optical fiber 4 is provided, and in the second embodiment, three master optical fibers 4 are provided.
The number of master optical fibers 4 arranged is not particularly limited and may be set appropriately, and may be one.
You can use more than one. In addition, if the master optical fiber 4 is plural, it becomes possible to collectively switch and connect a plurality of optical lines connected to the master optical fiber 4, and when this optical switch is used for an inspection / inspection system of an optical line, for example, It becomes possible to efficiently inspect and inspect the road in a short time.

Further, in the above embodiment, five V-grooves 5 are formed on the V-groove forming substrate 13, but the number of V-grooves 5 formed on the V-groove forming substrate 13 is not particularly limited. Alternatively, one may be used, or a plurality of other than five may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the V groove 5 is formed on the V groove forming substrate 13, but a U-shaped groove (U groove) may be formed on the V groove forming substrate 13.

Further, in the above embodiment, the receiving side optical fiber 3 is an optical fiber which is exposed by removing the coating of the optical fiber tape 6, but the receiving side optical fiber 3 is not necessarily the optical fiber tape. The optical fiber is not limited to the one drawn out from the optical fiber 6, and for example, a plurality of single-core optical fibers may be arranged on the optical fiber mounting base 9.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the optical switch is constructed by providing the pair of optical fiber mounting bases 9 and the V-groove forming substrate 13. However, for example, a plurality of optical fiber mounting bases 9 are provided to make a multi-stage. The optical fibers 3 on the receiving side arranged on the optical fiber mounting bases 9 of the respective stages are selectively formed into the V-groove forming substrate 13
It is also possible to form an optical switch to be inserted into the V groove 5 on the side of the connection end face 16 of the master optical fiber 4 fixed to. In this case, the optical connection between the master optical fiber 4 and the receiving-side optical fiber 3 having a very large number of cores (number of cores) arranged in multiple stages can be switched freely. The mounting density of the switches can be further improved.

[0050]

According to the present invention, a plurality of optical fibers on the receiving side are placed in parallel on the optical fiber mounting table, and the connecting tip side is not fixed but the base end side is fixed to the optical fiber mounting table. ,
On the other hand, the master optical fiber is fixed to the V groove of the V groove forming substrate that is movably provided on the side opposite to the receiving optical fiber, and the master optical fiber is moved integrally with the V groove forming substrate so that the V Since the optical fiber on the receiving side is selectively inserted into the groove to switch the optical connection,
As in the prior art, it is possible to omit an expensive optical fiber arranging member in which a plurality of V-grooves for arranging a plurality of optical fibers on the receiving side are arranged at an accurate arrangement pitch. Instead of the expensive optical fiber array member, the optical fiber mounting base has a simple structure in which the receiving side optical fiber is mounted, and the number of V-shaped grooves is much smaller than that of the optical fiber array member. By providing the V-groove forming substrate to configure the optical switch, the cost of the optical switch can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, as described above, the conventional optical fiber arranging member in which the plurality of V grooves are formed at the accurate arrangement pitch is omitted, and the receiving side is provided in each V groove of the optical fiber arranging member. It is not necessary to accurately arrange the optical fibers of the above so as not to be lifted up from the V groove, and the optical fibers of the receiving side can be easily arranged by arranging a plurality of optical fibers of the receiving side in parallel on the optical fiber mounting base. Since the fibers can be array-fixed, it is possible to save the labor such as the conventional array-fixing operation of the optical fibers on the receiving side, and the long time required for that can be eliminated. Therefore, the optical switch on the receiving side can be easily arrayed and fixed in a short time to form the optical switch, and the optical switch can be manufactured at a further lower cost.

Further, according to the present invention, as described above,
Even if the receiving side optical fibers are not arranged and fixed at an accurate arrangement pitch, the connection end face side is not fixed to the optical fiber mounting table, and the receiving side optical fiber connection end face side is the master optical fiber. By selectively inserting the V-shaped groove of the V-groove forming substrate on which the fiber is fixed, the connection end surface of the master optical fiber and the connection end surface of the receiving-side optical fiber can be made to face each other in the V-shaped groove. It is possible to provide an excellent optical switch in which the receiving side optical fiber and the master optical fiber can be reliably and switchably connected with low connection loss.

