JPH01319012A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To physically stabilize an optical switch so as to improve the reliability of the switch by providing a cam mechanism which causes a driven member fixed to an optical switch element to make straight shuttling movement in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis and an energizing means which energizes the switch element in the direction of the driven member. CONSTITUTION:A straight advancing cam (cam mechanism) 21 having a displacement quantity equal to its moving stroke is provided above an elastic supporting member 19 and the cam 21 is provided with a cam 21a which moves in the length direction of a guide pin 13 and a driven cam 21b which is brought into contact with the cam 21a in a high-order contraposition state and moved in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The cam 21 is fitted to a mover 24 fixed to a pair of solenoid 22 and 23 through a compression coil spring 24a and the cam 21a is energized toward the driven member 21b. Therefore, this optical switch can be stabilized even when no energy is supplied and, accordingly, the reliability of the switch can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] This invention moves one of a pair of optical fibers in a coupled state in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and moves a third optical fiber juxtaposed with this optical fiber. This invention relates to an optical switch that recombines optical fibers.

[Prior art]

Conventional optical switches include, for example, when optical fibers are arranged in a line, a parallel movement type switches the optical fibers by moving them in a direction parallel to the arrangement plane, and a parallel movement type switches the optical fibers by moving them in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement plane. There are two types: a vertical movement type and a rotational movement type that switches by rotating in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical switch. 3A shows a parallel movement optical switch, FIG. 1B shows a vertical movement optical switch, and FIG. 1C shows a rotational movement optical switch. A parallel movement type optical switch connects a pair of optical fibers 1.2 in a coupled state and each optical fiber 1.2.
．． 2 is connected to the optical fiber connecting member 3.4, and further,
The optical fiber connecting member 4 is configured to include a guide plate 5 for moving the optical fiber connecting member 4 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and a block body 6 for stopping the moving optical fiber connecting member 4.

A new third optical fiber 7 is inserted into the optical fiber connection member 3.
is fixed parallel to the optical fiber 1. The movement stroke in this case is the distance between the optical fibers 1 and 7, and the optical fiber connecting member 4 must move over the guide plate 5 by the corresponding distance at high speed and with high accuracy. Therefore, a block body 6 is placed at a predetermined position in front of the moving direction, and the optical fiber connecting member 4 collides with the block body 6 to stop at a predetermined position.

At this stop position, the optical fiber 2 is recombined with the optical fiber 7.

The vertically moving optical switch includes a pair of optical fibers 1.2 in a coupled state, an optical fiber connection member 3.4 to which each optical fiber 1.2 is connected, and an optical fiber connection member 4 connected to the optical axis. The optical fiber connecting member is configured to include a guide plate 5 for moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber connecting member (direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the optical fibers) and a block body 6 for stopping the moving optical fiber connecting member. In the optical fiber connecting member 3, new third optical fibers 7 are arranged on an arrangement surface parallel to the arrangement surface. In this case, the moving stroke is the distance between the array surfaces of the optical fibers 1 and 7, and the optical fiber connecting member 4 must move by the corresponding distance on the guide plate 5 at high speed and with high accuracy. Therefore, a block body 6 is placed at a predetermined position in front of the moving direction, and the optical fiber connecting member 4 collides with the block body 6 to stop at a predetermined position. At this stop position, the optical fiber 2 is recombined with the optical fiber 7.

