JPS63234215A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent or decrease ringing and to shorten an effective change-over speed by providing a controller which does not merely brake a moving element but absorbs or relieves the shock when said element is braked at the time of a switching action. CONSTITUTION:A coil spring 20 is disposed between the side wall of a chassis 5 and the moving element 6. This spring 20 has an effect of decreasing the speed of the element 5 when said element collides against the side wall of the chassis 4. More specifically, the spring 20 is so set as to have a natural length when the element 6 is attracted by an electromagnet 10 to the position where the side parts thereof contact a yoke 9 (9a, 9b). The speed is, therefore, decreased by the spring 20 as a moving block 6 approaches the 1st position when the electromagnet is de-energized. The impact at the time of stoppage is thereby relieved. Braking in either direction is also possible by inserting a friction material between the element 6 and the chassis 4. Furthermore, the ringing is prevented or decreased by disposition of sheet-like braking materials on the surfaces of the yokes 9a, 9b in common use as a braking member, which surfaces contact the element 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical switches. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel optical switch configuration that takes a short time from a switching operation until a changed connection actually becomes effective, and is capable of substantially high-speed operation.

Conventional technology Optical switches are devices that switch optical paths and are widely used in various optical circuits. Depending on their operating principles, they are broadly classified into electrical types and mechanical types, with mechanical types depending on their mode of operation. The mechanical type is characterized by a small stroke of the optical path to be switched and extremely low connection loss and insertion loss, and has already been put into practical use.

Problems to be solved by the invention Typical optical switches are known as E., G., Lawson, and F. By Dee, Bailey (E, G, Ra
Fiber Optical Relationships for Bypassing Glue Peaks in Computer Networks
related forbypassing comp
network repeaters)
” [magazine “Optical Eng”]
ineering) J, Vol. 19, No. 778, 1980 (Vol. 19. No. 4. July/＾ugu
st1980), an optical switch was proposed for repeater bypass in an optical fiber communication system. This optical switch was originally constructed so that the mover and chassis came into contact when the mover moved, so the friction between the two inevitably increased the switching energy, and this sliding caused the members to Their lifespan was also limited due to wear and tear.

On the other hand, an optical switch whose movable part is essentially non-contact is the 1985 IEICE General Conference Nα2.
602, proposed by Yasunori Murakami and Satoru Iguchi. This is because the movable part is suspended from the chassis by magnetic force, which improves switching speed by eliminating mechanical friction.

However, in this method, since the moving speed of the movable part is high, the movable part receives a large impact from the restraining member, which causes large ringing in the switching waveform and lengthens the effective switching time.

That is, even if the friction of the movable parts in an optical switch is reduced and the operating speed of the mover is increased, ringing occurs, so the switching speed cannot be effectively improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent ringing from occurring while maintaining a high moving speed of a mover, and to realize an optical switch with a high effective switching speed.

Means for solving the problem, namely, according to the present invention, a chassis and a chassis, each end face being arranged on a common plane perpendicular to each optical axis, and the optical axes being parallel to each other at least at each end. a first optical fiber end group consisting of a plurality of optical fibers fixed to the end surface; and a guide means configured to move perpendicular to a plane including the end face and parallel to an arrangement plane of the optical fibers. a mover comprising a mover, and an end thereof is fixed to the mover at the same interval as the optical fibers so that each end face faces each of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber end group, and A plurality of sliders are fixed on the slider so as not to impede movement of the slider, and each end face is arranged on a common plane perpendicular to each optical axis, and the optical axes are parallel to each other at least at each end. A second optical fiber end group composed of optical fibers, a driving means for driving the movement of the mover, and all end surfaces of each optical fiber of the first and second optical fiber end groups are opposed to each other. and a second position where each optical fiber of the first optical fiber end group and the second optical fiber end group face each other in a combination different from the first position. and a pair of braking means, and the braking member is provided with a braking means, and the stopping operation when the mover moves from one position and stops at the other position is performed under control. An optical switch is provided.

The braking means may have various configurations.

