JP3153500B2 - How to reset the optical switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reset method in an optical switch for switching a communication path of optical communication using an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among switches for switching a communication path of optical communication using an optical cable, an optical fiber moving switching type optical switch is used for low-speed and low-loss switching operation. As such an optical switch of the movement switching system, the one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-13090 is known. In the optical switch described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-13090, the distal end of the second optical fiber is fixed to the movable head of the movable support mechanism, and the distal end of the second optical fiber is fixed to the second fiber fixing groove by the movable head. Then, the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are optically connected.

[0003]

In the process of transmitting the driving force of the motor for driving the movable parts such as the movable support mechanism and the movable head, dust is likely to be generated at parts such as ball screws and gears. If the dust is generated, the generated dust or the like enters between the end face of the first optical fiber and the end face of the second optical fiber to be optically connected, and increases transmission loss. There was a problem that the property was lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical switch using a coupling force by magnetic force to prevent dust generation, and to reset an optical switch capable of easily and surely correcting a magnetic coupling position of a mover for moving an optical fiber. The aim is to provide a method.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of resetting an optical switch, in which a tip of a first optical fiber fixed and juxtaposed to a plurality of optical fiber arrangement grooves is moved in an arrangement direction of the optical fiber arrangement grooves. In an optical switch for optically connecting a tip of a second optical fiber fixed to a movable element to a tip of a second optical fiber in a sealed container, a first magnetic coupling part is formed on a bottom surface of the movable element, and the first magnetic coupling part is provided outside the sealed container. And a second magnetic coupling unit that magnetically couples with the first magnetic coupling unit so that the movable element is moved in the sealed container by a magnetic force between the first magnetic coupling unit and the second magnetic coupling unit. When the magnetic coupling position correction is performed, the movement of the movable element is restricted by moving the second magnetic coupling section so that the movable element comes into contact with an internal stopper provided at the end of the movable range of the movable element. Moving the second magnetic coupling part further It is a symptom.

[0006] In order to prevent the generation of dust in the optical switch, the inventors dispose a moving element for moving the second optical fiber in a sealed container, and dispose the moving element with a magnetic force from outside the sealed container. We have newly researched and developed an optical switch that is driven via a switch. In such an optical switch, since the moving element inside the sealed container is driven by magnetic force, the restriction by the magnetic force is released when an impact is applied, and the position of the moving element is shifted from the normal position. It is feared that it will shift. In consideration of such a situation, an optical switch using magnetic coupling must be provided with some position correction function.

The present invention relates to a resetting method for performing the above-described position correction. According to the resetting method for an optical switch according to the present invention, a movable element housed in a sealed container is moved by a magnetic coupling force. In the optical switch, the movement of the movable element is restricted by bringing the movable element into contact with an internal stopper provided at the end of the movable range. The second magnetic coupling portion is aligned. That is, the position of the mover to be magnetically coupled to the second magnetic coupling unit is corrected to a normal position (magnetic coupling position correction). Here, it is not necessary to open the sealed container at the time of correcting the magnetic coupling position, and the movable element can be easily corrected to the normal position with respect to the second magnetic coupling portion only by moving the second magnetic coupling portion. . As a result, it is possible to preferably use an optical switch having good transmission characteristics by preventing dust generation.

Here, to apply a magnetic force between the first magnetic coupling portion and the second magnetic coupling portion, (1) when both the first and second magnetic coupling portions are magnets, (2) When the first magnetic coupling unit is a magnetic material and the second magnetic coupling unit is a magnet, (3) the first magnetic coupling unit may be a magnet and the second magnetic coupling unit may be a magnetic material. As described above, according to the above-described (1) to (3), by driving the second magnetic coupling unit,
The movable element having the first magnetic force coupling portion can be easily and reliably moved by the magnetic force. Here, the magnets include all types of magnets such as permanent magnets and electromagnets.
In addition, the magnetic material mentioned herein refers to a material having a property of being attracted to a magnet such as an iron / ferrite-based, martensite-based, or precipitation-hardened stainless steel.

An internal stopper is provided on each of the first and second sides of both ends of the movable range of the movable element, and an external stopper is provided on each of the first and second sides of both ends of the movable range of the second magnetic coupling portion. The movable distance of the movable element is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance of the second magnetic coupling part, and the movable element is brought into contact with the internal stopper on the second side and the second magnetic coupling part is brought into contact with the external stopper on the second side. At this time, in a state where the inner stopper on the second side and the outer stopper on the second side are arranged such that the position of the mover with respect to the second magnetic coupling part is the normal position, the second magnetic coupling part is moved to the first side. After performing the preliminary adjustment of the magnetic force coupling position by contacting the external stopper, the magnetic force coupling position correction is performed by moving the second magnetic force coupling portion to the second side and bringing the moving member into contact with the internal stopper on the second side. After restricting the movement of the slider, The magnetic coupling portion is further moved to the second side, it is preferable to abut the second magnetic coupling portion to the second side of the outer stopper.

By doing so, it is not necessary to provide sensors for directly detecting the position of the movable element and the second magnetic coupling portion inside and outside the sealed container, and the magnetic coupling position of the movable element can be corrected with a simple structure. It can be carried out. In addition, when performing the magnetic coupling position correction, the magnetic coupling position correction is performed by a simple operation of moving the second magnetic coupling unit to the first side of the movable range and then to the full second side. It can be performed easily and reliably.

Here, in a state where an internal position sensor for detecting the position of the moving element is disposed inside the sealed container, the position of the moving element is confirmed by the internal position sensor after the magnetic force coupling position of the moving element is corrected. It is preferable that the position of the moving element after the magnetic force coupling position correction can be directly detected, so that the reliability of the optical switch can be improved.

An internal stopper is provided on each of the first and second sides of both ends of the movable range of the movable member, and an external stopper is provided on at least a first side of both movable ranges of the second magnetic coupling portion. An external position sensor that sets the movable distance to be equal to or less than the movable distance of the second magnetic coupling part and detects the second magnetic coupling part that is in a normal position with respect to the movable element that is in contact with the second-side internal stopper, In the state where the second magnetic force coupling portion is disposed at the second end of the movable range of the magnetic force coupling portion, the magnetic force coupling position is corrected after the second magnetic force coupling portion is brought into contact with the first side external stopper to perform the magnetic force coupling position preliminary adjustment. Moves the second magnetic coupling part to the second side, and controls the movement of the movable element by bringing the movable element into contact with the internal stopper on the second side, and then further moves the second magnetic coupling part to the second side. And connect the second magnetic coupling part with an external position sensor. When the out has, it is preferable to stop the movement of the second magnetic coupling part.

[0013] With this configuration, the second movable member which is in the normal position with respect to the movable member abutting on the internal stopper on the second side is provided.
By attaching the external position sensor so as to detect the magnetic coupling portion, the magnetic coupling position can be easily and accurately corrected. Generally, in order to prevent Fresnel reflection at the end face of the optical fiber, the sealed container is filled with an oil-like refractive index matching material having a refractive index equal to the refractive index of the optical fiber. By doing so, there is no need to provide a position sensor for detecting the position of the moving element inside the sealed container filled with the refractive index matching material, so that a seal for preventing leakage of the oil-like refractive index matching material is provided. It is not necessary to adopt a structure or the like, and the structure of the optical switch can be simplified.

Further, internal stoppers are provided on the first side and the second side at both ends of the movable range of the movable element, respectively, so that the movable distance of the movable element is less than the movable distance of the second magnetic coupling portion, and the position of the movable element is reduced. In a state where an internal position sensor for detecting and an external position sensor for detecting a second magnetic force coupling portion at a regular position with respect to the moving element detected by the internal position sensor are provided, the second magnetic force coupling portion is moved. The internal position sensor and the external position sensor perform a magnetic force coupling position preliminary detection for detecting a displacement direction and a positional displacement amount of the moving element with respect to the second magnetic force coupling portion, and the magnetic force coupling position correction is performed in the detected position displacement direction. After moving the second magnetic coupling portion based on the detected displacement, the second magnetic force coupling portion is moved into contact with the first or second side internal stopper to restrict the movement of the movable member. It is preferred that the coupling unit further be moved.

With this configuration, the positions of the movable element and the second magnetic coupling portion can be detected by the internal position sensor and the external position sensor provided inside and outside the sealed container, respectively. For this reason, it is possible to detect the displacement direction and the displacement amount of the moving element with respect to the second magnetic force coupling portion. If it is determined that the detected shift amount is out of the specified range, the magnetic force coupling position is corrected based on the detected shift direction and shift amount. Therefore, as a result of detecting the positional deviation, it is sufficient to perform the magnetic force coupling position correction only when the magnetic force coupling position correction is necessary, and the number of times of performing the magnetic force coupling position correction can be minimized. In addition, the movable element and the second magnetic coupling part can be directly detected by the internal position sensor and the external position sensor, respectively, so that the reliability of the optical switch can be improved.

Here, after the magnetic coupling position of the movable element is corrected, it is preferable to confirm the positional deviation direction and the positional deviation amount of the movable element with respect to the second magnetic coupling section by using the internal position sensor and the external position sensor. By doing so, the reliability of the optical switch can be further improved.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the optical switch used in the optical switch reset method according to the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction refer to the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 1, respectively.

This optical switch comprises a first optical fiber core F
A first fiber alignment groove 1 for fixing a plurality of optical fiber terminals, a second optical fiber alignment groove 7 for selectively introducing an optical fiber terminal of the second optical fiber core F2,
It has a sealed container C provided therein with a movable element 2 for transporting the optical fiber terminal portion of the optical fiber core F2. The sealed container C includes a base member 3 serving as a bottom portion thereof, and a box-shaped lid member 4 attached to the base member 3.

The first fiber alignment groove 1 formed on the base member 3 is formed on one end side of the base member 3 and arranges a plurality of optical fibers of a tape-shaped optical fiber core F1 in parallel. It is formed as a V groove. The optical fiber end portions exposed by removing the covering portion are respectively introduced into the first fiber alignment grooves 1, and after being filled with an adhesive, covered with a cover plate 5 from above and fixed.

A separation groove 6 is formed in contact with the first fiber alignment groove 1. A second fiber alignment groove 7 for introducing the optical fiber of the second optical fiber core F2 is formed at a position facing the first fiber alignment groove 1 with the separation groove 6 interposed therebetween. The second fiber alignment groove 7 is formed as a plurality of V grooves like the first fiber alignment groove 1. The second fiber alignment groove 7 has the same V-shaped cross section as the first fiber alignment groove 1. By making these grooves V-shaped in cross section, the center axes of the optical fibers can be made coincident only by introducing the optical fiber ends of the optical fibers F1 and F2 into the grooves.

