Multi-channel fiber optical switch

• US 6,269,201 B1
• Filed: 08/07/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lightech Fiberoptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lightech Fiberoptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Ko, Chun-Ming, Tsai, Jian-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US09/131,283
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15-23, 385/24, 385/25, 385/47, 385/31, 385/33, 385/52, 385/59, 359/127, 359/128
• US Class Current: 385/22
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3514 the reflective optical element moving along a line so as to translate into and out of the beam path, i.e. across the beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3572 Magnetic force magnetic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/085; magneto-optic devices G02F1/09

Abstract

A one-by-N fiber optical switch is provided wherein an optical signal is transmitted between a common optical fiber and one of a plurality of optical fibers. The one-by-N fiber optical switch includes reflector assemblies that are respectively movable between a first position and a second position to route the optical signal between the common optical fiber and the selected optical fiber. The one-by-N optical switch further includes magnetic reflector assembly movers that create electrically induced magnetic forces to respectively move the reflector assemblies between their first positions and second positions. An N-by-N optical switch can be created by cross-connecting a number of input common optical one-by-N switches with an equal number of output common optical one-by-N switches.

Claims

1. A one-by-N fiber optical switch, comprising:

a base;

a first optical fiber having a first optical axis, said first optical fiber being fixed relative to said base;

a first reflector corresponding to said first optical fiber, said first reflector being mechanically coupled to said base, said first reflector capable of being in a first position,

said first reflector being movable between a first position and a second position;

a first series of optical fibers having first optical axes substantially coplanar with and substantially parallel to said first optical axis, said first series of optical fibers being fixed relative to said base and being adjacent said first optical fiber, said first series of optical fibers comprising a first plurality of optical fibers;

a first series of reflectors mechanically coupled to said base, said first series of reflectors comprising a first plurality of movable reflectors respectively corresponding to said first plurality of optical fibers and being respectively movable between first positions and second positions;

whereby said first series of optical fibers are optically engaged with said first optical fiber when said first reflector is in said first position;

whereby said first plurality of optical fibers are respectively optically aligned with said first optical fiber when said first plurality of reflectors are respectively in said first positions, and said first plurality of optical fibers are respectively optically misaligned with said first optical fiber when said first plurality of reflectors are respectively in second positions;

a second series of optical fibers having second optical axes substantially coplanar with and substantially parallel to said first optical axis, said second series of optical fibers being fixed relative to said base opposite said first optical fiber, said second series of optical fibers comprising a second plurality of optical fibers;

a second series of reflectors mechanically coupled to said base, said second series of reflectors comprising a second plurality of movable reflectors respectively corresponding to said second plurality of optical fibers and being respectively movable between first positions and second positions;

a common terminal reflector fixed relative to said base, said common terminal reflector being opposite said first movable reflector and adjacent said second plurality of movable reflectors;

whereby said first series of optical fibers are optically engaged and said second series of optical fibers are optically disengaged when said first reflector is in said first position; and

whereby said first series of optical fibers are optically disengaged and said second series of optical fibers are engaged when said first reflector is in said second position; and

whereby said second plurality of optical fibers are respectively optically aligned with said first optical fiber when said second plurality of reflectors are respectively in said first positions, and said second plurality of optical fibers are respectively optically misaligned with said first optical fiber when said second plurality of reflectors are respectively in second positions.

2. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 1,

wherein said second series of optical fibers further comprise a second terminal optical fiber; and

wherein said second series of reflectors further comprise a second terminal reflector corresponding to said second terminal optical fiber and fixed relative said base;

whereby said second terminal optical fiber is optically aligned with said first optical fiber.

3. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 2, wherein said first series of optical fibers comprise eight optical fibers, said first series of reflectors comprise eight reflectors, said second series of optical fibers comprise eight optical fibers, and said second series of reflectors comprise eight reflectors.

4. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 2, wherein said first optical fiber is an input optical fiber, said first series of optical fibers and said second series of optical fibers comprises output optical fibers, and all of said optical fibers respectively comprise GRIN lenses.

