WO2001050175A1 - Faseroptisches schaltelement - Google Patents
Faseroptisches schaltelement Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001050175A1 WO2001050175A1 PCT/EP2001/000007 EP0100007W WO0150175A1 WO 2001050175 A1 WO2001050175 A1 WO 2001050175A1 EP 0100007 W EP0100007 W EP 0100007W WO 0150175 A1 WO0150175 A1 WO 0150175A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- fiber
- stop
- switching
- movable
- switching element
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
- G02B6/3568—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details characterised by the actuating force
- G02B6/3574—Mechanical force, e.g. pressure variations
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3502—Optical coupling means having switching means involving direct waveguide displacement, e.g. cantilever type waveguide displacement involving waveguide bending, or displacing an interposed waveguide between stationary waveguides
- G02B6/3508—Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
- G02B6/3544—2D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a plane
- G02B6/3546—NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
- G02B6/3544—2D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a plane
- G02B6/3548—1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
- G02B6/355—1x2 switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of two possible outputs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
- G02B6/3582—Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
Definitions
- This invention relates to a fiber optic switch and a fiber optic switch component consisting of one or more fiber optic switches.
- the invention relates to a fiber optic Ix2 switching element which is contained one or more times in a fiber optic switch.
- a movable optical fiber is generally positioned by a switching body either in front of a first fixedly arranged or in front of a second fixedly arranged optical fiber.
- a fiber For the sake of simplicity, an optical fiber is referred to below as a fiber.
- a movable optical fiber is arranged within a coil spring and is positioned in front of a first fixed fiber by means of a V-shaped groove when the coil spring is relaxed.
- the movable optical fiber can be positioned from the rest position in front of the first fixed fiber in a V-shaped groove in front of a second fixed optical fiber.
- the fixed fibers do not necessarily abut one of the V-shaped grooves, but are only aligned with respect to them.
- WO88 / 02869 an optical switch is shown, in which a movable fiber is firmly connected to a switch body, through which it can be guided against one of two V-shaped stop surfaces, each of which has a fixed fiber attached to it.
- mechanical stops are provided which are arranged in such a way that the optical fiber clings to the respective V-shaped stop due to its inherent tension.
- EP 0 644 447 A1 discloses a mechanical optical switch in which a movable optical fiber is provided with a magnetic fiber sheath in order to move the movable optical fiber in front of a first or one to position the second fixed optical fiber.
- the movable optical fiber is guided against a respective stop surface on which the first and the second, respectively fixed optical fiber is applied or with respect to which the first or second fixed optical fiber is aligned, a stop used in each case having two positioning surfaces, i. H. two surfaces on which the permanently arranged fibers lie respectively or with respect to which they are aligned and against the. the movable optical fiber is guided in each case.
- optical switches described above require complex drives, collimation optics or precision mechanics to position the fibers, since the movable fiber is bent away from the point of contact with one of the fixed fibers to the stop and contacts it, so that the fiber does not have the desired bend undergoes further bending and would therefore no longer be correctly aligned with the respective fixed fiber. Furthermore, such switches are very expensive and / or large due to the comparatively complex coating with magnetizable material or the fixed mounting on comparatively complex mechanical actuators. Furthermore, grasping the fibers in ferrules also requires considerable space.
- the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a fiber-optic switching element with which a fiber-optic switch or a fiber-optic switch component consisting of a plurality of fiber-optic switches can be constructed, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
- a fiber optic switch or a fiber optic switch component according to the invention are described in independent claims 12 and 13. given.
- the movable fiber according to the invention is not bent towards the stop, that is, pulled against it, but pushed against the stop and pressed flat against it.
- This has the advantage that material properties of the fiber, such as. B. their bending stiffness no longer needs to be taken into account in design, since the adjustment of the movable fiber to the fiber itself and not - as in the described prior art - takes place on the switching body, which means that precise mechanical guidance of the switching body can be dispensed with, since this only acts as a driver. Even greater precision is achieved here, since the movement is stopped by the fiber itself striking the adjustment structure.
- Fig. La is a plan view of a first embodiment of a fiber optic switching element according to the invention.
- Fig. Lb is a sectional view of the first shown in Fig. La
- Embodiment according to the invention shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a fiber optic switching element according to the invention;
- F Fiigg .. 2 2bb is a sectional view of the second embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 2a;
- FIG. 4 shows a spatial representation of the individual parts of a further embodiment variant of the second embodiment according to the invention.