On the opposite side of the second fiber alignment groove 7 from the first fiber alignment groove 1, a guide groove 8 for guiding the movement of the movable element 2 is formed. Two guide grooves 8 are formed in parallel along the X direction, and the first fiber alignment grooves 1
And at a position one step lower than the second fiber alignment groove 7. The guide groove 8 has a V-shaped cross section,
It is formed so as to be parallel to the separation groove 6. An accommodation groove 9 for accommodating a first magnetic coupling portion 17 described later is formed between the two guide grooves 8 along the X direction. Notches 10 are formed at both ends of the guide groove 8, respectively. A cover member 11 having a U-shaped cross section is fitted into the notch 10 from above.

The rectangular parallelepiped internal stoppers 21 are respectively fixedly connected to the inner side surfaces of both side plates of the covering member 11. The internal stoppers 21 are located at both ends of the movable range of the moving member 2 when both ends of the covering member 11 are fitted into the notches 10. When the movable element 2 reaches the end of its movable range, the movable element 2 comes into contact with the internal stopper 21 so that its movement is restricted. The internal stopper 21 may be formed integrally with the covering member 11, and both side plates of the covering member 11 may function as internal stoppers. Depending on the shape of the covering member 11, the side plate of the lid member 4 may be used as an internal stopper.

The movable element 2 comprises a carriage 13 having a pair of upright portions 12 at the center of both side edges on the upper surface, and a movable arm 14 swingably mounted between the upright portions 12. Concave portions are formed at four corners on the lower surface of the bogie portion 13, and the rolling balls 16 are stored in these concave portions, respectively. A first magnetic coupling unit 17 is coupled to the center of the lower surface of the bogie unit 13. The first magnetic coupling unit 17 is a magnetic material having a property of being attracted to a magnet such as iron or stainless steel.

The optical fiber terminal of the second optical fiber core F2 is held in a protruding state on the upper surface of the carriage 13 near the first fiber alignment groove 1. The optical fiber end portion of the second optical fiber core F2 bends downward when it receives an external force from above. The base end side of the optical fiber core F2 is taken out to the side of the carriage 13. An arm receiving protrusion 15 is provided on the upper surface of the carriage 13 near the side opposite to the first fiber alignment groove 1.
Are formed to protrude.

A pair of erected portions 12 erected substantially at the center of the upper surface of the bogie portion 13 have movable arms 1 at their opposing surfaces.
4 rotary shafts. Further, concave portions are formed on the upper surface of the standing portion 12, respectively, and the rolling balls 18 are also stored in these concave portions. A pair of standing portions 12
A leaf spring 19 is provided between the leaf springs 19.
Extend in a direction opposite to the first fiber alignment groove 1. A magnetic body 20 is coupled to an end of the movable arm 14 opposite to the first fiber alignment groove 1.

The movable arm 14 can swing about its rotation axis.
The part on the zero side is pressed downward. As a result, the end of the movable arm 14 on the side pressed downward is brought into contact with the arm receiving projection 15, and the movable arm 14
Is held horizontally. The movable arm 14 has its thickness gradually reduced toward the distal end side of the optical fiber core F2, and the distal end portion 14a of the movable arm 14 deflects the optical fiber terminal of the optical fiber core F2 downward. The column is laid horizontally so as not to damage the optical fiber.

When the moving element 2 is placed at a predetermined position on the base member 3 and the covering member 11 is attached from above, the lower rolling ball 16 is positioned on the guide groove 8 and the upper rolling ball 1
8 contacts the back surface of the covering member 11. The mover 2 is sandwiched between the base member 3 and the covering member 11, but can slide along the guide groove 8. The sliding movement of the moving element 2 at this time is smoothly performed by the presence of the rolling balls 16 and 18.

Then, the lid member 4 is further attached from above the assembled base member 3, the moving member 2 and the covering member 11, and the sealed container C is formed. The inside of the sealed container C is filled with a refractive index matching material such as silicone oil. The refractive index matching material is an oil-like liquid having a refractive index substantially equal to the refractive index of the optical fibers of the optical fiber cores F1 and F2, and has a role of preventing Fresnel reflection at the end face of the optical fiber.

An optical fiber core F is provided on one side wall of the lid member 4.
Through holes 22 and 23 are formed for leading out F1 and F2 to the outside. The first through-hole 22 allows the first optical fiber core F1 to be led out of the sealed container C to the outside, and the second through-hole 23 allows the second optical fiber core F2 to be guided from the inside of the sealed container C to the outside. Is derived. These through holes 22 and 23 are sealed after the optical fiber cores F1 and F2 are led out so that the internal refractive index matching material does not leak outside.

In the sealed container C, a first driving unit 24 for sliding the moving element 2 in the X direction, and a movable arm 1 of the moving element 2
Driving unit 2 for moving the tip 14a of the fourth unit 4 in the Y direction
5 are combined. In the first driving unit 24, a pair of guide bars 27, 27a is attached to an angle member 26 having a U-shaped cross section opened upward and a second magnetic force is coupled to the pair of guide bars 27, 27a. A portion 28 is attached.