5. A one-by-N fiber optical switch, comprising:

a base;

a common optical fiber having a common optical axis, said common optical fiber fixably mounted to said base;

at least one first intermediate optical fiber having at least one first intermediate optical axis, said at least one first intermediate optical fiber fixably mounted to said base adjacent said common optical fiber, said at least one first intermediate optical fiber substantially coplanar with and substantially parallel to said common optical fiber;

a common reflector assembly mounted to said base, said common reflector positioned to intersect said common optical axis to create a first deflected optical axis;

at least one first intermediate reflector assembly movably mounted to said base adjacent said common reflector assembly, said at least one first intermediate reflector assembly movable to a first position to intersect said first deflected optical axis and said at least one first intermediate optical axis, said at least one first intermediate reflector assembly movable to a second position to bypass said first deflected optical axis;

at least one second intermediate optical fiber having at least one second intermediate optical axis, said at least one second intermediate optical fiber fixably mounted to said base opposite said common optical fiber, said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly substantially coplanar with and substantially parallel to said common optical fiber;

a common terminal reflector assembly mounted to said base opposite said common reflector assembly, said common terminal reflector assembly positioned to intersect said common optical axis to create a second deflector optical axis; and

at least one second intermediate reflector assembly movably mounted to said base adjacent said common terminal reflector assembly, said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly movable to a first position to intersect said second deflected optical axis and said at least one second intermediate optical axis, said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly movable to a second position to bypass said second deflected optical axis;

wherein said common reflector assembly is movably mounted to said base, said common reflector assembly is movable between a first position and a second position to alternately intersect and bypass said common optical axis.

6. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 5, further comprising:

a first terminal optical fiber having a first terminal optical axis, said first terminal optical fiber fixably mounted to said base adjacent said at least one first intermediate optical fiber, said first terminal optical fiber being substantially coplanar with and substantially parallel to said common optical fiber;

a first terminal reflector assembly mounted to said base adjacent said at least one first intermediate reflector assembly, said first terminal reflector assembly positioned to intersect said first deflected optical axis and said first terminal optical axis;

a second terminal optical fiber having a second terminal optical axis, said second terminal optical fiber fixably mounted to said base adjacent said at least one second intermediate optical fiber, said second terminal optical fiber being substantially coplanar with and substantially parallel to said common optical fiber; and

a second terminal reflector assembly mounted to said base adjacent said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly, said second terminal reflector assembly positioned to intersect said second deflected optical axis and said second terminal optical axis.

7. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 6, further comprising at least one first magnet reflector mover respectively magnetically coupled to said at least one first intermediate reflector assembly, at least one second magnet reflector assembly mover respectively magnetically coupled to said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly, and a common magnet reflector assembly mover magnetically coupled to said common reflector assembly.

8. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 6, wherein said first terminal reflector assembly, said second terminal reflector assembly, and said common terminal reflector assembly are fixably mounted to said base.

9. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 8, wherein said common reflector assembly, said at least one first intermediate reflector assembly, said first terminal reflector assembly, said common terminal reflector assembly, said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly, and said second terminal reflector assembly respectively comprise a first common reflector, at least one first intermediate reflector, a first terminal reflector, a common terminal reflector, at least one second intermediate reflector, and a second terminal reflector;

wherein when said common reflector assembly and said at least one first intermediate reflector assembly are in said first positions, said common reflector, said at least one first intermediate reflector, and said first terminal reflector respectively intersect said common optical axis, said at least one first intermediate optical axis, and said first terminal axis at forty-five degree angles, and said first terminal reflector and said at least one first intermediate reflector face are orthogonally positioned with respect to said common reflector; and

wherein when said at least one second intermediate reflector assembly is in said first position, said common terminal reflector, said at least one second intermediate reflector, and said second terminal reflector respectively intersect said common optical axis, said at least one second intermediate optical axis, and said second terminal axis at forty-five degree angles, and said second terminal reflector and said at least one second intermediate reflector are orthogonally positioned with respect to said common terminal reflector.

10. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 9, wherein said common optical fiber is an input optical fiber, and said at least one first intermediate optical fiber, said first terminal optical fiber, said at least one second intermediate optical fiber, and said second terminal optical fiber are output optical fibers.

11. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 9, wherein said at least one first intermediate optical fiber and said at least one second intermediate optical fiber each comprises one optical fiber.

12. The one-by-N fiber optical switch of claim 9, wherein said at least one first intermediate optical fiber and said at least one second intermediate optical fiber each comprises seven optical fibers.

13. A method of transmitting an optical signal from a common optical fiber to one optical fiber of a series of optical fibers having optical axes parallel to a common optical axis of the common optical fiber, the method comprising the steps:

transmitting said optical signal from said common optical fiber along a common optical axis;

deflecting said optical signal at a ninety-degree angle along a deflected optical axis adjacent said series of optical fibers;

deflecting said optical signal at a ninety-degree angle along an optical axis of said one optical fiber of said series of optical fibers; and

receiving said optical signal into said one optical fiber of said series of optical fibers

wherein said series of optical fibers are a first and second series of optical fibers, the first series of optical fibers adjacent the common optical fiber, the second series of optical fibers opposite the common optical fiber, the method further comprising the step of bypassing said first series of optical fibers.