JPS6347715A - Device for switching connection of optical fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To immediately execute switching operation with high responsibility by providing the titled device with an exciting positioning means for exciting a movable supporting body by an elastic member formed on a plunger to position the supporting body on the 1st and 2nd positions. CONSTITUTION:When power failure is generated, discharged current from an electrolytic capacitor 36 is impressed to solenoid coils 34, 35 to excite the coils 34, 35, the plunger 63 is moved in an allow Y2 direction and magnetically locked. The supporting body 33 is moved in an arrow X2 direction through a turning arm 68 in accordance with the movement of the plunger 63. A coil spring 65 is compressed at the final stage of movement of the plunger 63 and the supporting body 33 is excited in the arrow X2 direction by the spring force and locked with a rod press 73 so as to be positioned on the 2nd position. In the through mode state, the optical axis of a face plate 47 accurately coincides with the axes of respective optical fibers 50, 51 and the optical axis coincides with that of a turn back fiber 55.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connection switching device, and more particularly to an optical fiber connection switching device that can be applied to a terminal branching and connecting device in an optical network.

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 12, there is an optical network 4 in which a host computer 1 and a plurality of terminals 2-1 to 2-4 are connected by a loop-shaped optical cable 3.

Each terminal m2-1 to m2-4 has a branch connection device 5-1 to
It is connected to the optical cable 3 via 5-4. Information from the host computer 1 is converted into an optical signal and sent to the optical cable 3.
It is transmitted as shown by the arrow inside, and is transmitted to terminals 2-1 to 2-4.
taken from.

As shown in FIG. 13, the branch connection device 5-1 has an optical-to-electrical converter 6 and an electric-to-optical converter 7, both of which are connected to an electric wire 8.
It is connected with. This branch connection VCVITN 5-1 connects the converter 6 to an optical fiber connected to the output side of the host computer 1 among the optical fibers in the optical cable 3, that is, an upstream optical fiber that is on the upstream side in the flow direction of the optical signal. Another converter 7 is placed opposite the end 9a from which the optical signal of 9 is output.
is the end io of the downstream optical fiber 10 into which the optical signal is sent.
A, and is inserted and connected in the middle of the optical cable 3.

The terminal device 2-1 is electrically connected to the middle of the electric wire 8.

The optical signal flowing through the optical fiber 9 is converted into an electrical signal by the converter 6, passes through the electric wire 8 and the terminal 2-1, is converted into an optical signal again by the converter 7, and is sent into the optical fiber 10. . That is, the optical fibers 9.10 are connected via photoelectric conversion means. The optical signal is supplied to the terminal device 2-1 in the form of an electrical signal, and is extracted therefrom as necessary.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention If any one of the branch connection devices 5-1 to 5-4 is affected by a power outage, the optical-to-electrical conversion operation and the electric-to-optical conversion operation stop, and the flow of optical signals is interrupted. There is a problem in that the optical network 4 stops functioning at this branching/connecting device, and the entire optical network 4 stops functioning.

Therefore, in the event of a power outage, even though it is unavoidable that the terminals at the location where the power has been cut will become unusable, in order to prevent the entire optical network 4 from stopping its functions, it is necessary to connect the optical fibers 9 and 10 in the event of a power outage. Instead of the photoelectric conversion means, the connection may be made via an optical connection means.

Here, between the optical fibers 9 and 10, a photoelectric conversion means,
In order to switch the optical connection means, the photoelectric conversion means is positioned so that its optical axis coincides with the optical axis of the optical fiber 9.10, and the optical connection means is switched so that its optical axis coincides with the optical axis of the optical fiber 9.10. It is important to align the optical axis of the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connection switching device that can be applied to a terminal branching and connecting device in an optical network, which has been made in view of the above.

Means for Solving the Problems Accordingly, the present invention provides a pair of optical-to-electrical converter and electric-to-optical converter, in which a terminal device or the like is connected between the two.

and an optical connection means are fixed, and a plunger is engaged with the movable support, and the displacement of the plunger causes the variable support to be connected to an optical-electrical converter of one optical fiber. between a first position in which the electrical-to-optical converter faces the ends of another optical fiber, and a second position in which the optical connection means faces the ends of the one and another optical fibers; An optical fiber connection switching device is constituted by a solenoid coil to be moved and a biasing positioning means for biasing a movable support body by an elastic member provided on the plunger to position it at the first position and the second position. ',.

Ta.