- Fig. 5 shows a housing for the switching element shown in Fig. 4;
- FIG. 6 shows the design of a bistable magnetic actuator which can be used to switch a fiber optic switching element according to the invention
- 7 shows a longitudinal section through a fiber-optic switching element according to the invention to illustrate the axial and lateral fastening of the optical fibers
- 8 shows a cross section through a fiber-optic switching element according to the invention to illustrate an advantageous lateral fastening of the fixedly arranged optical fibers
- 9 shows the possibility of arranging a plurality of fiber optic switching elements according to the invention to form a fiber optic switch according to the invention
- 10 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of a fiber optic switching element according to the invention
- FIG. 11 shows various sectional representations of the third embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 10.
- the signal emanating from a movable input fiber can be alternately switched between two permanently arranged output fibers, i. H. the movable input fiber can optionally be positioned in front of one of two fixed output fibers. Both the input fiber and the output fibers can be single mode or multimode fibers.
- the fiber optic switching element according to the invention can also be constructed for a reverse signal flow, in which one of two input signals, which are introduced through a respective fixed input fiber, is passed into a movable output fiber which can be optionally positioned in front of the latter.
- FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a first preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the movable input fiber 1 and the fixedly arranged output fibers 4, 6 are located in a common, approximately rectangular groove of a body 8, which is referred to below as the fiber groove, the input fiber 1 depending on the switching state one of the two output fibers 4, 6 faces.
- the described fixed arrangement of the output fibers only relates to their lateral direction, i. H. on the concerns of the respective adjustment surfaces.
- the signal transmission takes place via an end face coupling, with a gap between the fiber end faces which is determined by the axial fixation of the fibers.
- an index matching liquid generally fulfills several functions.
- back reflections on the fiber end faces of the opposing fibers are reduced, on the other hand the expansion of the beam coupled out of the input fiber 1 in the gap between the input fiber 1 and the corresponding output fiber 4, 6 is reduced.
- the movement of the fiber in the switch is lubricated by the liquid, which reduces the abrasion of the materials rubbing against one another, and the liquid prevents the stripped fibers from becoming brittle as a result of water retention.
- the back reflection is advantageously reduced by the beveling of the fiber end surfaces.
- the coupling attenuation is higher in this case than when using an index matching liquid.
- z. B. also a coupling of the fiber ends by direct contact by means of a spring mechanism, as z. B. is disclosed in the previously mentioned WO88 / 02869.
- the adjustment of the first output fiber 4 and the movable input fiber This 1 in front of the first fixed output fiber 4 takes place at a first stop 3 and the adjustment of the second fixed output fiber 6 and the movable input fiber 1 in front of the second fixed output fiber 6 takes place at a second stop 5.
- the first stop 3 and the second stop 5 are each by a side wall 3a,
- FIG. 1b shows a sectional illustration of the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1a along the line AB shown in FIG. 1a, wherein only the functional principle in FIGS. 2a and 2b, but not insignificant assemblies such as, for. B. the electromagnetic actuator shown in Fig. La are shown.
- the movable input fiber 1 located in the fiber groove, which abuts the second stop 5, which consists of the side wall 5a and the bottom region 5b of the fiber groove adjoining it.
- the fiber groove has a depth, that is to say a side wall height, which is below the fiber diameter but above half the fiber diameter.
- Lying on the body 8 is a slide 2c of the switch body 2, which has a groove aligned with the fiber groove, which is referred to below as the switch groove.
- the carriage 2c is movable in the transverse direction to the fiber groove. The one in the carriage 2c
- the depth of this switching groove formed in the slide 2c is selected so that the movable input fiber 1 does not abut its bottom.
- the width of the switching groove is selected so that the part of the movable input fiber 1 protruding from the fiber groove can easily be accommodated therein.
- the angle ⁇ can also be chosen such that a pressing force results on both stop surfaces 3a, 3b or 5a, 5b, wherein it is advantageously between 20 ° and 70 °.
- convex or concave lateral surfaces 2a, 2b can be selected.
- a cover 10 is placed on the body 8 and forms a cavity with the height h in which the carriage 2c can move transversely to the fiber groove.
- the carriage 2c has a height D.
- the movable input fiber 1 is adjusted on the fiber itself and not on the switching body 2, as a result of which greater precision is achieved.
