JPS62138820A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a thin optical switch by providing a light shield body which is put between optical fibers and cuts off a light signal directly to an operating piece which has elasticity. CONSTITUTION:The optical switch 1 consists of, for example, the plate type operating piece 2 made of an elastic body such as rubber and the light shield body 3 projected from its reverse surface. When the operation piece 2 of the optical switch 1 arranged on an operation board G is pressed down by applying downward force, the light shield body 3 on the reverse surface moves into the gap between optical fibers F and F to cut off the light signal transmitted between the optical fibers F and F. When the operating piece 2 is released from the force, the operating piece 2 restores itself with the restoring force of its own elasticity and the light shield body 3 exits from the gap between the optical fibers F and F, so that the light signal travels between the optical fibers F and F.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical switch that allows light to pass through by interposing a light shield between optical fibers.

(Prior art and its problems) As shown in Figure 4, a conventional optical switch connects optical fibers F,
A light shielding body A1 provided between F, a support body B that supports the light shielding body A,
It is composed of many parts, including a spring C1 operating piece that exerts a restoring force to return the light shield A to its original state after it has been moved.

Therefore, not only is the configuration complicated, but the components are assembled in the depth direction, so when incorporating this optical switch into the operation panel G, a dimension in the depth direction is required, making the operation panel G thinner. It's getting in the way. In Figure 4, J
is a fixture for the optical fiber F.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch that solves the above problems, reduces the number of parts, reduces the dimension in the depth direction, and facilitates making the operation panel thinner.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the optical switch of the present invention has a light shielding body protruding from an operating piece made of an elastic body, which is aligned so that its end faces face each other. It is characterized by intervening in a gap between optical fibers to pass light.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the optical switch of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is an optical switch, F, F is an optical fiber, G
is the control panel. The optical switch 1 has a plate-like operating piece 2 made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, and its lower surface (
It consists of a light shielding body protruding from the back surface.

4) ↓ is a spacing piece that maintains the spacing between the optical switch 1 and the optical fibers F and F. This optical switch 1 is the operation panel G
The optical switch is fixed to the optical switch mounting hole provided in the optical switch using adhesive or the like.

A fixture J includes optical fibers F, which are aligned with the operation panel G to which the optical switch 1 is fixed, with their end faces facing each other.

Fixed by J. The distance between the end faces of the optical fibers F and F(7) is wide enough to accommodate the light shielding body of the optical switch 1, and the optical fibers F and F(7) are arranged at positions facing the light shielding body.

As shown in FIG. 2, the optical switch 1 arranged on the operation panel G moves and inserts the light shielding body on the back side into the gap between the optical fibers F and F when the operation piece 2 is pushed down by applying force downward.
The optical signal being transmitted between the optical fibers F and F is cut off.

When the force applied to the operating piece 2 is removed, the operating piece 2 returns to its original state due to its own elastic restoring force, and the light shield 5 is connected to the optical fiber F.

It moves out of the gap F, and an optical signal passes between the optical fibers F and F.

Figures (a) and (b) show other embodiments. In the optical switch 10 of this embodiment, the light shield 1 provided on the operation piece 2 is inserted into the gap between the optical fibers F and F, and in the normal state, the optical fiber F is inserted into the gap between the optical fibers F and F.

Optical signals between F are blocked. A through hole 14 is provided on the bottom side of the light shield 13, and when the operation piece 13 is pressed down, the light shield 15 moves downward to close the through hole 11. I coincides with the axes of the optical fibers F, F, and light passes between the optical fibers F, F.

The rest of the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals and the explanation will be omitted.

In addition, in the first and second embodiments described above, the operation piece 1
Although it is made of silicone rubber, the operation piece 1 is not limited to a rubber elastic body such as silicone rubber, but may be made of a material having spring elasticity such as plastic or metal.

(Effects) As explained above, in the optical switch of the present invention, the light shielding body that is inserted between the optical fibers and blocks the optical signal is directly provided on the elastic operation piece, so the structure is simple and has a small number of parts. Moreover, since there is no need to assemble parts in the depth direction, the optical switch is thin. Therefore, when this optical switch is installed on the operation panel, there is no need to take up the dimension in the depth direction, and the operation panel can be made thinner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional optical switch. 1.1o...Optical switch, 2...Operation piece, U.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical switch that allows light to pass through by interposing a light shielding body protruding from an operating piece made of an elastic body into a gap between optical fibers whose end surfaces face each other and whose axes are aligned.