The pair of guide rods 27, 27a are arranged in parallel, and penetrate through the second magnetic coupling portion 28.
The second magnetic coupling portion 28 is slidable along the guide bars 27, 27a. One guide rod 27a is a feed screw, and one end of the guide rod 27a is
The drive motor 31 is connected. Drive motor 31
The guide rod 27a is rotated with the rotation of, and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is moved in the X direction. The other guide rod 27
Are merely penetrated through the second magnetic coupling part 28 to guide the slide of the second magnetic coupling part 28.

A rectangular parallelepiped external stopper 29 is fixedly connected between a pair of guide rods 27, 27a on the inner side surfaces of both sides of the angle member 26. External stopper 2
Numerals 9 are located at both ends of the movable range of the second magnetic coupling unit 28. When the second magnetic coupling portion 28 reaches the end of its movable range, the second magnetic coupling portion 28 comes into contact with the external stopper 29 to restrict its movement. The external stopper 29 may be formed integrally with the angle member 26,
It is also possible to make both side plates of the angle member 26 function as external stoppers.

On the other hand, the second drive section 25 has a pair of guide rods 33, 33a attached to an angle member 32 having a U-shaped cross section opened to the side.
A magnet 34 is attached to each of the members 3 and 33a. The magnet 34 has a width (X) sufficient to cover the entire moving range of the magnetic body 20 accompanying the movement of the moving element 2 in the X direction.
Direction).

The pair of guide rods 33, 33a are arranged in parallel and penetrated by the magnet 34. Magnet 34
Can slide along the guide rods 33 and 33a. One guide rod 33a is a feed screw, and one end of the guide rod 33a is provided with a drive motor 35a.
Are combined. The guide rod 33a is rotated with the rotation of the drive motor 35, and the magnet 34 is moved in the Y direction. The other guide rod 33 merely slides through the magnet 34 to guide the slide of the magnet 34. The pair of guide rods 33, 33a are
7a is arranged at right angles.

Next, a switching operation for causing the optical fiber terminal of the second optical fiber core F2 to correspond to one of the plurality of optical fiber terminals of the first optical fiber core F1 by the above-described optical switch. Will be described briefly.

The moving element 2 is slidably held by the base member 3 and the cover plate 11 of the covering member 11 as described above. By the drive motor 31 of the first drive unit 24,
The guide bar 27a is rotated to move the second magnetic coupling unit 28 in the X direction. When the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is moved in the X direction, the first magnetic coupling unit 17
Is moved in the X direction. The drive motor 31 is stopped when the optical fiber terminal of the second optical fiber core F2 fixed to the movable element 2 is positioned on a desired V groove of the second fiber alignment groove 7.

Next, when the magnet 34 is moved upward by the drive motor 35, the end of the movable arm 14 having the magnetic body 20 is moved upward by the coupling force of the magnetic force. When the magnetic body 20 side of the movable arm 14 is moved upward, the distal end 14a side opposite thereto is moved downward. As a result, the tip of the second optical fiber core F2 is introduced into the desired V-groove of the second fiber alignment groove 7 by the tip 14a.

In this state, the optical fiber end face of the first optical fiber core F1 and the optical fiber end face of the second optical fiber core F2 are opposed to each other with their axes aligned. Light can be reliably transmitted from F1 to the second optical fiber core F2 (or from the second optical fiber core F2 to the first optical fiber core F1).

The above-mentioned optical switch moves the moving element 2 in the X direction by using the coupling force by magnetic force. For this reason, when an impact is applied to the optical switch or the like, a displacement occurs between the movable element 2 (first magnetic coupling unit 17) inside the sealed container C and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 outside the sealed container C. Can occur. Therefore, the optical switch as described above requires a reset method for performing a magnetic force coupling position correction for returning the position of the moving element 2 to the normal position with respect to the second magnetic force coupling unit 28.

Next, three embodiments (1) to (3) of the optical switch reset method according to the present invention using the above-described optical switch will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1) [When a Position Sensor for Detecting the Position of the Moving Element 2 and the Second Magnetic Coupling Portion 28 is not Provided] FIG. The situation inside the optical switch at that time is shown in a simplified manner. FIGS. 2A to 2C show the second magnetic coupling unit 2.
2 (d) to 2 (f) show a reset method when the movable element 2 is shifted to the left in the figure with respect to FIG.
The reset method when the moving element 2 is displaced to the right in the drawing with respect to the magnetic coupling section 28 is shown. In each figure,
The right side is described as a first side, and the left side is described as a second side.

In the optical switch that performs this method, as shown in FIG. 2C, the movable distance A of the movable element 2 is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance B of the second magnetic coupling unit 28. I have. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the mover 2 is in contact with the second-side internal stopper 21 and the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is in contact with the second-side external stopper 29. In addition, the second side internal stopper 21 and the second side external stopper 29 are accurately arranged so that the movable element 2 is at a normal position with respect to the second magnetic coupling portion 28. Under such a condition, the magnetic coupling position correction is performed as described below.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2D show that the moving element 2
The state in which the magnetic coupling portion 28 is misaligned is shown. From this state, first, the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is moved to the first side and is brought into contact with the external stopper 29 on the first side. The movable distance A of the movable element 2 is the second
The movable distance B of the magnetic coupling unit 28 is not more than
Side internal stopper 21 and second side external stopper 2
9 is arranged as described above.
2B, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2E, the second magnetic force coupling portion 28 is always shifted to the second side.