The rotational movement type optical switch includes a pair of optical fibers 1.2 in a coupled state, an optical fiber connection member 3.4 to which each optical fiber 1.2 is connected, and further connects the optical fiber connection member 3 to the optical axis. It is configured to include a driving means (not shown) for rotating around the center. A third optical fiber 7 is fixed to the optical fiber connecting member 3 in parallel with the optical fiber 1 described above.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, conventional optical switches are supplied with energy only during switching operations and are driven by drive members (eg, solenoids, etc.) that move in the same direction. Therefore, the moving direction of the driving member and the moving direction of the optical switch match, and the moving direction is stable while energy is being supplied, but it is easily movable when energy is not being supplied. there were. Therefore, when no energy is supplied, positional deviations tend to occur and the reliability of the optical switch is poor. In this case, in order to stabilize in the direction of movement, energy had to be constantly supplied, which was inefficient.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of an optical switch by physically stabilizing the optical switch.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical switch that moves one of a pair of optical fibers in a coupled state in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and recombines this optical fiber with a third optical fiber arranged in parallel. An optical switch in which one optical fiber and a third optical fiber are fixed in juxtaposition, and the third optical fiber is recombined with the other fixed optical fiber by moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. a cam mechanism that includes an optical switch element and a driven member fixed to the optical switch element, and moves the driven member in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis in a reciprocating and rectilinear direction by an amount of displacement equal to the travel distance of the optical switch element; The switch element is mounted at a position substantially opposite to the driven member, and the switch element is mounted at a position substantially opposite to the driven member, and biasing means is configured to bias the switch element in the direction of the driven member. Features.

[Effect]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, even when no energy is supplied, the optical switch is stabilized in the optical axis direction and the direction orthogonal thereto by the action of the cam mechanism and the urging means. It can be fixed by

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the description, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an optical switch according to the invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show optical switch elements that can be used in the invention.

First, the optical switch element will be explained based on FIGS. 2 and 3. This optical switch element is basically constructed by laminating a first optical fiber connecting member 8 and a second optical fiber connecting member 9 so as to face each other.

A tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 10 is connected to the first optical fiber connection member 8 , and a tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 11 is connected to the second optical fiber connection member 9 . 1st
A clearance A1A is formed between the optical fiber connecting member 8 and the second optical fiber connecting member 9, into which guide pins 12 and 13 are inserted. A pair of block bodies 1 are provided at the front and rear parts of the second optical fiber connecting member 9 in the optical axis direction.
4.15 is located. Two V-shaped grooves 14a and 14b are formed in parallel in the block body 14, and a tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 16 is fixed between the two V-shaped grooves 14a and 14b. This tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 16 faces the aforementioned tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 11 in the optical axis direction.

The block body 15 has two ■-shaped grooves 15a.

15b are formed in parallel, and two V-shaped grooves 15a,
Tape-shaped optical fiber core wires 10.11 are placed in a stacked state between the fibers 15b. The aforementioned guide bin 12.1
3 is fixed by V-shaped grooves 14a, 115a, 14b, and 15b.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the optical switch element according to the present invention, viewed from the optical axis direction. The first optical fiber connecting member 8 is provided with a plurality of first V-shaped grooves (optical fiber fixing portions) 8a in the center of the bottom surface for fixing the tape-shaped optical fiber core 10, and the tape-shaped optical fiber core 10 is fixed.

A pair of second v-shaped grooves (optical fiber positioning grooves) 8b, 8b are formed on both sides of the first v-shaped groove 8a.

Furthermore, there is a third V groove (optical fiber guide groove) on the outside.
8 c s 8 c is formed.

This second optical fiber connecting member 9 has almost the same shape as the first optical fiber connecting member 8, and has a first V groove 9 a s.
2nd V groove cab; 9b, 3rd V groove 9c.

9C is formed at the corresponding position. A tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 11 is connected to the second optical fiber connecting member 9, and is positioned and fixed with positioning pins 17 and 18 so as to face the first optical fiber connecting member 8 described above. ing. Note that all of these grooves have similar shapes and are formed on the same plane in the optical axis direction.

The movement stroke of this optical switch is the third groove 8c, 9a.
It is formed by the clearance A between. Guide bins 12.13 are inserted into this clearance A%A. The length of the stroke in which the center of this guide bin 12, 13 moves is the movement stroke of this optical switch.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an optical switch using the optical switch element described above. The guide bins 12 (not shown) and 13 are fixed on the side walls, and the first optical fiber connecting member 8 is supported by an elastic support member 19 fixed on the side walls. Furthermore, the second optical fiber connecting member 9 is biased toward the elastic support member 19 by a leaf spring (biasing means) 20 . The optical switch element is therefore positioned by the guide pin 12, 13, the elastic support member 19 and the leaf spring 20. In this case, the guide pin 12.13 is in contact with the optical fiber guide groove 9C%9C of the optical fiber connecting member 9, and the tape-shaped optical fiber core 11 (not shown) located below is connected to the block body 1.
It is connected to another tape-shaped optical fiber (not shown) fixed to 4.

When the optical switch moves downward by the movement stroke L (see FIG. 3), the guide pin 12.13 comes into contact with the optical fiber guide groove 8cs8c of the first optical fiber connecting member 8, and the tape-shaped The optical fiber core 12 (not shown) is coupled to another tape-shaped optical fiber core (not shown) fixed to the block body 14.

A linear cam (cam mechanism) 21 having a displacement equal to that of the moving stroke is attached to the upper part of the elastic support member 19. The linear cam 21 includes a cam 21a that moves in the optical axis direction (the longitudinal direction of the guide bin 13), and a driven member 21b that contacts the cam 21a in a high-order pair and moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. has been done. This cam 21a is attached via a compression coil spring 24a to a mover 24 fixed to a pair of solenoids 22 and 23 arranged to face each other in the optical axis direction. This compression coil spring 24a is similar to the plate spring 20 described above.
The spring constant is configured to be higher, and urges the cam 21a in the direction of the driven member 21b.

On the other hand, the driven member 21b has a movement stroke L of the optical switch.
The elastic supporting member 19 is fixed on the elastic support member 19.

Therefore, when the cam 21a moves in the optical axis direction (to the left), the optical switch elements (first optical fiber connecting member 8, second optical fiber connecting member 9, etc.) move in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis (downward) by the movement stroke. direction).

Additionally, a positioning member (positioning means) is provided above the mover 24 to hold the cam 21a in the optical axis direction.
25 is fixed to the earthen wall.

A moving member 26 that contacts the positioning member 25 is attached to the upper end of the moving element 24 via a compression coil spring 24b. This positioning member 25 is
Grooves 25a and 25b that engage with the moving member 26 are formed at the starting and ending points of the moving element 24 in the moving direction.

FIG. 4 is a process diagram for explaining the operation of the optical switch. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the mover 24 is located at the starting point in the moving direction. The moving member 26 is engaged with the groove 25a of the positioning member 25, and the cam 2
1a is not in contact with the driven member 21b. Therefore, the optical switch element includes the guide bin 12, 13 and the elastic support member 19.
and is in a positioned state by the leaf spring 20.

FIG. 2B shows a state in which the mover 24 moves to the left and is located midway between the starting point and the ending point in the moving direction. The moving member 26 is separated from the groove 25a, and the cam 21
a is in contact with the driven member 21b at the top of the step. Therefore, the driven member 21b is in a state of being moved by the step difference (the movement stroke L of the optical switch element) in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

FIG. 2C shows a state in which the mover 24 is located at the end point in the moving direction. The moving member 26 is engaged with the groove 25b of the positioning member 25, and the cam 21a is in contact with the driven member 21b at the top of the step. Therefore, the driven member 21b is in a state of being moved by the step difference (the movement stroke L of the optical switch element) in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Unlike the figure (b), the cam 21a is positioned in the moving direction (optical axis direction).

Note that the operation of returning the optical path to its original state after this forward path switching operation can be realized by going through a completely reverse process. That is, a solenoid different from the previously driven solenoid is driven to move the mover 24 in the opposite direction. At this time,
The force of the leaf spring 20 causes the mover 24 to return to its original position (the position where the moving member 26 engages with the groove 25a), and the optical path is restored to its initial state.

In the optical switch shown in FIG. 4, the elastic support member 19 (see FIG. 1) is omitted for convenience of explanation, but the operation remains the same even if the elastic support member 19 is present.

