WO2012112412A2

WO2012112412A2 - Fiber optic system with parabolic mirror collimator

Info

Publication number: WO2012112412A2
Application number: PCT/US2012/024804
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benny Gaber
Original assignee: Pinanotech (Piezo Nano-Technology) Ltd.; Klein, David
Priority date: 2011-02-14
Filing date: 2012-02-13
Publication date: 2012-08-23
Also published as: CN103547952A; WO2012112412A3

Abstract

A fiber optic system characterised by a transmitter including at least one fiber optic line which has a distal end located at a focal point of a parabolic reflector, wherein emitted light from the distal end of the at least one fiber optic line is reflected from the parabolic mirror as a collimated beam along an axis of symmetry of the parabolic mirror, and a receiver including at least one receiving fiber optic line which has a distal end located at a focal point of a receiving parabolic reflector, wherein the collimated beam is focused onto the distal end of the receiving fiber optic line which is located at the focal point of the receiving parabolic mirror.

Description

FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM WITH PARABOLIC MIRROR COLLIMATOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a remotely operated optical connection such as a patch panel terminal for fiber optics, ending with a parabolic mirror pigtail collimator interconnection from any member of an inline array of incoming fiber optics to any member from an output array of fiber optic lines by having the same line-of-sight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fiber optics distribution frames, patch panels and termination devices today are the last manual layer-one-connectivity products installed in the network. Prior art devices that utilize pigtail collimators need a two-dimensional directional head, such as up or down and left or right to align their line of sight to create the connection.

A one-dimensional switching system, rotational only, is described in PCT Patent Application PCT/US 2010/020827 to Benny Gaber, which utilizes a pigtail collimator.

Pigtail collimators for single or multi-fiber optic lines, utilizing a lens to collimate the emitted light from the end of the fiber, which is located at the focus of the lens, are widely in use for remote telecommunication between two optical lines.

The use of an optical lens for collimating has its drawbacks as the collimated light from the lens diverges with a divergence angle that reduces the amount of light received in the receiving pigtail collimator. Another drawback of using a lens is when multi-fibers are used per collimator. Each fiber may carry a different wave length that has a different angle of dispersion when leaving the end of the fiber; the single focal point of the lens is less suitable for more than one focal point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an optical connection (which may be remotely-operated) between any two endpoints of fiber optic lines to be connected with single or multi-fiber optic lines, for example, each ending with a pigtail collimator, single or multi-fiber. The connection is achieved if the light emitted from the end of a fiber optic line is collimated into a parallel, collimated beam, wherein the sending and receiving collimators have aligned lines of sight.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the end(s) of the fiber optic line(s) is(are) located at the focal point of a parabolic reflector. The emitted light from the end of a fiber optic line is reflected from the parabolic mirror as a collimated parallel beam along the parabola rotational axis (axis of symmetry). The same occurs at the receiving point where the emitted collimated parallel beam is focused onto the end of the receiving fiber optic line which is located at the focal point of the receiving parabolic mirror.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the collimated beam has a smaller dimension than the receiving size of the parabolic mirror to collect all the energy from the transmitted beam including the deviations from a parallel beam.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a remotely operated optical connection patch-panel is provided between two fiber optic lines. Each of the fiber optic lines ends with a parabolic mirror collimator (e.g., pigtail collimator), having single or multi-mode fibers. The two lines are opposite each other on the same level of rotation, with an allowed distance between them. Their lines of sight are aligned using only one degree of freedom of motion (rotation) by mounting the parabolic collimators on rotatable bases, which are accurately rotated by a motor (e.g., a piezomotor). The lines of sight of the collimators rotate in a single plane parallel to the base rotation plane, this rotation plane being the same for both interconnected collimators. The rotational movements are used to align their mutual lines of sight by iterations of rotary movements until a light signal transmitted from one line reaches the desired receiving level by a light detector on the received line.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a trimming motion is added to ensure the same line of sight for both sending and receiving fiber optic lines after the rotational movements have achieved the best results. The trimming motion corrects any misalignment in a plane perpendicular to the single plane parallel to the base rotation plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed technique will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified side-view illustration of a fiber optic system with a parabolic mirror collimator, showing the light beam path, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, this being the transmitter of the system.