Further, the connection end face side of the master optical fiber and the receiving end optical fiber inserted into the V-shaped groove on the connection end face side of the master optical fiber are set to the V-shaped groove side of the V-groove forming substrate. According to the present invention, in which the common fixing member of the connecting optical fibers that is pressed and restrained together is provided, the common fixing member of the connecting optical fibers allows the light on the connection end face side of the master optical fiber and the receiving side light inserted into the V-shaped groove. Since the connection end face side of the fiber can be pressed against the V-shaped groove side together to be restrained, the master optical fiber and the receiving side optical fiber can be aligned with each other very accurately and can be connected more reliably. The connection loss enables the optical connection between the master optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber.

Further, the connection end surfaces of the plurality of receiving-side optical fibers to be mounted on the optical fiber mounting base are inserted into the optical fiber mounting base from the tip of the optical fiber mounting base to the inside or without being recessed. According to the present invention, which is supported in parallel without being fixed to the mounting table, the connection tip side of the receiving side optical fiber is supported on the optical fiber mounting table, and the supported receiving side optical fiber is used as the master optical fiber. Since the master optical fiber and the optical fiber on the receiving side can be connected by being sandwiched between the V-groove forming substrate and the optical fiber mounting base by inserting the master optical fiber into the V-shaped groove of the V-groove forming substrate in which Even without providing a fiber pressing member, the master optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber can be more accurately
Connection can be made securely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the optical switch of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of a second embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the optical switch according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional optical switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Optical fiber on receiving side 4 Master optical fiber 5, 5a V groove 9 Optical fiber mounting table 13 V groove forming substrate 14 Common fixing member 15, 16 Connection end face 25 Master moving mechanism

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Naoki Nakao 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Takashi Ebihara 3-19-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Phone Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber mounting table, and a plurality of receiving-side optical fibers mounted on the optical fiber mounting table and arranged in parallel with the connecting end face side projecting forward from the tip of the optical fiber mounting table. One or more V-shaped grooves are provided in parallel, and a V-groove forming substrate that is movable relative to the optical fiber is provided on the side facing the optical fiber on the receiving side, which is arranged so as to project from the optical fiber mounting table. And said V of said V groove forming substrate
A master optical fiber is inserted and fixed in at least one of the V-shaped grooves by immersing the master optical fiber in the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped groove with the connection end face side facing the receiving-side optical fiber. By moving integrally with the forming substrate and selectively inserting the receiving side optical fiber into the V-shaped groove on the connecting end face side of the master optical fiber, the connecting end face of the master optical fiber and the receiving side optical fiber. An optical switch that connects the receiving end optical fiber and the master optical fiber so as to be switchable so as to oppose the connection end face of the master optical fiber. 2. The connection end face side of the master optical fiber and the connection end face side of the receiving side optical fiber inserted into the V-shaped groove on the connection end face side of the master optical fiber are V-shaped of the V-groove forming substrate.
2. A common fixing member for connecting optical fibers, which is pressed and restrained together on the groove side, is provided.
An optical switch as described. 3. An optical fiber mounting base, and a plurality of receivers mounted on the optical fiber mounting base and arranged in parallel with each other, with the connection end face side being immersed inward from the tip of the optical fiber mounting base or without being immersed therein. Side optical fiber, and the connection end face side of the receiving side optical fiber is supported without being fixed to the optical fiber mounting base, while one or more V-shaped grooves are provided in parallel, and the optical fiber mounting base is provided. A V-groove-forming substrate, which is movable relative to the optical fiber, is disposed on the side facing the receiving-side optical fiber which is supported and arranged by the V-shaped grooves on the lower side. A master optical fiber is inserted and fixed in at least one of the V-shaped grooves of the V-groove forming substrate by immersing the master optical fiber in the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped groove with the connection end face side thereof facing the optical fiber of the receiving side. , The master optical fiber and the V-groove forming substrate The receiving end optical fiber is selectively inserted into the V-shaped groove on the connection end face side of the master optical fiber by moving integrally with the plate, so that the connection end face of the master optical fiber and the receiving end optical fiber are separated from each other. The connection end faces are opposed to each other, and the connection end face side of the optical fiber on the receiving side and the connection end face side of the master optical fiber are pressed against the optical fiber mounting table side by the V-shaped groove formation face of the V groove formation substrate. An optical switch for freely connecting the receiving side optical fiber and the master optical fiber.