- the movement of the carriage 2c in the transverse direction to the fiber groove is only inhibited by the fact that the movable fiber 1 rests on the first stop 3 or on the second stop 5, and thus also stops the carriage 2c pushing the movable fiber 1, which is not on the side walls of the through strikes the body 8 and the lid 10 formed cavity.
- the carriage 2c per se only needs to perform an imprecise movement, which means that precise mechanical guides for the carriage 2c can be dispensed with. This acts as a driver that pushes the movable fiber 1 against the respective stop and presses against it.
- the force acting on the movable fiber 1 occurs at 45 ° to the direction of movement, thereby simultaneously pressing the fiber onto a side wall 3a, 5a and on the floor 3b and 5b the fiber groove, that is to say against the complete adjustment structure.
- This force also acts in the stop position of the movable input fiber 1 such that it is simultaneously adjusted two-dimensionally by applying the one-dimensional force.
- the carriage 2c which moves the movable input fiber 1 mechanically, is not firmly connected to the input fiber 1, it is easy to assemble. Since the slide - as previously stated - only has to exert pressure on the fiber - it does not require high-precision guidance or precise external dimensions, but only a respective flat stop surface 2a, 2b. Is the carriage 2c z.
- the height of the switch body D can be smaller by an amount between 0 and t than the cavity height h without influencing the positioning of the movable input fiber 1 with a diameter of 2r.
- the slide of the switching body does not run on the surface of the body 8, but in a guide groove provided therein, which is arranged transversely to the fiber groove and cuts it ,
- the slide of the switch body has a switch groove shaped according to the first embodiment variant shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, which, however, is deeper, so that here also the movable input fiber 1 does not rest on the bottom of the switch groove.
- the slide is guided in the guide groove in order to push the fiber against a respective stop 3, 5 and to press it.
- this guide groove does not need to be manufactured with high precision due to the design of the slide as a driver.
- the guide groove should be made precisely to the extent that force is exerted on the movable input fiber 1 as far as possible over an entire stop surface.
- the guide groove should therefore allow the carriage to be oriented to the extent that its stop surfaces are not perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slide, so that a force can be transmitted from the entire stop surface to the movable input fiber 1.
- An advantageous "loose" movement of the carriage is promoted in particular by the electromagnetic actuation described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6.
- other designs of actuators for the slide are also possible, which enable the slide to be aligned within the guide groove.
- the switching body 2 consists not only of a carriage 2c with a switching groove which has the cross-sectional shape of a trapezoid, but of a carriage 2c with at least two runners 2d, 2e arranged in axially offset positions with respect to the movable fiber 1, wel - Before they are aligned perpendicular to the fiber groove and each have a flat stop surface 2a, 2b corresponding to one of the stop surfaces 2a, 2b of the carriage 2c of the first embodiment.
- the runners 2d, 2e can each be designed in accordance with the first or the second embodiment variant of the first embodiment of the invention, that is to say can be arranged either above the fiber groove formed in the body 8, the fiber groove here having a height below the fiber diameter of the movable fiber 1, or be guided in a respective guide groove, which is arranged in the body 8 transversely to the fiber groove located therein, but does not cut it, but only opens into it on a respective side.
- the carriage 2c of the switch body 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention is arranged such that it is always above the movable fiber 1, that is to say never touches it.
- FIG. 2a which shows a section along the line A "B" shown in FIG.
- the movable input fiber 1 by means of a second runner 2e with a stop surface 2b on the second stop 5 is positioned in front of the second fixed output fiber 6. Since the second runner 2e is laterally offset from a first runner 2d, the movable input fiber 1 is not pushed against an interruption in the side wall 5a of the second stop 5 and pressed against it, but against a continuous stop surface.
- the movable input fiber 1 can be positioned in front of the first fixedly arranged output fiber 4, the movable input fiber 1 also not preventing an interruption of the Side wall 3a of the first stop 3 is pushed and pressed against it, but against a continuous stop surface.
- FIG. 2b shows a sectional illustration of the second embodiment along the line A'B 'drawn in FIG. 2a corresponding to FIG. 1b for the first embodiment according to the invention. It can be spotted, that the second stop surface 2b of the second runner 2e presses the movable input fiber 1 against the continuous side wall 5a and the bottom region 5b of the fiber groove, which form the second stop 5. Correspondingly, there is no interruption in the side wall 3a of the first stop in the sectional plane that runs through the first runner 2d.
