Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Patent
1996-10-22
1999-05-18
Bovernick, Rodney
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
385 71, G02B6/38
Patent
active
059058293
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting structure, more specifically, to an optical fiber connecting structure for interconnecting optical fibers so that their optical axes coincide with each other, as well as optical switches and optical connectors employing the structure.
BACKGROUND ART
The optical fiber is composed of a circular-in-section core serving as an optical path, and a tubular clad surrounding the core, and its outer periphery is sheathed as required. In an optical transmission system using such optical fibers as a means for information and/or energy transmission, there are provided optical switches for switching the optical path, and optical connectors for connecting or extending the optical path. For the interconnection of two optical fibers at the optical switches or optical connectors, it is important to make the optical axis of one optical fiber coincident with the optical axis of the other optical fiber in order to maintain the optical path at good transmission characteristics, because the core that forms the optical path of the optical fiber has an extremely thin diameter.
Optical switches (switches for switching the transmission path) are commonly considered indispensable for transmission systems using optical fibers, and there have been proposed various types of optical switches. Among others, movable-fiber type optical switches that allow the optical fibers to be directly moved and switched are regarded promising by virtue of their high switching speed, low control voltage, frequency independence of characteristics, as well as low price and good miniaturizability. Further, for such movable-fiber type optical switches, there has been a demand for the realization of those capable of functioning as a two-input, two-output optical switch.
A conventionally known movable-fiber type optical switch that has realized such two-inputs and two-outputs is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 61-272713. The construction of this prior-art optical switch is explained with reference to FIG. 73. In a casing 302 of an optical switch 301, a pair of blocks 303, 304 are disposed. The first block 303 is fixed to the casing 302 by a leg portion 305. The first and second blocks 303, 304 have through holes 306, 307 (which otherwise may be recesses), respectively, as well as side faces 308, 309 slanted at a specified angle with respect to the center axes of the through holes 306, 307. Further, a pair of plate springs 310 are fixed by screws 311 to the side faces 308, 309 of the first and second blocks 303, 304. Thus, the second block 304 is supported on the first block 303 with the plate springs 310. On both sides of the second block 304 are disposed stoppers 312, respectively. Further, on one side of the second block 304, there is disposed, for example, an electromagnetic actuator 313, which is capable of driving the second block 304 in a direction of arrow 314 against the elasticity of the plate spring 310.
Into the through holes 306, 307 of the first and second blocks 303, 304 of the optical switch 301 as described above, are inserted pin holders 317 and 318 holding three optical fibers 315a, 315b, 315c and 316a, 316b, 316c, respectively, where the pin holders 317, 318 are held so that the end faces of the pin holders 317, 318 come into in contact with each other. In these pin holders 317, 318, each three optical fibers 315a, 315b, 315c and 316a, 316b, 316c extend up to the end faces of the pin holders 317, 318, and are arranged precisely at a specified pitch at the end faces, with the end faces of the optical fibers 315a, 315b, 315c and 316a, 316b, 316c being exposed to the end faces of the pin holders 317, 318. Further, although not shown, the other end of the optical fiber 315c and the other end of the optical fiber 316a are connected to each other via an optical attenuator (not shown).
Thus, when the plate springs 310 are in a generally straight, normal state without any external force acting on the first and second blocks 303, 304, the optic
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Maenishi Kozo
Tsuboi Kazuo
Bovernick Rodney
Kang Ellen E.
Omron Corporation
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