For example, if electrical control is performed, the driving means of the moving element can be used simultaneously as a braking means. That is,
If the drive means is, for example, a linear motor rather than a simple solenoid, the drive means can also be used as a braking means by precisely controlling the drive current of the drive solenoid. However, in reality, it is difficult to control minute movements such as switching optical fibers with a simple solenoid, so for example, precision piezoelectric linear motors, which have been put into practical use in various fields in recent years, are used. can do. This type of linear motor can control precise motion on the μm order by utilizing the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric elements by supplying voltage according to a predetermined cycle to an actuator configured by combining a plurality of piezoelectric elements. However, this linear motor is disadvantageous in terms of cost because the configuration of the drive power source is complicated.

Further, more general mechanical braking means can be broadly classified into those using elastic members, those using friction members, those using vibration damping members, etc.

In the case of using an elastic member, the elastic member is arranged between any member fixed to the chassis and the mover, and the elastic member is configured to be compressed or expanded according to the movement of the mover. By doing so, a braking means is formed. That is, the elastic member reduces the moving speed of the moving element as it approaches the stop position, making it possible to minimize the impact when it collides with the restraining member.

In addition, in the case of using a friction member, it is considered to be similar to the prior art described above, but unlike the friction that inevitably occurs between the guide members or between the chassis and the slider, the newly added appropriate friction By using a member having a constant coefficient, it is possible to provide the necessary and sufficient friction between the slider and the chassis. Therefore, by configuring the friction member so that precise control is possible and, for example, the friction member can be easily replaced, the service life of the friction member can be made semi-permanent.

Further, as a simpler means, it is possible to use a vibration damping member. Vibration damping members are materials with viscoelasticity or delayed elasticity that have been developed in recent years in the fields of medical instruments and acoustic materials, and while they easily deform in response to applied stress, they also have extremely slow repulsive force. It shows. By arranging such a member, for example, between the movable element and the restraining means, it is possible to absorb the impact when the movable element collides with the restraining means. Examples of such materials include products such as Sorbothane (trade name) and Memory Foam (trade name 7, sold in Japan by Nippon Petrochemical Co., Ltd.). Further, unvulcanized butyl rubber or the like can also be used.

Function The main feature of the optical switch according to the present invention is that it is provided with a braking means that does not simply stop the mover during the switching operation, but absorbs or alleviates the impact when the mover is stopped. Therefore, in conventional optical switches, the mover, which is configured to move easily for high-speed operation, undergoes long ringing due to repulsion or impact when stopped, but the waste is wasted due to ringing. This effectively reduces the switching time.

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but what is shown below is only one example of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention in any way.

Several optical switches with the same structure were fabricated, a braking member was attached to them, and the switching characteristics were measured.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of an optical switch having the same structure as a conventional optical switch, and also schematically showing the common structure of the optical switches used in the embodiments described later. Note that the chassis and cover are partially removed in the illustration so that the structure of each member can be seen.

This optical switch 1 is configured to switch connections between optical fibers 2a and 2b and optical fibers 3a and 3b, and normally optical fibers 2a and 3a and 2b and 3b are connected.

Optical fibers 2a and 2b are fixed in parallel on chassis 4 via spacer 5. On the other hand, optical fiber 3
a and 3b are fixed in parallel at the same interval as the optical fibers 2a and 2b on a mover 6 that is movable in the arrangement plane of each optical fiber in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber. .

The mover 6 includes guided parts 6a and 6b that protrude in the direction of movement thereof, and the guide hole 5a provided in the chassis 5.
and 5b define the direction of movement. Furthermore, the slider 6 is provided with leaf springs 7a and 7b on its side surfaces, and by sandwiching the side surfaces of the spacer 5, the position of the slider in a normal state (hereinafter referred to as 1 position), and at the same time, the mover 6 is configured to be movable during switching.

Furthermore, a pair of magnetic pieces 8a and 8b, such as iron plates, are attached to one side of the mover 6.

A yoke 9a facing the magnetic pieces 3a and 3b.
, 9b is provided on the side of the mover 6. This electromagnet 10 is driven via lead wires 10a110b.

That is, when this electromagnet IO is driven, the magnetic pieces 3a and 3b on the sides of the moving element 6 are attracted to the yoke 9as9b and move in the direction of arrow A in the figure. As the mover 6 moves, the optical fibers 3a and 3b also move, and the end of the optical fiber becomes the second one where the optical fiber 2a and the optical fiber 3b are connected.
Move to position.

