Patent
1985-05-22
1986-08-26
Lee, John
G02B 636
Patent
active
046079106
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fibre switch containing optical fibre conductors for switching optical signals from a first plurality of parallel fibres to a second plurality of parallel fibres. Such a switch may be used as a relay, for example, in a loop system at the connection point between the fibre loop and the bus terminal.
BACKGROUND
In optical fibre switch described in the Swedish patent application No. 8204085.8 there is shown a movable slide to which the optical fibres are attached. The fibres run parallel to a fixed holder in the switch. Fibre ends having the same properties and dimensions as those in the movable slide are fixedly arranged at the switching point. The movable slide is actuated by a movable armature in an electromagnetic iron circuit for providing the switching action, and the movable slide is returned to its neutral position in an unactuated state by a return spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the known switch, direct actuation of the movable slide is achieved by an actuation arm provided with a spring tongue moving the slide under the action of a magnetic force from one position to the other. In practice there are problems with this direct actuation, however, since the tongue of the actuating arm should be stiff at the beginning of the movement but weak at the end of it to withstand pressure without the action of an unnecessarily large magnetic force.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing an actuation means in an optical fibre relay which has an indirect action on the movable slide.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an optical fiber switch comprising a fixed holder, at least one fixedly mounted fiber on said holder, a slide, at least one movable fiber secured to said slide in facing relation to said fixedly mounted fiber, first and second abutments between which said slide is movable, and means including a magnetically activated armature for displacing said slide to selectively and controllably couple and uncouple said fibers optically, said means including a rigidly clamped first spring acting on said slide to displace the slide from said first abutment to said second abutment, a second spring acting on said slide in opposition to said first spring, said second spring being stronger than said first spring, and means rigidly mounted on said armature for diminishing the action of said second spring on said slide, upon activation of said armature, so that said slide is displaced to said second abutment substantially only under the action of said first spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a known optical fibre switch in accordance with the above mentioned Swedish patent application,
FIGS. 2A and 2B diagrammatically illustrate optical fibers of the switch for two respective positions;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the slide movement;
FIG. 4 shows a switch with indirect actuation in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is the detail view of a switch with indirect actuation according to FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows the optical fibre switch according to the above mentioned Swedish patent application, in the form of a relay. The relay is constructed on a bottom plate 1 along the long side of which two iron cores 2 and 3 are attached. An armature 4 of soft, magnetic material is attached to an armature spring 5. Magnetic flux is generated in a manner known per se, with the aid of an unillustrated coil which magnetizes an iron circuit in which the magnetic cores 2, 3 and the armature 4 are included.
A holder 12 is attached to the bottom plate. The holder has three optical fibres 13, 14 and 15 fixed thereon. A movable slide 8 can move in a movement substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fibres 13, 14
REFERENCES:
patent: 4318587 (1982-03-01), Grassl
patent: 4337995 (1982-07-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 4415228 (1983-11-01), Stanley
patent: 4415229 (1983-11-01), McCullough
patent: 4452507 (1984-06-01), Winzer
Lee John
Rushin Lester E.
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
LandOfFree
Optical fiber switch having a movable fiber secured to a slide w does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical fiber switch having a movable fiber secured to a slide w, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical fiber switch having a movable fiber secured to a slide w will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2309021