That is, when the movable element 2 is shifted to the second side with respect to the second magnetic coupling section 28 and the amount of the deviation is small, or when the movable element 2 is shifted to the first side relative to the second magnetic coupling section. If it is misaligned (see FIG. 2C), the mover 2 comes into contact with the internal stopper 21 on the first side and forcibly forces the second magnetic coupling portion 28.
Is shifted to the second side. On the other hand, the second
When the moving element 2 is shifted to the second side with respect to the magnetic coupling portion 28 and the amount of the shifting is large (see FIG. 2A), as shown in FIG. 2 does not come into contact with the internal stopper 21 on the first side, but is always shifted to the second side with respect to the second magnetic coupling portion.

From this state, the second magnetic coupling portion 28
Is moved to the second side, and finally the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is brought into contact with the external stopper 29 on the second side. When the second magnetic force coupling portion 28 moves to the second side, the movable element 2
Since the magnetic member 28 is shifted to the second side with respect to the magnetic force coupling portion 28, the movable member 2 first comes into contact with the internal stopper 21 on the second side, and the movement is restricted.

When the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is further moved to the second side in this state, the movement of the movable element 2 is restricted, so that the position of the movable element 2 with respect to the second magnetic force section 28 is gradually corrected. You. Finally, when the second magnetic coupling portion 28 comes into contact with the second-side external stopper 29, the second-side internal stopper 21 and the second-side external stopper 29 are arranged as described above. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (f), the mover 2 is at the normal position with respect to the second magnetic coupling unit 28, and the magnetic coupling position correction is completed.

The movable element 2 with respect to the second magnetic coupling portion 28
If there is a concern that the positional deviation amount is large and the two are not coupled by the magnetic force, the magnetic coupling unit 28 is once fully stroked from one end to the other end within the movable range, and the two are magnetically coupled. After that, the above operation may be performed.

FIG. 2 shows a case where the width (X direction) of the second magnetic force coupling portion 28 is equal to the lateral width (X direction) of the moving element 2, but when the widths are different. Even if there is, the movable distance A of the movable element 2 is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance B of the second magnetic coupling part 28 and the second magnetic coupling part 28
In a state where the moving element 2 is in contact with the second-side external stopper 29 and the second-side internal stopper 21, the second-side external stopper 29 and the second-side
By disposing the internal stopper 21 on the side, the magnetic force coupling position can be corrected without any problem.

According to this method, the second magnetic coupling portion 28
After moving the first side fully within its movable range,
The position of the mover 2 with respect to the second magnetic coupling unit 28 can be corrected to the normal position by a simple operation of moving the movable unit 2 to the full side. Further, there is no need to provide a position sensor for directly detecting the positions of the second magnetic coupling unit 28 and the moving element 2, so that there is an advantage that the structure of the optical switch can be simplified.

However, the second magnetic coupling portion 28 and the moving element 2
Cannot be directly detected. Therefore, even if the positional deviation does not actually occur between the second magnetic coupling unit 28 and the moving element 2, there is a possibility that the positional deviation may occur. Thus, the above-described magnetic force coupling position correction is performed. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the magnetic force coupling position correction is always performed once every certain number of switching operations.

If an internal position sensor for directly detecting the position of the moving element 2 is installed inside the sealed container C, the structure of the optical switch becomes somewhat complicated. The position of the mover 2 can be confirmed, and the reliability as an optical switch can be further improved. Although the internal position sensor is not shown in FIG. 2, the movable element 2 can be detected and can be installed at any position as long as the movable element 2 does not hinder the movement.

(2) [When an External Position Sensor SO for Detecting the Position of the Second Magnetic Coupling Portion 28 is Provided] FIG. 3 shows an optical switch for performing this method when cut along a plane perpendicular to the Y axis. The situation inside the optical switch is shown in a simplified manner. FIGS. 3A to 3C show the second magnetic coupling unit 2.
FIG. 3 (d) to FIG. 3 (f) show a reset method when the movable element 2 is shifted to the left in the figure with respect to FIG.
The reset method when the moving element 2 is displaced to the right in the drawing with respect to the magnetic coupling section 28 is shown. In each figure,
The right side is described as a first side, and the left side is described as a second side.

In the optical switch that performs this method, the movable distance A of the movable element 2 is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance B of the second magnetic coupling unit 28, as shown in FIG. I have. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the external position sensor SO for detecting the second magnetic coupling portion 28 at the regular position with respect to the movable member 2 abutting on the internal stopper 21 on the second side is accurate. Are located in Under such a condition, the magnetic coupling position correction is performed as described below.

FIGS. 3A and 3D show that the moving element 2 is the second
The state in which the magnetic coupling portion 28 is misaligned is shown. From this state, first, the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is moved to the first side and is brought into contact with the external stopper 29 on the first side. The movable distance A of the movable element 2 is the second
The movable distance B of the magnetic coupling unit 28 is not more than
Side internal stopper 21 and second side external stopper 2
9 is arranged as described above.
3B is always shifted to the second side with respect to the second magnetic coupling part 28 as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3E.