Operation FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a schematic configuration of an optical fiber connection switching device 20 according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows the operating mode in which the terminal is connected to the optical network, and Figure 2 shows the through state in which the terminal is disconnected from the optical network and the optical fiber is connected by an optical connection means. The mode state (for example, the mode state at the time of a power outage or the state in which the terminal device 2-1 is not connected) is shown. In each figure, the same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to the constituent parts shown in FIG. 13.

The conversion grooves 7 form a pair and are fixed to the support body 22 together with the face plate 21. The support body 22 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X+ by the support body moving means 23.

x Moved in two directions.

In the operation mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the support body 22 is biased in the direction of arrow x1 by the spring 24, and is locked by the stopper 25 and positioned at the first position P1. light-
The electrical converter 6 faces the end 9a with its optical axis 6a aligned with the optical axis 9b of the upstream optical fiber 9, and the electrical-to-optical converter 7 has its optical axis 7a aligned with the optical axis 9b of the downstream optical fiber 10. 10
b and faces the end 10a.

When a power outage occurs, the drive circuit 28 moves the support body moving means 2
3, the support body 22 is moved in the x2 direction of the arrow. As shown in FIG. 2, the support body 22 is biased by the spring 26 in the two directions of the arrow, and is locked by the stopper 27 and positioned at the second position P2. A face plate 21 enters between the optical fibers 9 and 10 in place of the above-mentioned transducers 6 and 7, and its optical axis 21a is aligned with the optical axes 9b and 10b, and both ends thereof are connected to the ends 9a and 10a, respectively. opposite.

Example Next, each embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 3 to M5 show an optical fiber connection switching device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIGS. 3 to 6 show states in the operation mode, and FIGS. 7 and 11 to 8 show states in the through mode.

The device 30 is housed in a small case 31, with a main body 32 and a support 33. It has a unitized structure in which a pair of solenoid coils 34, 35° electrolytic capacitor 36, etc. are incorporated.

As shown in FIGS. 9(A) to 9(D), the support body 33 has arms 37 and 3 extending left and right at one end in the longitudinal direction.
8. It has three arms and 40 extending to the right at the other end.

A substrate 42 on which a photodiode 41 is mounted is fixed to the left side of the support 33, and a substrate 44 on which a light emitting diode 43 is mounted is fixed on the right side. The substrates 42 and 44 are fitted and positioned in the recesses 45 and 46 of the support body 33, respectively, and the substrates 42 and 44 are mounted with good workability and positioned with high accuracy, and the photodiode 41 and the light emitting diode 43 are aligned. It is precisely placed in the desired position. This pair of photodiode 41 and light emitting diode 43 constitutes a photoelectric connection means.

The above-mentioned substrates 42 and 44 have their tip surfaces 42a.

44a to the walls 45a and 46a of the recess 45 and 46 (wall 4
5a is not shown in the figure), X+,
Positioning is performed in two directions (as shown in FIG. 9(B)), and by bringing the side surface into contact with one of the side walls of the recess 45° 46, positioning in the left and right directions relative to the plane of the paper in FIG. 9(B) is achieved. is done. The substrates 42 and 44 are ceramic substrates, and each terminal to be patterned on its surface can be patterned at a height of 41 degrees using printing technology. Therefore, the photodiode 41 and the light emitting diode 43
The Au pattern on which the photodiode 41 and the light emitting diode 43 are mounted is patterned with high precision and a minimum area sufficient to mount each of the diodes 41 and 43, and the positioning of the photodiode 41 and the light emitting diode 43 on the substrate 42° 44 is relatively easy and accurate. You can make a donation. Therefore, photodiode 4
1 and the mounting error of the light emitting diode 43 is limited to the board 42.
This problem occurs when attaching the diodes 41.
43 can be positioned at a predetermined position with high precision, and the installation work can be made extremely easy. Note that each substrate 42, 44 is fixed to each recess 45, 46 by adhesive.

Further, a face plate 47 as an optical connection means shown in FIG. 10 is fitted and fixed in a through hole 48 on the support body 33. As shown in FIG. The face plate 47 has a structure in which a large number of optical fibers 49 are bundled in the same shape.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the upstream optical fiber 50 @50a is fixed to the left side of the main body 32. As shown in FIGS. 151a of the downstream optical bar 51 is located on the right side of the main body 32.
is fixed.