- the angle 45 ° is drawn on the first runner 2d by which the stop surfaces 2a and 2b are beveled relative to the side walls 5a and 3a of the fiber groove.
- the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention.
- the second embodiment according to the invention (with laterally offset runners) can also be constructed according to the first embodiment variant of the first embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.
- the embodiment variant of the second embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b like the second embodiment variant of the first embodiment according to the invention, can also be implemented for heights y> r (l + sin ⁇ ).
- the smaller the y ⁇ the smaller the precision requirements, whereby N can also be negative.
- the switching body 2 has three runners 2d, 2e arranged in one direction on the slide 2c, i.e. a total of 6 runners 2d, 2e, three of which are first runners 2d each have a flat first stop surface 2a corresponding to the first side wall of the slide 2c of the first embodiment according to the invention, and three second runners 2e each have a flat second stop surface 2b corresponding to the second side wall of the slide 2c of the first embodiment according to the invention.
- the respective stop surfaces 2a, 2b are each aligned such that they push the movable fiber 1 together and press flat against the corresponding first or second stop.
- FIG. 3 shows a first switching state in which the movable input fiber 1 is positioned in front of the first fixed output fiber 4, that is to say at the first stop 3.
- the upper part shows a top view and the lower part shows a sectional view along the line CD 'drawn in the upper part, the slide 2c of the switching body 2, which is indicated in the upper part by a broken line, not being shown, since only the operating principle should be described. It can be seen that the movable input fiber 1 for positioning in front of the first fixed output fiber 4 is pushed onto and pressed onto the first side wall 3a and the bottom 3b of the fiber groove.
- FIG. 3 shows a second switching state in which the movable input fiber 1 is arranged in front of the second fixed output fiber 6.
- the movable input fiber 1 is pushed onto and pressed against the second side wall 5a and the bottom 5b of the fiber groove, as shown in FIG. 2b for the first embodiment of the second embodiment according to the invention and in the lower right part of FIG. 3 3, which corresponds to the lower left part of FIG. 3 shows a section along the line CD drawn in the upper part.
- FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a body 8 and a switching body 2 adapted to it, which consists of a carriage 2c with 4 in each Direction acting skids 2d, 2e.
- the carriage 2c has a recess on its upper side opposite the runners 2d, 2e for receiving a permanent magnet.
- FIG. 4 also shows a clamping wedge 9 with which the fixedly arranged output fibers 4, 6 are held laterally in the fiber groove of the body 8, but are axially displaceable, as described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 ,
- two recesses are provided in the body 8, in which the clamping wedge 9 can be glued or fastened in another suitable manner.
- Fig. 5 shows a housing for the assemblies of the switching element shown in Fig. 4, which consists of a lower housing part 1 1 and a matching housing cover 12, in a spatial representation.
- the lower housing part 11 is designed in such a way that it can accommodate the body 8 and has grooves for fiber guidance, which are aligned with the fiber groove when the body 8 is inserted into the lower housing part 11. Furthermore, the lower housing part 11 has holes for making electrical contact with the electromagnets of the electromechanical actuator 7.
- the function of the housing cover 12 does not normally correspond to the cover 10 described above, which rests directly on the body 8 and which is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, it is also possible that the housing cover 12 takes over the function of the cover 10 with sufficient precision, which can be dispensed with in this case. Further functional features of the lower housing part 1 1 and housing cover 12
- FIG. 6 shows, in three figures, the design of the bistable magnetic actuator 7 already mentioned, which is used for switching the switching body 2 according to the invention.
- the bistable magnetic actuator is shown by way of example in FIG. 6 with a switching body 2 according to the first embodiment according to the invention.
- the upper figure shows the magnetic actuator in a second switching state, in which the movable input fiber 1 is arranged on the second stop 5 in front of the second fixedly arranged output fiber 6,
- the middle figure shows a movement of the carriage 2c in the first switching state, in which the movable input fiber 1 is firmly attached to the first stop before the first arranged output fiber 4 is positioned
- the lower figure shows the arrangement of the electromagnetic actuator with the moving carriage 2c in the first switching state.
- the figures each show only the slide 2c with the groove provided therein with the side surfaces 2a and 2b and the actuator 7 consisting of the magnets 7a, 7b and 7c and not the body 8 and the fibers 1, 4, 6, since these are a figure to illustrate the functional principle of the actuator 7 is.
- the electromagnetic actuator 7 consists of two electromagnets 7b, 7c, which consist of a coil core wound with a coil.