That is, when the movable element 2 is shifted to the second side with respect to the second magnetic coupling section 28 and the amount of the deviation is small, or when the movable element 2 is shifted to the first side relative to the second magnetic coupling section. (See FIG. 3 (c)), the mover 2 comes into contact with the internal stopper 21 on the first side, and the second magnetic coupling portion 2 is forcibly forced.
8 is shifted to the second side. On the other hand, when the mover 2 is displaced toward the second side with respect to the second magnetic force coupling portion 28 and the displacement amount is large (see FIG. 3A), as shown in FIG. 3B. In addition, the movable member 2 does not contact the first-side internal stopper 21, but is always shifted to the second side with respect to the second magnetic coupling portion.

From this state, the second magnetic coupling portion 28
To the second side, and finally to the second side until the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is detected by the external position sensor SO. When the second magnetic coupling unit 28 moves to the second side,
Since the movable element 2 is displaced toward the second side with respect to the second magnetic force coupling portion 28, the movable element 2 first comes into contact with the internal stopper 21 on the second side, and the movement is restricted. .

In this state, when the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is further moved to the second side, since the movement of the movable member 2 is restricted, the position of the movable member 2 with respect to the second magnetic force portion 28 is gradually corrected. You. Finally, by the external position sensor SO,
When the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is detected, the movement of the second magnetic coupling unit 28 to the second side is stopped. Since the inner stopper 21 and the external position sensor SO on the second side are arranged as described above, the movable element 2 is moved to the second magnetic coupling portion 28 as shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (f). And the magnetic force coupling position correction is completed.

The moving element 2 with respect to the second magnetic coupling section 28
If there is a concern that the positional deviation amount is large and the two are not coupled by the magnetic force, the magnetic coupling unit 28 is once fully stroked from one end to the other end within the movable range, and the two are magnetically coupled. After that, the above operation may be performed.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the width (X direction) of the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is equal to the lateral width (X direction) of the moving element 2. Even if there is, the movable distance A of the movable element 2 is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance B of the second magnetic coupling portion 28, and the movable element 2 is positioned at a regular position If the external position sensor SO is arranged so as to be able to detect the second magnetic coupling unit 28 in the above, the magnetic coupling position can be corrected without any problem.

According to this method, the second magnetic coupling portion 28
Is moved to the second side until it is detected by the external position sensor SO after the first side is fully moved within its movable range. The position can be corrected to the normal position. In addition, there is no need to dispose a position sensor in a sealed container filled with a refractive index matching material, so that there is an advantage that the structure of the optical switch can be simplified.

However, since the position of the mover 2 cannot be directly detected, even if the second magnetic force
Even if there is no positional deviation between the moving element 2 and the moving element 2, if there is a possibility that a positional deviation has occurred, the above-described magnetic coupling position correction is performed. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the magnetic force coupling position correction is always performed once every certain number of switching operations.

(3) [In the case where an internal position sensor SI and an external position sensor SO for detecting the position of the moving element 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 are provided] FIG. 2 shows a simplified state inside the optical switch when cut along a plane perpendicular to FIG. FIGS. 4A to 4D show the second magnetic coupling unit 2.
4 (e) to 4 (h) show a reset method in a case where the movable member 2 is shifted to the left in the drawing with respect to FIG.
The reset method when the moving element 2 is displaced to the right in the drawing with respect to the magnetic coupling section 28 is shown. In each figure,
The right side is described as a first side, and the left side is described as a second side.

In the optical switch that performs this method, as shown in FIG. 4D, the movable distance A of the movable element 2 is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance B of the second magnetic coupling unit 28. I have. In addition, the external position sensor SO for detecting the second magnetic force pattern coupling unit 28 and the internal position sensor SI for detecting the movable element 2 are configured to simultaneously detect the second magnetic force coupling unit 28 and the moving element 2 that are at the normal positions. Are positioned correctly. The amount of movement of the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is controlled in an open loop by an encoder or the like linked to a drive motor 31 (see FIG. 1) that moves the second magnetic coupling unit 28. Further, the positions of the moving element 2 and the second magnetic coupling portion 28 once detected by the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO are determined by using an encoder or the like interlocked with a drive motor 31 that drives the second magnetic coupling portion 28. Can be grasped through.

Note that the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO detect the positional deviation of the moving element 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 by SI and SO.
The mover 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 are connected to the internal stopper 21.
And at a position where it does not contact the external stopper 29. Under such a condition, the magnetic coupling position correction is performed as described below.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4E show that the moving element 2 is the second
The state in which the magnetic coupling portion 28 is misaligned is shown. From this state, first, the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is moved to the second side. In this case, in the case of FIGS. 4A to 4D, as shown in FIG. 4B, the internal position sensor SI detects the moving element 2 first. On the other hand, in the case of FIGS. 4E to 4H, as shown in FIG. 4F, the external position sensor SO detects the second magnetic coupling unit 28 first. In this state, the moving element 2 is
Is shifted to the first side or the second side, the direction of the shift can be detected.

Next, in the case of FIGS. 4A to 4D, FIG.
From the state shown in (b), the second magnetic coupling portion 28 is further
Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is detected by the external position sensor SO. FIG.
The distance that the second magnetic coupling unit 28 has moved from the time when the movable element 2 is detected by the internal position sensor SI to the time when the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is detected by the external position sensor SO in (b) is
It can be known from an encoder or the like linked to the drive motor 31. This movement amount is detected as a deviation amount between the mover 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28.

