Piezoelectric optical switch

Details Piezoelectric optical switch Piezoelectric optical switch

1979-10-30

1981-12-01

Corbin, John K.

350 9615, G02B 514

Patent

active

043033024

ABSTRACT:
A piezoelectric optical switch includes a piezoelectrical element having an optical fiber affixed thereto. A second optical fiber is placed in general proximity to the first optical fiber so that, upon application of a first voltage to the piezoelectric element, the optical fibers are caused to be aligned, and wherein upon application of a different voltage to the element, the optical fibers are caused to be nonaligned.
The switch can include a nonpiezoelectric cantilever beam having a fixed end and a free end and adapted to be bent along an axis adjoining the two ends. One optical fiber is affixed to the beam. A plurality of optical fibers, each in general proximity to and each adapted to be selectively aligned with the one optical fiber, is provided. A piezoelectric bending element, having opposite ends coupled to fixed supports, has a medial portion coupled to the cantilever beam near the fixed end. Thus, upon application of a first voltage to the bending element, the first optical fiber is caused to be aligned with a specific one of the plurality of optical fibers. Upon application of a different voltage to the bending element, the first optical fiber is caused to be aligned with a specific different one of the plurality of optical fibers.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3208342 (1965-09-01), Nethercot, Jr.
patent: 3299368 (1967-01-01), Klebba
patent: 3330957 (1967-07-01), Runnels
patent: 3440560 (1969-04-01), Pole
patent: 3458829 (1969-07-01), Pole et al.
patent: 3650187 (1972-03-01), Judin
patent: 3834795 (1974-09-01), Erickson et al.
patent: 3976358 (1976-08-01), Thompson
patent: 4068191 (1978-01-01), Zemon et al.
patent: 4146856 (1979-03-01), Jaeschke
patent: 4152043 (1979-05-01), Albanese
patent: 4189206 (1980-02-01), Terai et al.
patent: 4193662 (1980-03-01), Hara
patent: 4212513 (1980-07-01), Gravel
Ohmori et al., "Optical Fiber Switch Driven by PZT Bimorph", Applied Optics, vol. 17, No. 22, Nov. 1978, pp. 3531-3532.
"Moving-Fiber Switch", Laser Focus, vol. 15, No. 2, Feb. 1979, p. 55.
Crow, "Fiber-Optic Switch", IBM Tech. Discl. Bull., vol. 21, No. 11, Apr. 1979, p. 4686.
Leighton, "Fiber Optic Shutter", IBM Tech. Discl. Bull., vol. 11, No. 8, Jan. 1969, pp. 912-913.
Edmiston, "Piezoelectric Ceramic Transducers", Electronic Design, vol. 18, Sep. 1974, pp. 78-82.
Hale et al., "Mechanical Optical-Fibre Switch", Electronics Letters, vol. 12, No. 15, Jul. 1976, p. 388.
Reynolds et al., "Consider Piezoelectric Ceramics", Electronic Design, vol. 19, Sep. 1977, pp. 92-97.
American Heritage Dictionary; William Morris, Editor; Houghton Mifflin Co. (Boston); 1976; p. 122.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Piezoelectric optical switch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Piezoelectric optical switch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Piezoelectric optical switch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1294080