- the electromagnets 7b, 7c are each arranged in an extension of the direction of movement of the slide 2c, i. H. z. B. aligned with the guide groove according to the second embodiment of the first embodiment according to the invention.
- the coil core is made of a soft magnetic material.
- z. B. made of a nickel-iron alloy.
- the electromagnetic actuator 7 has a permanent magnet 7a arranged on or in the slide 2c, the poles of which are each aligned with one of the coil cores of the electromagnets 7b, 7c.
- the fixation i.e. H. the movable input fiber 1 is pressed against one of the stops 3, 5 in a respective rest position by the interaction of the permanent magnet 7a attached to the slide 2c with the respective coil core of the electromagnet 7b, 7c arranged closer to the respective stop.
- the coils of the two electromagnets 7b, 7c are activated in such a way that the coil by means of which the core of the switching body was held in its last rest position now repels it by a magnetic field which counteracts the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 7a while a magnetic field is generated by the other coil, which simultaneously attracts the permanent magnet 7a.
- the carriage 2c has reached its new switching position, the coil current can be switched off and the fixation is again effected by the magnetic interaction of the permanent magnet, but with the corresponding other coil core.
- FIG. 6 This switching principle described above is illustrated in FIG. 6.
- the upper illustration in FIG. 6 shows that the switching body 2 is pulled through the north pole of the permanent magnet 7a arranged on or in it in the direction of the coil core of a first electromagnet 7b, which leads the carriage 2c into the second switching state, and thereby a force is exerted. testifies by which the carriage 2c presses the movable input fiber 1 against the second stop 5 by means of the stop surface 2b.
- FIG. 6 shows the changeover from the second to the first switching state in that the first electromagnet 7b generates a north pole on its side facing the carriage 2c and repels the permanent magnet 7a arranged on the carriage 2c and thus the carriage 2c and a second electromagnet 7c arranged closer to the first stop also generates a north pole on its side facing the carriage 2c, whereby the south pole of the permanent magnet 7a arranged on the carriage 2c is attracted.
- This switchover from the second to the first switching state pushes the movable input fiber 1 away from the second stop 5 against the first stop 3 by means of the stop surface 2a.
- the coil current in both electromagnets 7b and 7c can be switched off and the carriage 2c is only activated by the magnetic interaction of the permanent magnet 7a with the coil core of the second electromagnet 7c via the movable input fiber at the first stop 3 held, as shown in the lower figure of FIG. 6, whereby a force is generated by which the carriage 2c presses the movable input fiber 1 against the first stop 3 by means of the stop surface 2a.
- the switch can also be driven by means of another actuator, for example by means of a piezoelectric actuator, a thermal actuator, e.g. B. a bimetal or memory metal actuator.
- the functional elements of the switch can advantageously be produced by injection molding or other mass-producing processes.
- the simplest processing with low price and the required precision is achieved with plastics.
- plastics show a strong, temperature-dependent linear expansion in the unreinforced state, which is different from that of the optical fibers.
- Reinforced plastics show this effect to a significantly reduced extent, however, the required surface qualities cannot be achieved here.
- If the entire switch is made of a material that has a strong temperature is subject to linear expansion due to the temperature, a slight change in temperature often causes the switch structure to contract or expand in such a way that the gap between the movable input fiber 1 and the corresponding fixed output fiber 4, 6 is reduced or enlarged, as a result of which the damping values achieved change significantly can. With usual temperature requirements, damping increases at high temperatures or collision of the fiber ends at low temperatures can result.
- FIG. 7 shows that both the fibers are not laterally and axially on the switch structure itself, i. H. the body 8, but attached to a lower housing part 1 1, which shows a lower temperature-related material expansion or a temperature-related material expansion corresponding to the optical fibers, such as. B. glass or ceramic for fiber optics or suitable polymers for polymer fibers, to which in turn the body 8 of the switching element is attached.
- This material can also be mass-produced very inexpensively.
- the low precision that can be achieved here is sufficient for the function as a housing.
- Fig. 7 shows that both the
- the bonding of the respective fibers to the lower housing part 1 1 ensures that the fibers are fixed in the axial direction.
- the output fibers 4, 6 are fixed by a clamping wedge 9 within the fiber groove located in the body 8 close to the coupling point.