Note that as a means for defining the second position, a stopping member may be provided that comes into contact with the mover 6 when it is in the second position, but in the optical switch shown in FIG. It also serves as

Thus, the optical switch configured in this way connects each optical fiber in two ways depending on whether the electromagnet 10 is driven or not.
It can be switched to a-2b, 3a-3b/2a-3b.

The chassis 4 was made of aluminum, and the spacers 5 and 6, which were also made of aluminum, were connected by 0.2 mm leaf springs 7a and 7b. Also, this spacer 5 is attached to the chassis 4.
The mover 6 is fixed with screws to the plate spring, and the mover 6 is not in contact with any member other than the leaf spring.

Different braking means were attached to each of the optical switches produced in this way, and the switching characteristics were measured. In addition, in the following description, the same reference number is attached to the same member.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1(a) shows the configuration of an optical switch using an elastic member as a braking member. That is, a coil spring 20 is disposed between the side wall of the chassis 5 and the mover 6. This coil spring 20 has the effect of reducing the speed when the moving element 5 collides with the side wall of the chassis 5. That is, the mover 6
is attracted by the electromagnet 10, and its side part is attached to the yoke 9
The coil spring 20 is set to have its natural length when it is in the position where it is in contact with the coil spring 20. Therefore, when the electromagnet 10 is turned off and the moving block 6 returns to the first position, the moving element 6 moves at a certain speed, but as it approaches the first position, the speed is reduced by the coil spring 20, and when it stops, the moving block 6 moves at a certain speed. to reduce the impact of The ringing of the switching waveform is thus greatly reduced.

Example 2 This is a configuration example in which a friction material is used as a braking member. The structure is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in which an elastic sponge-like friction material 21 having a surface with an appropriate friction coefficient is inserted between the mover 6 and the chassis 4.

This friction material 21 is fixed to the chassis 4 side, and its upper surface is in contact with the slider 6. At this time, the friction material 21 is
It is slightly pressed down by its own elasticity.

In other words, the kinetic energy of the mover during ringing is extremely small compared to the kinetic energy of the mover during switching, so if enough frictional force is applied to absorb the kinetic energy during ringing, ringing can be prevented. It can be effectively resolved.

In the first embodiment, the effect of reducing the ringing of the switching waveform was effective only when the moving block 12 moved from the stopper 8 to the stopper 10, but in this embodiment (hawk,
Provides braking action in either direction of movement.

Figures 3(a) and 3) show signal waveforms when switching is performed using an optical switch;
) is an optical switch equipped with a braking means using a friction material shown as the second embodiment, and FIG. It shows the switching waveform when moving to the 2nd position.

In Fig. 2, the moving time of the mover 6 is 2.5 to 3 m.
5ec, and the change in level after that is ringing. As seen in the figure, the ringing is reduced by providing the damping means, and the switching time is reduced by lQm.
sec to 5.2m5ec.

Note that the switching time refers to a state in which 90% or more of the transmitted optical signal is propagated to a different transmission path.Embodiment 3 This is a configuration example in which a damping material is used as a damping member. ,
FIG. 1(C) shows the structure, in which a thin plate-shaped damping material 22 is arranged on the surfaces of the yokes 9a and 9b, which also serve as restraining members, that come into contact with the mover 6.

This damping material 22 absorbs the impact generated between the movable element 6 and the yokes 9a and 9b when they collide, and effectively prevents ringing.

Although this method is extremely simple, it has been highly effective.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, in the conventional optical switch, in order to achieve high-speed switching operation, only the movement of the mover was increased in speed. On the other hand, the optical switch according to the present invention prevents or reduces ringing and shortens the effective switching speed by precisely controlling the mover stop operation.