Figs. 2-3 are simplified perspective and front-view illustrations, respectively, of an identical fiber optic system as Fig. 1 , but used as the receiver for receiving a collimated beam from the parabolic mirror collimator of the transmitter, in accordance with a non- limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a simplified side-view illustration of a fiber optic system with a parabolic mirror collimator, showing the light beam path, and having a fiber optic line in a ferrule that enters the parabolic mirror with its tip at the parabola focal point at a non- perpendicular angle with respect to the parabolic axis of symmetry, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are simplified perspective and front-view illustrations, respectively, of a fiber optic system with two parabolic mirror collimators, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 7-9 are simplified perspective, front-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a fiber optic system with an array of multiple parabolic mirror collimators, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 10 and 11 are simplified perspective and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a parabolic mirror with a light detector that non-intrusively monitors incoming light, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 12 and 13 are simplified perspective and front- view illustrations, respectively, of a fiber optic system with a parabolic mirror collimator and additional trimming motor, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a simplified, cutaway illustration of the trimming motor, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 15 and 16 are simplified perspective illustrations of eccentric and wave- spring supports, respectively, used in the trimming motor, in accordance with a non- limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to Figs. 1-3, which illustrate a fiber optic system with a parabolic mirror collimator, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

A fiber optic line 1 is mounted in a ferrule 2. A distal end of fiber optic line 1 is placed at focal point 4 of a parabolic mirror (reflector) 3. The light emitted from fiber optic line 1 disperses in a cone of light 5 until it impinges upon the parabolic surface of parabolic mirror 3 at an upper impinging point 6. The entire cone of light 5 is reflected from parabolic mirror 3 into a collimated beam 8 having a center line 7 which is perpendicular to a rotational mirror base 9 on which parabolic mirror 3 is rotatingly mounted. It is seen that the reflected or received collimated beam 8 is smaller than parabolic mirror 3. Fig. 1 illustrates the transmitter, which emits the collimated bean 8; Figs. 2-3 illustrate the same system used as the receiver to receive the collimated beam 8. The lines of sight of the two fiber optic lines (transmitter and receiver) are co-aligned by rotating the collimators on rotatable supports, that is, rotational mirror bases 9 (such as described in PCT Patent Application PCT/US 2010/020827 and/or Figs. 12-16 below). In other words, the collimated beam is directed by a one degree of freedom movement, in this case, rotational movement about rotational mirror base 9, whose rotary axis is perpendicular to a common plane in which the transmitter and receiver are rotating.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4. In this embodiment, ferrule 2 enters parabolic mirror 3 at an angle 17 which is not perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of parabolic mirror 3. Here again, the entire cone of light 15 is reflected from the parabolic mirror 3 into a collimated beam 18.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, double parabolic mirrors 23 are provided. Two fiber optic lines 21 and 22 have their distal ends 24 at the focal points of the parabolic mirrors 23. Two cones of light 25 are reflected from the parabolic mirrors 23 into collimated beams 28 which are perpendicular to a rotating base 29.

Reference is now made to Figs. 7-9. A plurality of parabolic mirrors 33 are provided (12 are shown but the invention is not limited to this number). A plurality of fiber optic lines 31 are mounted in ferules 32, which are angled at a non-perpendicular angel 36 with respect to the axes of symmetry 37 of the parabolic mirrors 33. Lines 31 have their distal ends 34 at the focal points of the parabolic mirrors 33. Cones of light 35 are reflected from the parabolic mirrors 33 into collimated beams 38 which are parallel to the axes of symmetry 37 of the parabolic mirrors 33.