- This wedge 9 is z. B. firmly glued to the body 8, as shown in Fig. 8, which shows a section along the line EF shown in Fig. 7, here the lower housing part 1 1 is not shown, because only the principle of operation of the wedge 9 is to be shown.
- FIG. 8 shows that the clamping wedge 9 positions the (laterally) output fibers 4, 6 fixedly arranged in the body 8 on a respective side wall 3a, 5a and the bottom 3b and 5b of the fiber groove located in the body 8, that is to say at the same stops which the input fiber is positioned in the appropriate switch position.
- the force effect by the clamping wedge 9 on the corresponding output fiber 4, 6 takes place in a similar manner as by the switching body 2 on the movable input fiber 1, the force here also being inclined at 45 ° to the surfaces 3 a, 5 forming a respective stop 3, 5 3b, 5a, 5b, standing contact surfaces are diverted from one direction to the bottom of the fiber groove in one direction against both surfaces forming the respective stop 3, 5.
- the clamping wedge 9 is in the recesses already mentioned in connection with FIG. 4, which position it, connected to the body 8, for. B. glued. Instead of gluing, however, B. a detachable connection by z. B. Snap-in technology can be realized.
- the clamping wedge 9 clamps the (laterally) fixedly arranged output fibers 4, 6 in such a way that they lie firmly against the respective stop 3, 5, but axially, ie. H. are displaceable in their longitudinal direction.
- the axial fixation of the fibers on the lower housing part 11 ensures that the fiber ends of (in the fiber groove of the body 8) movable input fiber 1 and (laterally in the fiber groove of the body 8) fixed output fibers 4, 6 with little Face gap.
- FIG. 9 shows that a plurality of switching elements can be placed next to one another or stacked in order to set up a multiple Ix2 switch, the movement of the respective switching bodies 2 being able to be carried out by a common actuator 7, which consists of a first electromagnet 7b, a second electromagnet 7c and a number corresponding to the number of switching bodies 2 on these permanent magnets 7a.
- one or more fiber-optic switches stacked one on top of the other can be built with several actuators.
- the fiber-optic switching elements or fiber-optic switches or fiber-optic switch components according to the invention described in this way can thus be produced by manufacturing their individual parts by injection molding or similar processes in large quantities at a low price, the assembly being automatable since the individual parts only have to be passively adjusted.
- the high accuracy required for the alignment of the movable fiber in front of the permanently arranged fibers is achieved by positioning them on common straight walls, and the temperature-related linear expansion of the injection-molded material is compensated for by the lateral fixation of the permanently arranged fibers to this material.
- the optional use of an index matching liquid reduces insertion loss and back reflection, which reduces loss of attenuation and also lubricates the movement, ie. H. abrasion at the locations relevant for positioning is reduced.
- the movable fiber is also protected against embrittlement. Furthermore, a chamfering of the fiber end faces is also possible in order to further reduce a back reflection.
- the fiber-optic switching elements according to the invention achieve a lateral and angular alignment accuracy in the micrometer and milliradiate range.
- at least the first and the second stop are advantageously manufactured using the LIGA or laser LIGA technology.
- the two stops 3, 5 each have two stop surfaces 3a, 5a and 3b, 5b which are (at least almost) perpendicular to one another.
- the two stop surfaces can also have a different angle to one another and / or the stops can have a different number of stop surfaces.
- both stops do not have to be of the same design. In such a Chen case only a corresponding stop surface 2a, 2b of the
- Switch body 2 are changed and / or arranged so that a uniform force distribution acts on the movable input fiber 1 so that it rests in such a defined position on the respective stop as the laterally fixed output fiber 4, 6.
- an Ix2 switching element has been described previously.
- the teaching according to the invention can of course also be applied to an nx2n switching element or nxm switching element if the fibers are appropriately arranged, the switching body 2 and the stops are configured.
- an arrangement according to the second embodiment of the first embodiment according to the invention or according to the second embodiment according to the invention is conceivable, in which a fiber ribbon consisting of a plurality of individual fibers lying next to one another and connected to one another lies flat against a side wall of a respective stop, wherein it vertically through its bottom or its design eg is positioned in the form of a surface adapted to the fiber ribbon.
- FIG. 10 and 1 1 show how.
- B. a 2x3 switching element can be realized in which, for. B. two movable input fibers can be positioned in front of three fixed output fibers.
- 10 shows schematically the position of the two movable input fibers F 1, F2 and the three fixed output fibers F3, F4 and F5 in the two switching states.