On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4 (e) to FIG.
When the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is further moved to the second side from the state shown in FIG. 4 (f), the moving element 2 is detected by the internal position sensor SI as shown in FIG. 4 (g). 4F, the distance that the external magnetic coupling unit 28 has moved from the time when the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is detected by the external position sensor SO to the time when the movable element 2 is detected by the internal position sensor SI is equal to the drive motor 31. It can be known from the encoder linked to. This movement amount is detected as a deviation amount between the mover 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28.

In FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (e), the moving element 2 and the second magnetic coupling section 28 are located on the first side with respect to the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO. Therefore, the second magnetic coupling unit 28 was moved to the second side. However, when the mover 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 are located on the second side with respect to the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO, the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is moved to the first side. Needless to say, even in this case, it is possible to detect the position shift direction and the position shift amount.

If the detected displacement is within the specified range, it is not necessary to correct the position of the mover 2 with respect to the second magnetic coupling unit 28, so that the magnetic coupling position correction is completed.
On the other hand, if the detected shift amount is out of the specified range,
It is necessary to correct the position of the mover 2 with respect to the second magnetic coupling unit 28, and the magnetic coupling position correction is continued as described below.

If the position needs to be corrected, the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is moved based on the detected direction of displacement. That is, in the case of FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D, since the mover 2 is displaced to the second side with respect to the second magnetic coupling part 28, the second magnetic coupling part 28 is moved to the second side. Move. On the other hand, FIG.
4 (e) to FIG. 4 (h), the mover 2 is connected to the second magnetic coupling portion 28.
The second magnetic coupling portion 28
To the first side. In either case, the mover 2 comes into contact with the internal stopper 21 before the second magnetic coupling portion 28 comes into contact with the external stopper 29.

As described above, the positions of the movable element 2 and the second magnetic coupling portion 28 are grasped by means such as an encoder. In either case, the position of the movable element 2 until the movable element 2 first contacts the internal stopper 21 is determined. The second magnetic coupling unit is moved. The moving element 2 first comes into contact with the internal stopper 21, and the movement is restricted. If the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is further moved in this state, the movement of the movable element 2 is restricted, so that the position of the movable element 2 with respect to the second magnetic element 28 is gradually corrected.

When it is determined that the movable element 2 has contacted the internal stopper 21 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is further moved by the detected amount of displacement, the second magnetic coupling unit 28 Stop moving. At this time, mover 2
Is at the normal position with respect to the second magnetic coupling unit 28, and the magnetic coupling position correction is completed.

In the first stage of the method, when the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is moved, only the second magnetic coupling unit 28 is detected and the moving element 2 is not detected. In this case, it can be determined that the magnetic coupling between the second magnetic coupling unit 28 and the moving element 2 has been released. In such a case, the above-described operation may be performed after the magnetic coupling unit 28 is once fully stroked from one end of the movable range to the other end, and the two are magnetically coupled.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the width (X direction) of the second magnetic force coupling portion 28 and the lateral width (X direction) of the moving element 2 are substantially the same, but these widths are different. Even in this case, the movable distance A of the movable element 2 is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance B of the second magnetic force coupling section 28, and the movable element 2 and the second magnetic force coupling section 28 which are at regular positions with respect to each other are detected. If the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO are arranged such that the magnetic force coupling position can be corrected without any problem.

According to this method, the internal position sensor SI
And the position of the moving element 2 and the second magnetic coupling section 28 are directly detected by the external magnetic sensor SO and the second magnetic coupling section 2.
Since the position of the mover 2 with respect to the position 8 is corrected, the magnetic force coupling position can be accurately corrected. In addition, after detecting whether or not a displacement has occurred between the moving element 2 and the second magnetic coupling unit 28 by the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO, the position is corrected only when the displacement has occurred. Is performed, the number of executions of the magnetic force coupling position correction can be minimized, and unnecessary operation can be suppressed. Furthermore, the contact between the movable member 2 and the internal stopper 21 can be minimized, which is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing dust generation and improving durability.

After the movable element 2 is corrected to the normal position with respect to the second magnetic force coupling portion 28 by the above-described method, the movable position is corrected by the internal position sensor SI and the external position sensor SO.
It is preferable to confirm again the direction and the amount of displacement of the mover 2 with respect to the second magnetic force coupling portion 28. By doing so, it can be confirmed that the magnetic coupling position correction has been performed reliably, and the reliability of the optical switch can be improved.

[0077]

The method for resetting an optical switch according to the present invention is directed to a method for resetting an optical switch, comprising the steps of:
In an optical switch for optically connecting a tip end of an optical fiber within a sealed container, a first magnetic coupling portion is formed on a bottom surface of a movable member, and a second magnetic coupling for magnetic coupling with the first magnetic coupling portion outside the sealed container. When the movable part is moved in the sealed container by the magnetic force between the first magnetic coupling part and the second magnetic coupling part, and the magnetic coupling position of the movable element with respect to the second magnetic coupling part is corrected. Then, the movement of the second magnetic coupling portion is further restricted by moving the second magnetic coupling portion by contacting the movable member with an internal stopper provided at the end of the movable range of the movable member. Therefore, in the optical switch using the coupling force by the magnetic force, the magnetic coupling position of the moving element for moving the optical fiber can be easily and surely corrected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an optical switch used in an optical switch reset method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first method of resetting the optical switch according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a second diagram illustrating a reset method of the optical switch according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third method of resetting the optical switch according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