Optical fibers 50, 51 extend outside the case 31,
As shown in Figure 11, each end has a connector 52.5.
3 is a provision. Incidentally, FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the main parts of the device 30. The device 30 has a connector 50.5.
1, it is inserted into the middle of an optical cable 54 connected to a host computer.

Further, one end 55a of a turn pack fiber 55 for checking failures of the photodiode 41 and the light emitting diode 43 is attached to the left side of the main body 32, and the other end 55b is attached to the left side of the main body 32.
It is fixed to the right side of 2.

Returning to FIGS. 3 to 5 and 9, the main body 3
2 has a rod 5 coated with Teflon (trade name).
7.58 is horizontally mounted.

The support body 33 is arranged such that the holes 59.60 of the arms 37.39 fit into the rods 57, and the grooves 61.62 of the arms 38.40 fit into the rods 58, as indicated by the arrow X+.

It is supported slidably in the X2 direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the span of the supporting portion of the support 33 relative to the rods 57 and 58 is quite long.

That is, the upper end of the rod 57, 58 in FIG. It is supported near the side wall. In addition, the span of the support body 33 is configured to have the maximum dimension within a range that can maintain a predetermined movement of the support body 33 when switching to each mode. In other words, the support body 33 is configured to have the maximum length within a range in which the mode switching operation can be performed. In addition, this support 3
3 and each of the rods 57 and 58 are at the four corners of the support body 33. Therefore, even if a torsional force is applied to the support 33, the O-rads 5 and 58 will not be pried, and the support 33 will smoothly slide and hang.

Reference numerals 34 and 35 designate monostable solenoid coils, which are fixed facing each other on the substantially T-shaped main body 32. 63 is a plunger common to solenoid coils 34 and 35.

The support body 33 is driven by these two solenoid coils 34.
．． 35 as a driving source. Solenoid coil 3
4.35 are arranged to face each other, and each solenoid coil 34.35 drives one plunger 63, so the operation of the plunger 63, in other words, the support 33
can be moved stably. Bistable solenoid coils are also known as solenoid coils.
The bistable solenoid coil has a large shape and is difficult to handle, and the plunger is displaceable from side to side with respect to the main body. Therefore, when this is used in the device 30, the so-called put space becomes large and it is not practical. Furthermore, the solenoid coils 34 and 35 have good electrical responsiveness and are particularly suitable for instantaneous switching. A rod 64 is fixed to the center of the plunger 63. The rod 64 has
Coil springs 65 and 66 are provided with a slider 67 sandwiched between them.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a rotating arm, which is pivotally supported approximately at the center by a shaft 69, with a long hole in one arm fitting into the bottle 70 on the slider 67, and a long hole in the other arm fitting into the support body 33. It is fitted with the pin 71 of.

By moving the plunger 63 in the arrow Y+ and Y2 directions,
The support body 33 is moved through the rotation arm 68 by the arrows X+ and X2.
move in the direction. The solenoid coils 34,35 apply a stroke to the plunger 63 sufficient to move the support 33 by a stroke greater than the stroke allowed for it.
It is prescribed that it should be given to

Note that the solenoid coils 34 and 35 are connected in series with their winding directions being opposite to each other.

As a result, when the solenoid coil 34 pulls in the plunger 63, the solenoid coil 35 acts to push out the plunger 63, and when the solenoid coil 34 pushes out the plunger 63, the solenoid coil 35 pulls in the plunger 63.

In addition, a permanent magnet (
(not shown), and the plunger 63 is locked in the moved position.

In the operating mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the plunger 63 moves in the direction of arrow Y1 and is locked. The coil spring 66 is compressed compared to the coil spring 65, and the support body 33 is biased in the direction of arrow
The rod holder 72 is fixed to the rod holder 72 by screws, and is positioned at the first position Q+.

When a power outage occurs, a discharge current from the electrolytic capacitor 36 (C+) is transferred to the solenoid coil 34 by an electric circuit (not shown).
．． 35, the solenoid coils 34 and 35 are excited, and the plunger 63 moves in the direction of arrow Y2 and is magnetically locked. As the plunger 63 moves, the support body 33 moves in the direction of arrow X2 via the rotating arm 68. At the final stage of movement of the plunger 63, the coil spring 65 is compressed, and the spring force of the coil spring 65 urges the support body 33 in the direction of arrow and a second position. In this through mode state, the face plate 47
The optical axis 47a is the optical axis 50b of each optical fiber 50.51,
51b, and the optical axis 56 coincides with the optical axes 55c and 55d of the turnpack fiber 55.