- the fiber groove in the body 8 is designed so that the three output fibers are abutted next to each other and the two outer fibers each abut one of the stops 3, 5.
- FIG. 11 along the lines GH, IK for the first switching state or G'H ', I'K' for the second switching state shown in FIG.
- the side walls of the fiber groove according to this embodiment are inclined by approximately 45 ° in such a way that the bottom of the fiber groove is wider than the opening opposite it.
- a slide 2c is provided as switching body 2, each with two runners 2d, 2e acting in one direction, which are offset in the longitudinal direction of the fibers are, since the side walls of the fiber groove have interruptions offset in the longitudinal direction of the fibers at the locations of the guide grooves running perpendicular to the fiber groove.
- the second movable input fiber F2 is pressed by the side walls 2a of the first runners 2d against the first movable input fiber Fl, which in turn is pressed against the first stop 3 and positioned thereon. Since the side wall 3a of the fiber groove and the stop surface 2a of the runner 2d are inclined, both movable input fibers are pressed and positioned against the bottom 3b of the fiber groove, as shown in the sectional view I-K in FIG. 11.
- the sectional view G-H shows that the two movable input fibers F 1, F 2 do not abut the stop surfaces 2 b of the second runners 2 e in the first switching state.
- the fixed output fiber F3 also bears against and is positioned against the first stop 3 and the second fixed output fiber F4 bears against the first fixed output fiber F3, the first movable input fiber F1 is in the first switching state before the first fixed output fiber F3 and the second movable input fiber F2 is positioned in front of the second fixed output fiber F4.
- the second movable input fiber F2 is pressed against the second stop 5 by the second stop surfaces 2b of the second runners 2e via the first movable input fiber F1, as shown in the sectional view G'-H ', to which the third stop is likewise fixed arranged output fiber F5 is applied, which in turn bears the second fixed output fiber F4.
- the sectional representation I'-K ' shows that the two movable input fibers F1, F2 do not abut the stop surfaces 2a of the first runners 2d in the second switching state.
- both movable input fibers F1, F2 are pressed against the bottom 5b of the fiber groove and on positioned this.
- the first movable input fiber F l is positioned in the second switching state in front of the second fixed output fiber F4 and the second movable input fiber F2 in front of the third fixed output fiber F5.
- the carriage is arranged above the movable input fibers F1, F2 in such a way that they cannot slide over one another during the movement.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Light Control Or Optical Switches (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU21732/01A AU2173201A (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-02 | Fiber-optic switching element |
JP2001550069A JP2003525462A (ja) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-02 | 光ファイバスイッチング素子 |
EP01900026A EP1244930A1 (de) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-02 | Faseroptisches schaltelement |
US10/169,526 US20040022484A1 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-02 | Fiber-optic switching element |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10000483A DE10000483C1 (de) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-01-07 | Faseroptisches Schaltelement |
DE10000483.0 | 2000-01-07 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001050175A1 true WO2001050175A1 (de) | 2001-07-12 |
Family
ID=7626956
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2001/000007 WO2001050175A1 (de) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-02 | Faseroptisches schaltelement |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20040022484A1 (de) |
EP (1) | EP1244930A1 (de) |
JP (1) | JP2003525462A (de) |
AU (1) | AU2173201A (de) |
DE (1) | DE10000483C1 (de) |
WO (1) | WO2001050175A1 (de) |
Families Citing this family (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP4094407B2 (ja) * | 2001-11-15 | 2008-06-04 | セイコーインスツル株式会社 | 光スイッチ |
JP2003315705A (ja) * | 2002-04-25 | 2003-11-06 | Seiko Instruments Inc | 光スイッチ |
US6828887B2 (en) * | 2002-05-10 | 2004-12-07 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank | Bistable microelectromechanical system based structures, systems and methods |
DE10228713B4 (de) * | 2002-06-27 | 2009-08-27 | Bruno Gruber | Wählvorrichtung |
DE10248867B4 (de) * | 2002-10-18 | 2009-01-22 | Daimler Ag | Optischer Schalter |
