1989-06-16
1990-08-14
Gonzalez, Frank
350 9621, G02B 636
Patent
active
049482238
ABSTRACT:
A fiber optic switch of the moving fiber type and a method of making such switches. The switch has at least one stationary fiber and a mobile fiber carried by an actuator, preferably a bimorph, the end of the movable fiber being movable between a transmitting position in which the core of the mobile fiber is aligned with the core of the one stationary fiber and a position in which there is no alignment of the core of the mobile fiber with the core of the same stationary fiber. The stationary fiber is affixed to a smooth substrate surface with a slight flex downwardly between the point at which it is affixed to substrate surface and the end of the fiber which engages the substrate surface. The actuator is mounted to move in a plane substantially parallel to and above the substrate surface, and the mobile fiber is affixed to the actuator and with a downward flex between the point at which it is affixed to the actuator and the very end thereof which engages the substrate surface. The mobile fiber thus slides over the substrate on movement of the actuator. The flexed engagement of both fibers with the smooth substrate accomplishes accurate alignment of the cores of the fibers in the vertical direction, and the production of the switch with the fibers flexed as described above does not require the provision of any highly machined components.
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Anderson John C.
Goodwin John C.
Gonzalez Frank
Northern Telecom Limited
Parks William D.
Ullah Akm E.
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