KR100275150B1 - Noncontact mode optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A noncontact mode optical switch is provided to connect low-loss optical signal and to facilitate array and attachment of a lens and to obtain convenient maintenance of the optical switch by connecting optical signal with certain bandwidth to a corresponding core mandrel as low-loss optical signal. CONSTITUTION: A noncontact mode optical switch includes a step motor(100), a carrier screw(110), a center port lens array(120), a center port fiber clamp(170), a coaxial supporter(150), and a lens array(130). The carrier screw is connected with an output axis of the step motor. The center port lens array, into which a micro lens is installed, axially and linearly moves via rotation direction of the carrier screw. Backward of the micro lens is installed the coaxial supporter. Forward of the lens array is installed another lens array in which a micro lens(134) inserted into a lens groove(132) and a lens cover(146) installed to a cover groove(144) are installed.

Description

Non-contact Optical Switch

The present invention relates to a non-contact optical switch for connecting an optical signal of a specific band as a low loss optical signal to the core line side.

Conventional optical switch uses an angle-dispersing prism (US Patent: 5642446, 4239331, 4303303, 4322126, 4790621, 5000534, 5436986) and a mirror (US Patent: 4484793, 5028104, Republic of Korea Patent Publication: 99- 29793) and mechanical light switches (US Pat. Nos .: 4239331, 4303303, 4322126).

Various principles and methods used in the above technology have already been applied to industrialization and have become commonplace.

The foregoing prior art methods are briefly described as follows.

First, in the prism (angle dispersion) method, as shown in FIG. 1, each prism 11 is mounted on several rotors 10, and each optical fiber 12 is connected to each prism 11. The micro lens 13 is located. It is simple in structure but has low refractive index and high insertion loss. It is not used much at present and most of them are applied to simple small size optical switch.

Secondly, in the method using a mirror, as shown in FIG. 2, two mirrors 21 and 22 are arranged at the ends of several optical fibers 20, and the optical path is changed using transmission and blocking of specific wavelength rays and reflection. As a method of connecting to another port, difficulties remain in solving the limitations of signals and overlapping signals.

Third, in the mechanical optical switch, as shown in FIG. 3, a microlens 32 connected to one optical fiber 31 is installed in the rotating body 30, and several other optical fibers 33 are provided in front of the lens 32. The different micro lenses 34 are connected to each other, and the arrangement and fixation method based on the coincidence of the optical axes using optical fibers or micro lenses is used for precise mechanical and optical configurations. It is for control. Recently, many mechanical optical switches have been applied.

The present invention has been made in view of the prior art as described above, and the object of the present invention is to provide a low loss optical signal connection, easy to arrange and attach a lens, and to provide a non-contact optical switch that is easy to manufacture and maintain an optical switch. have.

Specific means of the present invention for achieving the above object, the transfer screw 110 is connected to the output shaft of the step motor 100, the transfer screw 110 in the axial direction in accordance with the rotation direction of the transfer screw 110 The center port lens array 120 is moved linearly with the micro port 119 is inserted into the center port lens array 120 and the center port fiber stator 170 is installed at the rear thereof, It has a coaxial support 150 for sliding support of the center port lens array 120, the lens array 130 in front of the lens array 120 and at the same time the lens array 130 ) Is a micro-lens 134 inserted into the lens insertion hole 132 penetrated at a predetermined interval in the transverse direction, and a U-shaped cross section communicating with the lens insertion hole 132 to the upper portion of each lens insertion hole 132. Lens mounted on the lens protective cover insertion groove (144) A protective cover 146 is provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical switch using a conventional prism.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical switch using a conventional mirror.

3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional mechanical optical switch.

4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lens protective cover, the micro lens and the lens array according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a front view of the lens array applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: step motor 110: transfer screw

119,134: microlens 120: lens array

130: lens array 132: lens insertion hole

144: lens protective cover insertion groove 146: lens protective cover

170: center port fiber stator

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention;

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the transfer screw 110 is connected to the output shaft of the step motor 100, and the transfer screw 110 is linearly moved in the axial direction according to the rotation direction of the transfer screw 110. The center port lens array 120 is installed to be coupled in a spiral shape.

In addition, the center port lens array 120 is installed on the coaxial support 150 that supports the sliding movement of the center port lens array 120 in a linear movement by the transfer screw 110.

The lens array table 120 and the coaxial support 150 are coupled to each other as a dovetail (! 20A, 150A).

The center port lens array 120 is formed with a penetrating lens insertion hole 121 into which the microlens 119 is inserted, and is inserted into the lens insertion hole 121 at the upper portion of the lens insertion hole 121. A lens insertion hole 122 is formed in communication with the child, and the lens insertion hole 122 is equipped with a lens protective cover 124 for protecting the microlens 119 from an external impact. Reference)

Another lens array 130 is disposed in front of the lens array 120 and at the same time the lens array 130 is penetrated to the lens insertion hole 132 as shown in FIG. The lens protection cover 146 mounted to the lens protection cover insertion groove 144 of the U-shaped cross section communicating with the lens insertion hole 132 to the upper part of each lens insertion hole 132 and the attached micro lens 134 is provided. It is provided.

In the drawing, reference numeral 160 denotes a control board, and 170 denotes a center port fiber stator mounted at the rear of the lens array 120 to hold the core of the optical fiber on the microlens 119.

The operating state of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the state in which the lens array 120 is located in front of the other lens array 130, the lens array 120 is coaxial support 150 according to the driving rotational speed of the step motor 100. Will move straight from side to side.

The transfer screw 110 connected to the step motor 100 in a state where the lens 119 of the center port lens array 120 faces the fifth lens 134 from the left side of the other lens array 130. ) Rotates a predetermined amount in the Y direction, the lens array 120 is moved to the left while being supported by the coaxial support 150, on the contrary, if the feed screw 110 is rotated a predetermined amount in the X direction, the lens array 120 ) Is moved to the right while being supported by the coaxial support 150.

That is, according to the control signal value applied to the step motor 100, the microlens 121 sequentially or selectively matches the optical core with any one of the microlenses 134 of the lens array 130.

Therefore, the present invention is not directly affected by the refractive index as well as by the limitations of the reception optical core and the signal overlap, compared to the conventional method using the prism and the mirror.

As described above, according to the present invention, the mirror mounted on one lens array moves to the left and right, and the optical switch functions to select the position of the core wire while having a one-to-one correspondence with the lenses in the other lens array. Because of this, low loss optical signals can be connected.

In addition, the arrangement and attachment of the lens is relatively simple has the advantage of convenient manufacturing and maintenance of the optical switch.

Claims (1)

The transfer screw 110 is connected to the output shaft of the step motor 100, and the transfer screw 110 includes a center port lens array 120 that moves linearly in the axial direction according to the rotation direction of the transfer screw 110. However, the micro-port 119 is inserted into the center port lens array 120 and a center port fiber stator 170 is installed at the rear of the center port lens array 120, and the sliding port supports sliding of the center port lens array 120 when it is moved. A lens insertion hole having a coaxial support 150 and disposed in front of the lens array 120 and at the same time through the lens array 130 in a horizontal interval through the lens array 130 For lens protection mounted on the lens protection cover insertion groove 144 of the U-shaped cross section communicating with the lens insertion hole 132 to the top of each lens insertion hole 132 and the micro lens 134 inserted into the (132). Non-contact light, characterized in that it has a cover 146 switch.