Further, the optical switch element that can be used in the above embodiment is the third
The structure is not limited to that shown in the figure, and any optical switch element that can be recombined by simply moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis may be used.

Furthermore, the cam mechanism is not limited to a linear cam, but may be any mechanism that can change the direction of movement. Therefore, for example, a positive cam such as an end cam may be driven by a pulse motor or the like.

Further, the biasing means is not limited to a leaf spring, but may be a compression coil spring.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main structure of another embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention. The difference from the previous switch shown in FIG.
The driven member 21b is attached to the first optical fiber connecting member 8 via an elastic body 27 such as hard rubber, and the positioning member 25 is attached to the earthen wall via a leaf spring 28. According to this embodiment, rattling in the direction in which the optical switch moves (direction perpendicular to the optical axis) can be alleviated.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main structure of another embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention. The difference between the optical switch and the optical switch shown in FIG. 30
This is a fixed point. Note that the two compression coil springs have a lower spring coefficient than at least the compression coil spring 24a that urges the cam 21a. Further, the elastic coupling plate 30 is provided with four parts at the boundary between the block body 14 and the first optical fiber connecting member 8, and has a structure that allows the first optical fiber connecting member 8 to easily slide. According to this embodiment, since the block body 14 and the first optical fiber connecting member 8 can be moved while keeping the distance between them small, optical loss can be reduced.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since this invention is configured as explained above,
The optical switch can be stabilized in position not only when energy is supplied but also when no energy is supplied. Therefore, the reliability of the optical switch can be improved.

In addition, the optical fiber connecting member moves on another guide plate,
Unlike the conventional technology, which stops when it collides with a block, a guide plate or the like is not required, so the device can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of the optical switch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an optical switch element that can be used in the optical switch according to the invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the optical switch according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the optical axis direction showing the structure, FIG. 4 is a process diagram as seen from the optical axis direction showing the action of the optical switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the main part from the optical axis direction showing
FIG. 7, which is a cross-sectional view of a main part from the optical axis direction showing another embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention, is a perspective view showing an optical switch according to the prior art. 1.2.7... Optical fiber 3.4... Optical fiber connection member 5... Guide plate 6... Block body 8... First optical fiber connection member 9... Second optical fiber Connection member 10.11, i6... Tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 12.
13... Guide bin 14.15... Block body 17.18... Positioning bin 19... Elastic support member 20.28... Leaf spring 21... Straight cam 22.23... Solenoid 24...Mover 25...Positioning member 26...Moving member 27...Elastic body 29...Compression coil spring 30...Elastic coupling plate Patent applicant Sumitomo Electric Industries Co., Ltd. Attorney Mr. Haseyo Yoshikima
Mountain 1) - Optical switch Figure 1 Structure of optical switch element Figure 3 Operation Other examples Figure 5 Other examples Figure 6 (0) Parallel movement type I la +b Ic Prior art (first half) Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. One of the pair of optical fibers in a coupled state is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and the other of the pair of optical fibers is moved to a third optical fiber juxtaposed with this optical fiber. In the optical switch, the one optical fiber and the third optical fiber are fixed in parallel, and the third optical fiber is connected to the other fixed optical fiber by moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. and a driven member fixed to the optical switch element, the driven member being displaced in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis equal to the moving distance of the optical switch element. a cam mechanism that moves the optical switch element back and forth by a certain amount, and a biasing means that is attached to the optical switch element at a position substantially opposite to the driven member and biases the optical switch element in the direction of the driven member. An optical switch characterized by: 2. The cam mechanism includes a cam that moves in the optical axis direction;
2. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the optical switch is a linear cam including a driven member that is moved by the cam in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. 3. The optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the cam mechanism includes positioning means for holding the cam at least in the optical axis direction at a starting point and an ending point of movement of the cam. 4. The optical switch according to claim 3, wherein the cam mechanism includes a driven member fixed to an elastic member that supports the optical switch element.