Moreover, the optical switch according to the invention with such advantageous properties can be realized in a relatively simple manner, as also shown in the embodiments, and represents a significant advance in this field.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing the structure of a first embodiment of the present invention, which is constructed by adding a coil spring as a braking member to the optical switch of FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention in which a friction material is added as a braking member to the optical switch in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention in which an allocation material is added as a member, and FIG. 2 shows the basic configuration of an optical switch used in constructing the embodiment of the present invention. It also shows the basic configuration of a conventional optical switch, and Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show switching by the optical switch shown in Figures 2 and 1, etc., respectively. This is a measurement of the change in the optical signal during operation, and Figure 3 (5) shows the first
The operation of the optical switch shown in the figure, that is, the conventional optical switch, is shown in FIG. 1 (C), that is, the operation of the optical switch according to the present invention. (Main reference numbers) 1... Optical switch, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b...-optical fiber, 4... Chassis, 5... Spacer, 6... Mover, 7a, 7b... Leaf spring, 8a, 8b...Small magnetic material piece, 9a, 9b...Yoke, 10...Electromagnet, 20...Coil spring, 21...Friction material, 22...Vibration damping material Patent applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., agent/patent attorney Arai stop sound Figure 1 (a) and 1 = 4-switch 4 2a, 2a, 31:+, 31:+
,,,,,optical fiber 4...shi Vshi 5.
...Spacer 6 ・Mover 7a, 7t)...
...Plate spring 1 [] (b) +1], optical switch 2a, 2a, 3t), 3b...
・Optical fiber 4 ・SiVsi 5...
Spacer 6, mover 7a, 71) --- Leaf spring aa, 5b-4e Body size % 9a, 9b --5'7
10 Electromagnet 21- Friction material Figure 1 (C) 161.1. Optical switch 2a, 2a, 3b, 3t
) −=,, optical fiber 4...striped
5-...Spacer 6911. Mover 7a/7b"
°°゛°Plate spring sa, ab... Small piece of oak box 9a
, 9t:・°・Yoke 10・・・・Electromagnet 22・
'fl@ Material Fig. 2 1 ° Light switch + 2a, 2a, 3b, 3j)
--% V7. (ha4 chassis 5.
・・・Subabe 6・-Mover 7a, 7[)...
- Leaf springs 8a, 8b [JP body th% 9a, 9b
Yoke 10--Electromagnet Figure 3 m (2msec/div) Procedural amendment (
(Format) 26 Title of the invention Optical switch 3, Relationship to the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 5-15 Kitahama, Higashi-ku, Osaka Name (21)
3) Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. 4, Agent 6, Subject of amendment: “Brief explanation of drawings” column 7 of the specification, Contents of amendment

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A chassis, and a plurality of optical fibers fixed to the chassis such that each end face is arranged on a common plane perpendicular to each optical axis and the optical axes are parallel to each other at least at each end. a mover comprising a guide means configured to move perpendicular to a plane including the first optical fiber end group and the end face and parallel to the arrangement plane of the optical fibers; and the first optical fiber end The end portions are fixed to the mover at the same intervals as the optical fibers so that each end surface faces each of the optical fibers of the group, and each end surface is in a common plane perpendicular to each optical axis. a second optical fiber end portion comprised of a plurality of optical fibers arranged above and fixed on the mover so as not to impede movement of the mover such that the optical axes are parallel at least at each end; a drive means for driving the movement of the mover; a first position where all end faces of each optical fiber of the first and second optical fiber end groups face each other; and at least the first a pair of restraining means for defining the position of the mover at a second position where each of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber end group and the second optical path fiber end group face each other in different combinations, and the restraining member An optical switch comprising a braking means for controlling the stopping operation when the movable element moves from one position and stops at the other position. (2) The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the driving means is mainly composed of a magnetic piece attached to the moving element and an electromagnet that attracts the magnetic piece as necessary.
The optical switch described in section. (3) The optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the braking means is an electromagnetic brake whose actuator is an electromagnet provided in the driving means. (4) The braking means is arranged between one of the members fixed to the chassis and the movable member constituting the optical switch so as to be fixed to one and in contact with the other. The optical switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical switch is a friction material made of aluminum. (5) The braking means is arranged between any member fixed to the chassis among the members constituting the optical switch and the movable element, and has elasticity in the moving direction of the movable element. The optical switch according to claim 1 or 2, which is a member. (6) A patent characterized in that the damping means is a vibration damping member having viscoelasticity or delayed elasticity and installed on at least one of the contact surfaces between the damping means and the second optical fiber end group. An optical switch according to claim 1 or 2.