Reference is now made to Figs. 10 and 11, which show a parabolic mirror 41 (or any of the parabolic mirrors of the other embodiments) has a light detector 42 that non- intrusively monitors the incoming light 43 (Fig. 11). In Fig. 11, a cabling channel 44 is provided for the light detector 42. Reference is now made to Figs. 12 and 13, which illustrate a fiber optic system with a parabolic mirror collimator and additional trimming motor, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

A parabolic mirror 50 is mounted on the rotating shaft 58. A fiber optic line 51 is mounted in a ferrule 52 that enters parabolic mirror 50. Fiber optic line 51 has its distal end at a focal point 54 of parabolic mirror 50, and emits a cone of light 55 which is reflected into a collimated beam 53.

Rotating shaft 58 is rotatingly mounted in a base 57 and supported by means of an upper self-aligned bearing 56 and lower bearing supports, which are described further below with reference to Fig. 14 ("upper" and "lower" in the sense of the drawings, without limitation to the invention). As seen in Fig. 13, self-aligned bearing 56 is pivoted at trim shaft point 59. There are at least two directions for trimming, that is, the directions in which rotating shaft 58 can move: rotation about its longitudinal axis of rotation, as indicated by arrow 60; and precession (wobble) about trim shaft point 59, as indicated by arrow 61.

Reference is now made to Figs. 14-16. The lower portion of rotating shaft 58 is supported in a motor stator 63 and a motor rotor 64, there being a wave spring 62 positioned above stator 63. The motor rotor 64 rotates rotating shaft 58 about its longitudinal axis in the direction of arrow 60. The lowest end of rotating shaft 58 is supported by a trimming bearing 66 which is mounted in an eccenter knob 65. The eccenter knob 65 is mounted on the trimming motor, which includes a motor trim stator 67 and a rotary rotor 68. The eccenter knob 65 has an eccenter hole 77, as seen in Fig. 15, in which the trimming bearing 66 is placed. Stator 67 is mounted on a support 75 which is mounted on a wave spring 69. Wave spring 69 is mounted on a lower base support 70. Wave spring defines upper and lower planes 71, as seen in Fig. 16.

The rotary rotor 68 rotates rotating shaft 58 in the trimming direction of arrow 61. The wobbling trimming movement in the trimming direction of arrow 61 is achieved by planar (translational motion in a plane) and rotational motion of trimming bearing 66 in eccenter hole 77 of eccenter knob 65. The upper and lower planes 71 of wave spring 69 tilt during this motion. The planar and rotational motions of trimming bearing 66 impart planar and rotational motion to the rotary stator 63, rotary rotor 64 and rotating shaft 58, on account of shaft 58 being supported in eccenter knob 65. The result is trimming about trim shaft point 59.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A fiber optic system characterised by:

a transmitter comprising at least one fiber optic line which has a distal end located at a focal point of a parabolic reflector mounted on a rotational mirror base, wherein emitted light from the distal end of said at least one fiber optic line is reflected from said parabolic mirror as a collimated beam along an axis of symmetry of said parabolic mirror, a rotary axis of said rotational mirror base being perpendicular to said collimated beam; and

a receiver comprising at least one receiving fiber optic line which has a distal end located at a focal point of a receiving parabolic reflector mounted on a rotational mirror base, wherein said collimated beam is focused onto the distal end of the receiving fiber optic line which is located at the focal point of the receiving parabolic mirror, wherein said collimated beam is directed by a one degree of freedom rotational movement of each of said transmitter and said receiver about its respective rotational mirror base.

2. The fiber optic system according to claim 1, wherein said collimated beam is smaller than said receiving parabolic mirror.

3. The fiber optic system according to claim 1, further comprising a remotely operated optical connection patch-panel between said transmitter and said receiver.

4. The fiber optic system according to claim 1 , further comprising a trimming device that imparts rotational and translational trimming motion to at least one of said transmitter and said receiver.

5. The fiber optic system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fiber optic line is mounted in a ferrule that enters said parabolic mirror.

6. The fiber optic system according to claim 5, wherein said ferrule enters said parabolic mirror at an angle which is not perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of said parabolic mirror.

7. The fiber optic system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fiber optic line comprises a plurality of fiber optic lines each operating with a corresponding parabolic mirror.

8. The fiber optic system according to claim 1, further comprising a light detector that non-intrusively monitors incoming light to said parabolic mirror.