Optical switch device

• US 20040091200A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikegame, Tetsuo
• Application Number:
  US10/293,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20040091200A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3572 Magnetic force magnetic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/085; magneto-optic devices G02F1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3588 of the processed beams, i.e. controlling during switching of orientation, alignment, or beam propagation properties such as intensity, size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/359 of the position of the moving element itself during switching, i.e. without monitoring the switched beams

Abstract

Four galvano mirrors 2(1) to 2(4) are constituted in an array in a galvo unit 1. Four galvano mirrors 32A(1) to 32A(4), and 32B(1) to 32B(4) are constituted in an array in galvo units 30A and 30B, respectively. When constituting an optical switch device for switching the optical signal of an input 2 and an output 2, and four galvano mirrors are provided, respectively while two galvano mirrors are sufficient for each galvo unit because two optical paths are provided. Therefore, the number of the galvano mirrors constituted in one galvo unit is doubly affordable. The yield of the optical switch device in which a plurality of galvano mirrors are simultaneously manufactured in an array is improved, the service life of the optical switch after the operation is prolonged, or the repair cost in a failure can be reduced.

Claims

1. An optical switch device having a plurality of optical path selection elements for selectively switching a plurality of second optical paths to one or a plurality of first optical paths comprising:

at least one spare optical path selection element for the number required for exchanging the plurality of optical path selection elements in an optical switch device.

2. An optical switch device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical path selection elements are connected to each other as an optical element drive unit, and manufactured.

3. An optical switch device according to claim 2, wherein said optical element drive unit is a galvo unit having a mirror.

4. An optical switch device according to claim 2, wherein said spare optical path selection element is used for a spare for any defect when manufacturing said optical element drive unit.

5. An optical switch device according to claim 1, wherein said spare optical path selection element is used for a spare for any defect when operating said optical path selection element.

6. An optical switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said optical path selection element has a sensor comprising a light emitting element and a plurality of split light receiving elements.

7. An optical switch device according to claim 6, wherein said sensor detects the inclination of the mirror.

8. An optical switch device according to claim 6, wherein said light receiving element is a PSD (Position Sensitive Detector).

9. A switch device according to claim 2 or claim 3 comprising input-output optical fibers and at least two optical element drive units.

10. An optical switch device according to claim 9, wherein a beam splitting means and a light receiving element are arranged between said optical element drive unit and output optical fiber.

11. An optical switch device according to claim 10, wherein said beam splitting means is a beam splitter.

12. An optical switch device according to claim 9, further comprising an input-output box.

13. An optical switch device according to claim 12, wherein said input-output box has a means for coupling a plurality of optical fibers.