Therefore, the optical signal from the optical fiber 50 passes through the inside of the face plate 47 and is sent out into the optical fiber 51, and when a power outage occurs, the optical signal passes through the branch connection device 5-1, and as shown in FIG. The light flows through the optical cable 3, and the optical network 4 continues to operate normally.

Furthermore, since the optical axis 56 coincides with the optical axes 55c and 55d, the optical signal from the light emitting diode 43 is transmitted through the optical fiber 55.
The photodiode 41 receives the photodiode normally, and the photodiode 41 and the light emitting diode 43 are checked for failure without error.

In addition, in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, 75 is a terminal board;
6 is the power terminal (switching), 77 is the grounding terminal (switching), 78
79 is an input terminal (switching) and a power supply terminal (transmission). 8
0 is another terminal board.

81 is a data output terminal, 82 is a ground terminal (transmission/reception), 83
84 is a power supply terminal (transmission/reception) and a data input terminal. The terminal *2-+ is connected by having its input terminal connected to the data output terminal 81 and its output terminal connected to the data input terminal 84.

Further, in FIG. 11, 85 is an amplifier, and 86 is a light emitting diode driving IC.

Furthermore, when an operation is performed to switch the mode to the through mode during the operating mode, current temporarily flows through the solenoid coils 34 and 35 in the direction of arrow I2, and the device 30 switches to the through mode as shown in FIG. Switch. If you switch the mode to the operating mode during the through mode, the solenoid coils 34 and 35 will
7J flow temporarily flows in the direction of arrow 1+, and the device δ30 switches to the operating mode shown in FIG.

Further, when the switching operation is performed after the power outage is restored, the motor 53 rotates and the device 30 is switched to the operating mode shown in FIG. 3.

Further, even when electricity is being supplied, by performing a predetermined operation, the motor 53 rotates and the device 30 is switched to the operating mode and the through mode.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the optical fiber connection switching device of the present invention connects one optical fiber through which an optical signal is transmitted and another optical fiber by converting the optical signal into an electrical signal and then converting it back into an optical signal. It is possible to switch between a converted connection and an optical connection via an optical connection means, and the optical axis of each of the photo-electrical converter and the electric-optical converter and the above The optical axis of the optical fiber can be brought into a state in which the optical axis accurately matches, or the optical axis of the optical connecting means and the optical axis of the optical fiber can be brought into a state in which the optical axis of the optical fiber is precisely matched, and the optical fibers can be stably connected after switching. Furthermore, since the switching is performed using a solenoid coil as a driving source, the switching operation has good responsiveness and the switching operation can be performed quickly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are block diagrams showing the operating mode and through mode state of the optical fiber connection switching device of the present invention, respectively, and FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 respectively show the optical fiber connection of the present invention A plan view showing an embodiment of the switching device by cutting out the case;
Front view, side view, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the spring biasing mechanism in Figure 3 taken out, Figure 7 is a plan view showing the main parts of Figure 3 and 9 in the through mode, Figure 8 is A diagram showing the spring biasing mechanism in FIG. 7 taken out; FIGS. 9(A), (B), and (C) are plan views of the support body, respectively;
Side view, front view, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the face plate, Figure 11 is the third
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the connection state between the support part and the terminal receptacle, FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an optical network, and FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of the terminal-like branch connection device in FIG. 12. 30... Optical fiber connection switching device δ, 32... Main body, 33... Support, 34.35... Solenoid coil, 36... Electrolytic capacitor, 41... Photodiode, 42.44 ... Substrate, 43... Light emitting diode, 47... Face plate, 50... Upstream optical fiber, 51... Downstream optical fiber, 55...
Turnpack fiber, 57.58...rod, 61
．． 6'2...Groove, 72.73...Rondo presser foot, 87
...Printed circuit board. Patent applicant: Hitachi, Ltd. Mitsumi Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 81!1 Figure 1T Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A movable support on which a pair of optical-to-electrical converters and electric-to-optical converters, between which a terminal device or the like is connected, and an optical connection means are fixed; and the movable support. the body has an engaged plunger, the displacement of the plunger causes the movable support to move the optical to electrical converter opposite the end of one optical fiber, and the electrical to electrical converter to the end of another optical fiber. a solenoid coil for moving between a first position opposite the ends of the optical fiber and a second position opposite the ends of the one and another optical fiber; An optical fiber connection switching device characterized by comprising a biasing positioning means for biasing the movable support body by a member and positioning the movable support body at the first position and the second position.