C: sealed container, F1: first optical fiber core, F2: second
Optical fiber core wire, 1 ... first fiber alignment groove, 2 ... mover, 3 ... base member, 4 ... cover member, 7 ... second fiber alignment groove, 17 ... first magnetic coupling part, 21 ... internal stopper,
28: second magnetic coupling part, 29: external stopper, SI ...
Internal position sensor, SO: External position sensor.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Murakami 1 Tayacho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Tetsuya Ito 1 Tayacho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries Inside Yokohama Works Co., Ltd. (72) Kenichi Tomita 3-19-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Kenji Yoshioka 3-192 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Naoki Nakao Inventor 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-6-160739 (JP, A) Kaihei 2-219457 (JP, A) JP-A 63-156007 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 26/00-26/08

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tip of a first optical fiber fixed in parallel to a plurality of optical fiber arrangement grooves, and a tip of a second optical fiber fixed to a mover moving in an arrangement direction of the optical fiber arrangement grooves. An optical switch for optically connecting the first magnetic coupling part to the inside of the sealed container, wherein a second magnetic coupling part is formed on the bottom surface of the mover, and a second magnetic coupling part is magnetically coupled to the first magnetic coupling part outside the sealed container.
Disposing a magnetic coupling part, the first magnetic coupling part and the second magnetic coupling part;
The movable element is moved in the sealed container by a magnetic force between the movable element and the magnetic coupling section, and when the magnetic coupling position of the movable element is corrected relative to the second magnetic coupling section, the second magnetic coupling section After the movement, the movement of the movable element is restricted by bringing the movable element into contact with an internal stopper provided at an end of the movable range of the movable element, and then the second magnetic coupling portion is further moved. Reset method of the optical switch. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic coupling unit and the second magnetic coupling unit are magnets. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic coupling unit is a magnetic material, and the second magnetic coupling unit is a magnet. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic coupling unit is a magnet, and the second magnetic coupling unit is a magnetic material. 5. The internal stopper is provided on each of a first side and a second side at both ends of a movable range of the mover, and
External stoppers are respectively provided on the first side and the second side at both ends of the movable range of the magnetic coupling unit, and the movable distance of the mover is set to be equal to or less than the movable distance of the second magnetic coupling unit. When the movable element is brought into contact with the internal stopper and the second magnetic coupling section is brought into contact with the external stopper on the second side, the position of the movable element with respect to the second magnetic coupling section is a normal position. So that the second
In a state where the internal stopper on the side and the external stopper on the second side are arranged, after the second magnetic coupling portion is brought into contact with the external stopper on the first side to perform a preliminary adjustment of the magnetic coupling position, The magnetic force coupling position correction is to move the second magnetic force coupling portion to the second side, and to restrict the movement of the mover by contacting the mover with the internal stopper on the second side.
The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the second magnetic coupling portion is further moved to the second side, and the second magnetic coupling portion is brought into contact with the external stopper on the second side. Method. 6. In a state where an internal position sensor for detecting the position of the moving element is disposed inside the sealed container, the magnetic force coupling position of the moving element is corrected, and then the movement is performed by the internal position sensor. The method for resetting an optical switch according to claim 5, wherein the position of the child is confirmed. 7. An internal stopper is provided on each of a first side and a second side at both ends of a movable range of the mover, and
An external stopper is provided on at least the first side of both ends of the movable range of the magnetic coupling unit, a movable distance of the movable element is set to be equal to or less than a movable distance of the second magnetic coupling unit, and the internal stopper on the second side is In a state in which an external position sensor that detects the second magnetic coupling unit located at a normal position with respect to the contacted mover is disposed at the second side end of the movable range of the second magnetic coupling unit, After performing the preliminary adjustment of the magnetic coupling position by bringing the second magnetic coupling portion into contact with the external stopper on the first side, the magnetic coupling position correction is performed by moving the second magnetic coupling portion to the second side. Then, after restricting the movement of the mover by bringing the mover into contact with the internal stopper on the second side,
The first magnetic coupling unit is further moved to the second side, and the movement of the second magnetic coupling unit is stopped when the second magnetic coupling unit is detected by the external position sensor.
5. The method for resetting an optical switch according to any one of 4. 8. The movable stopper is provided with the internal stopper on each of a first side and a second side at both ends of a movable range of the movable element, and a movable distance of the movable element is set to be equal to or less than a movable distance of the second magnetic coupling portion. In a state where an internal position sensor for detecting a position of a moving element and an external position sensor for detecting the second magnetic coupling portion at a normal position with respect to the moving element detected by the internal position sensor are provided, The second magnetic coupling unit is moved, and the internal position sensor and the external position sensor perform a magnetic coupling position preliminary detection for detecting a positional deviation direction and a positional deviation amount of the mover with respect to the second magnetic coupling unit, In the magnetic force coupling position correction, the second magnetic force coupling portion is moved based on the detected positional deviation direction, and is brought into contact with the internal stopper on the first side or the second side. After restricting the movement of the moving element, based on the detected position deviation amount, claim 1, further moving the second magnetic coupling section
5. The method for resetting an optical switch according to any one of 4. 9. After the magnetic force coupling position correction of the movable element is performed, the direction and the amount of positional deviation of the movable element with respect to the second magnetic force coupling unit are confirmed by the internal position sensor and the external position sensor. The method for resetting an optical switch according to claim 8.