Fiber optic rotary switching device
First Claim
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1. A fiber optic rotary switching device, comprising:
- means for securing a plurality of optical fibers in predetermined spaced apart relationship with respect to each other;
a single optical fiber having a first end and a second end, said single optical fiber being positioned adjacent said plurality of optical fibers;
rotatable means interposed between said plurality of optical fibers securing means and said single optical fiber for mounting said first end of said single optical fiber thereto for movement therewith in such a manner that said single optical fiber flexes with respect to said second end thereof yet is prevented from twisting as said rotatable optical fiber mounting means rotates; and
means operably connected to said rotatable optical fiber mounting means for rotating said optical fiber mounting means to a plurality of predetermined positions in which said first end of said single optical fiber is optically aligned with a preselected one of said plurality of optical fibers.
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Abstract
A fiber optic rotary switching device having a single optical fiber rotatable between a plurality of optical fibers. The arrangement for rotating the single optical fiber is designed such that the single optical fiber flexes but does not twist with respect to an end thereof which is fixed to a light source (or, in the alternative to a light detector). As a result, the switching device switches light passing through the single optical fiber to a preselected one of the plurality of optical fibers while simultaneously preventing extraneous light from reaching the other optical fibers.
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20 Claims
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1. A fiber optic rotary switching device, comprising:
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means for securing a plurality of optical fibers in predetermined spaced apart relationship with respect to each other; a single optical fiber having a first end and a second end, said single optical fiber being positioned adjacent said plurality of optical fibers; rotatable means interposed between said plurality of optical fibers securing means and said single optical fiber for mounting said first end of said single optical fiber thereto for movement therewith in such a manner that said single optical fiber flexes with respect to said second end thereof yet is prevented from twisting as said rotatable optical fiber mounting means rotates; and means operably connected to said rotatable optical fiber mounting means for rotating said optical fiber mounting means to a plurality of predetermined positions in which said first end of said single optical fiber is optically aligned with a preselected one of said plurality of optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification