JPS59212802A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized switch of simple constitution which is manufactured at low cost by providing an optical path converting element onto a permanent magnet and sliding the element. CONSTITUTION:While permanent magnet 17 is held on a ferromagnetic body 21 by attraction, light from an optical fiber 11 is guided to an optical fiber 12 through a prism 18. Then when a magnet 19 is excited by a power source 20, the magnet 17 is attracted by the magnet 19. The prism 18 moves as the magnet 17 moves, so the light from the optical fiber 11 is switched to an optical fiber 13. Even if the magnet 19 is unexcited in said state by turning the power source 20 off, the magnet 17 attracts the iron core 19a of the magnet 19 to hold itself. When the light is switched to the former optical path again, the polarities of the power source 20 are made opposite and the magnet 19 is only excited and then magnetized to repulse the magnet 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch used for switching optical paths for optical communications.

PRIOR ART AND PROBLEMS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional self-holding optical switch ft. In the figure, 1, 2.3 are optical fibers,
4, 5.6 is a lens, 7 is a permanent magnet, 8 is a prism, 9
and lO fidget the electromagnet and destroy it.

This optical switch has a permanent magnet 7 and a prism 8 with a guide shaft (
By energizing the electromagnet 9 on the right side, the permanent magnet 7 and the prism 8 are held in the position shown by the solid line, and the optical fiber 1 is By guiding the light to the optical fiber 2 like a chain loss mark and energizing the left electromagnet 10, the permanent magnet 7 and the prism 8 are moved to the left and held at the position shown by the dotted line. The light is switched to the optical fiber 3. Such a conventional self-holding optical switch uses two electromagnets.
The disadvantage is that it tends to be large and expensive because it requires multiple units. Some self-holding optical switches still use Silanger type electromagnets, but these have the drawbacks of having a complicated mechanism and being expensive.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional VC, it is an object of the present invention to provide a small, low-cost, self-holding type optical switch.

According to the present invention, an optical path converting element for converting an optical path and a magnetic pole are oriented in the sliding direction of the slider, which is provided to be slidable on a guide shaft. a permanent magnet, an electromagnet is arranged opposite to one magnetic pole of the permanent magnet, and a ferromagnetic material is arranged opposite to the other magnetic pole, and the electromagnet is Alternatively, the permanent magnet is agitated by excitation in the negative direction, and after the excitation is stopped, the permanent magnet is attracted to either the ferromagnetic material or the iron core of the electromagnet and is self-retained.
Kotowo! This is achieved by providing a light switch with a Y characteristic.

Examples of the invention Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the optical switch according to the present invention. In the same figure, 11.12,1
3 is an optical fiber, 14, 15.16 is a lens, 17 is a permanent magnet, 18 is a prism as an optical path conversion element, 19 is an electromagnet, 20 is a power source, 21 is a ferromagnetic material, and 22.23 is a nonmagnetic spacer. Each shows L.

This embodiment uses a slider (
(both not shown) include a prism 18 as an optical path conversion element and a permanent magnet 17 whose magnetic poles are oriented in the sliding direction of the slider.
An electromagnet 19 is disposed opposite to one magnetic pole of the permanent magnet 17, and a ferromagnetic material 21 is disposed opposite to the other magnetic pole.
A non-magnetic spacer 2 is placed on the iron core 19a of the electromagnet 19 and on the surface of the ferromagnetic material 21 to which the permanent magnet is attracted.
It is constructed by providing 2°23.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. First, when the permanent magnet 17 is attracted and held by the ferromagnetic material 21 as shown in FIG. 1A, the light from the optical fiber 11 is guided to the optical fiber 12 through the prism 18. Next, as shown in figure b, when the electromagnet 19 is excited by the power supply 20 in the direction of attracting the permanent magnet 17,
Permanent magnet 17 is attracted to electromagnet 19. Permanent magnet 17
Since the prism 18 also moves as the prism 18 moves, the light from the optical fiber 11 is switched to the optical fiber 13 as shown by the dotted arrow. In this state, power supply is 20! i-OF
Even if the excitation of the magnet 19 is stopped, the permanent magnet 17 is attracted to the iron flux of the electromagnet 19 and self-retains. Next, in order to switch between -NT and B-C paths, the power supply has 200 poles as shown in figure 0, and the electromagnet 19 is energized by energizing the electromagnet 19, which is the opposite of the case in figure b. In response, the permanent magnet 17 moves toward the ferromagnet t121 and is attracted to it, and the light from the optical fiber 11 passes through the prism 18 and cuts toward the optical fiber 12. If excitation is stopped in this state, the permanent magnet 17 returns to the state shown in FIG.

Note that the spacer 22 on the iron r□ l 9 a side of the electromagnet 19
The spacer 23 of the magnetic material 2111J:'' is a permanent magnet 17'f! due to the excitation magnetic force of the electromagnet core 19a! The attraction force of the permanent 1" magnet 17 is adjusted so that the driving force for driving the motor can be controlled i;ii.

This embodiment, which is configured and operates as described above, has an electromagnet 〃・1
Since only one piece is required, the structure can be compact and therefore inexpensive.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment. In the same figure, 3
0, 31, 32 are optical fibers, 33, 34° 35 is a lens, 36 is a guide shaft, 37 is a slider, 38 is a permanent magnet, 39 is an intagonal prism, 4° is a magnet, 4
1 represents a ferromagnetic material, and 42 represents a non-magnetic spacer.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a permanent magnet 38 and a pentagonal prism 39 are placed on a slider 37 which is slidably provided on a guide shaft 36, with its magnetic poles directed in the sliding direction of the slider. , and 11 electromagnets 40 and 11 ferromagnetic materials 41 are arranged opposite one pole and the other pole of the permanent bistone 38, respectively. The spacer 42 is provided only on the electromagnet 4o side, and the prism 39 serves as a spacer on the ferromagnetic body 41 side.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as that of the previous embodiment, and the light from the optical fiber 30 is light arranged at right angles.
You can choose between 1 and 32. Note that the effects of this embodiment are exactly the same as those of the previous embodiment.

As explained in 11, the optical switch according to the present invention can be made smaller in size, and can be manufactured at a lower cost, which is even more effective. It is something.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining one example of a conventional self-holding optical switch, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the optical switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is another example. This is a diagram for explaining. In the drawing, 11, 12, 13 are optical fibers, 14
, 1.5, 1.5 are lenses, 17 is a permanent magnet, 18 is a prism as an optical path conversion element, 19 is an electromagnet, 20 is a power source, 21 (l is a strong material, 22.23 is a non-magnetic strip) 20 Figure 20 No. 3; ￥j Procedural Amendment April 1980 1'7 II Director General of the Japan Patent Office Kazuto Wakasugi], 13 indications of 1982 patents Application No. 85951 2, Name of the invention Optical switch 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant name (522) Fujitsu Co., Ltd. 4, Agent address 10, Shizuka-10, Toranomon-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105 (3 others) 5. Brief explanation of one drawing of the specification subject to amendment J 41 yen 16, contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Attach an optical path converting element for converting the optical path and a permanent magnet with its magnetic pole facing the moving direction of the slider to a slider that is provided to slide on the guide shaft, and An electromagnet is arranged opposite to one magnetic pole of the magnet, and a ferromagnetic material is arranged opposite to the other magnetic pole, and the permanent magnet is driven by exciting the electromagnet in the positive or negative direction. An optical switch characterized in that a permanent magnet is attracted to either a ferromagnetic material or an iron core of an electromagnet and is self-retained after excitation is completely stopped.