EP1620760A1 (de) * | 2003-04-30 | 2006-02-01 | Polatis Ltd | Optisches schalten mit einem glasfaserstecker |
US7598829B1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2009-10-06 | National Semiconductor Corporation | MEMS actuator and relay with vertical actuation |
US7644490B1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2010-01-12 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Method of forming a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device |
US7444042B1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2008-10-28 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Optical switch |
US7464459B1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2008-12-16 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Method of forming a MEMS actuator and relay with vertical actuation |
US7602267B1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2009-10-13 | National Semiconductor Corporation | MEMS actuator and relay with horizontal actuation |
US7902946B2 (en) * | 2008-07-11 | 2011-03-08 | National Semiconductor Corporation | MEMS relay with a flux path that is decoupled from an electrical path through the switch and a suspension structure that is independent of the core structure and a method of forming the same |
JP2010253156A (ja) * | 2009-04-28 | 2010-11-11 | Fujifilm Corp | 内視鏡システム、内視鏡、並びに内視鏡駆動方法 |
JP2010253155A (ja) * | 2009-04-28 | 2010-11-11 | Fujifilm Corp | 内視鏡システム、内視鏡、並びに内視鏡駆動方法 |
TWI547049B (zh) * | 2012-09-27 | 2016-08-21 | 鴻海精密工業股份有限公司 | 光纖固定裝置 |
CN106104337B (zh) | 2014-03-19 | 2019-06-21 | 3M创新有限公司 | 光学连接器 |
US9880358B2 (en) * | 2015-03-17 | 2018-01-30 | Nu Visions International, Inc. | Mechanical fiber switch |
US10078185B2 (en) * | 2016-03-17 | 2018-09-18 | Nu Visions International, Inc. | Mechanical fiber switch |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2088083A (en) * | 1980-11-24 | 1982-06-03 | Western Electric Co | Optical fiber switch |
GB2107481A (en) * | 1981-10-03 | 1983-04-27 | Barr & Stroud Ltd | Fibre optic switches |
WO1988002869A1 (en) * | 1986-10-07 | 1988-04-21 | Amp Incorporated | Optical switch |
WO1992016861A1 (de) * | 1991-03-18 | 1992-10-01 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Vorrichtung zur kopplung von lichtwellenleitern |
EP0644447A1 (de) * | 1993-09-17 | 1995-03-22 | Seiko Instruments Inc. | Mechanischer optischer Schalter |
EP0859260A2 (de) * | 1997-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Optischer Schalter, Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung und dieses verwendendes optisches Übertragungssystem |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2704984A1 (de) * | 1977-02-07 | 1978-08-10 | Siemens Ag | Schalter fuer lichtleitfasern |
JPS5567702A (en) * | 1978-11-17 | 1980-05-22 | Hitachi Ltd | Switch for optical fiber transmission line |
FR2602061B1 (fr) * | 1986-07-24 | 1989-07-28 | Cit Alcatel | Commutateur mecanique pour fibres optiques. |
DE4101043C3 (de) * | 1991-01-16 | 1995-10-12 | Ant Nachrichtentech | Optischer Schalter |
US6606429B1 (en) * | 1999-12-28 | 2003-08-12 | Neptec Optical Solutions, Inc. | Electromechanically controlled optical element |
-
2000
- 2000-01-07 DE DE10000483A patent/DE10000483C1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-01-02 US US10/169,526 patent/US20040022484A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-01-02 JP JP2001550069A patent/JP2003525462A/ja active Pending
- 2001-01-02 EP EP01900026A patent/EP1244930A1/de not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-01-02 WO PCT/EP2001/000007 patent/WO2001050175A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-01-02 AU AU21732/01A patent/AU2173201A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2088083A (en) * | 1980-11-24 | 1982-06-03 | Western Electric Co | Optical fiber switch |
GB2107481A (en) * | 1981-10-03 | 1983-04-27 | Barr & Stroud Ltd | Fibre optic switches |
WO1988002869A1 (en) * | 1986-10-07 | 1988-04-21 | Amp Incorporated | Optical switch |
WO1992016861A1 (de) * | 1991-03-18 | 1992-10-01 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Vorrichtung zur kopplung von lichtwellenleitern |
EP0644447A1 (de) * | 1993-09-17 | 1995-03-22 | Seiko Instruments Inc. | Mechanischer optischer Schalter |
EP0859260A2 (de) * | 1997-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Optischer Schalter, Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung und dieses verwendendes optisches Übertragungssystem |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2173201A (en) | 2001-07-16 |
JP2003525462A (ja) | 2003-08-26 |
US20040022484A1 (en) | 2004-02-05 |
DE10000483C1 (de) | 2001-08-23 |
EP1244930A1 (de) | 2002-10-02 |
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