Closed loop alignment system for fiber optic cross-connect switches
First Claim
1. In an optical cross-connect switch coupling optical signals of a first set of wavelengths from the ends of optical fibers in a first fiber optic array to the ends of optical fibers in an array second fiber optic array, the cross-connect switch having at least one first mirror array which comprises at least one individually controllable, tiltable mirror positioned to direct the signal beams emitted from the end of one optical fiber in one array to the end of another optical fiber in the other array, an alignment system comprising:
- a source of an alignment light beam having a second wavelength different from the first set of wavelengths;
a detector array having output signals;
a first selectively semi-transparent optical component configured and positioned to inject the alignment light beam into the signal beams; and
a second selectively semi-transparent optical component configured and positioned to reflect the combined images of the ends of the fibers in the first fiber optic array superimposed on the ends of the fibers in die second fiber optic array onto said detector array, the output signals of said detector array being indicative of the degree of overlap coincidence of the images of the ends of the fibers from both the first and second fiber optic arrays.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed loop alignment system for cross-connect switches in optical telecommunications systems. Arrays of small tiltable mirrors within the switch direct the signal beams between optical fiber arrays connected to the switch. An external alignment system is incorporated into the cross-connect switch and is employed to provide an alignment beam of a wavelength different from the signal beams. Beam splitters such as dichroic mirrors, which pass the signal beams but pass only a portion of the alignment beams, are placed in the beam paths to image the ends of the optical fibers of the arrays. A combined image of the ends of the optical fibers from each array is reflected onto a photodetector array, output signals of which are sent to a feedback control system for comparison of the combined image to a stored tolerance range and consequently moves the tiltable mirrors as necessary for proper alignment.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In an optical cross-connect switch coupling optical signals of a first set of wavelengths from the ends of optical fibers in a first fiber optic array to the ends of optical fibers in an array second fiber optic array, the cross-connect switch having at least one first mirror array which comprises at least one individually controllable, tiltable mirror positioned to direct the signal beams emitted from the end of one optical fiber in one array to the end of another optical fiber in the other array, an alignment system comprising:
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a source of an alignment light beam having a second wavelength different from the first set of wavelengths;
a detector array having output signals;
a first selectively semi-transparent optical component configured and positioned to inject the alignment light beam into the signal beams; and
a second selectively semi-transparent optical component configured and positioned to reflect the combined images of the ends of the fibers in the first fiber optic array superimposed on the ends of the fibers in die second fiber optic array onto said detector array, the output signals of said detector array being indicative of the degree of overlap coincidence of the images of the ends of the fibers from both the first and second fiber optic arrays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of aligning optical signal beams between the ends of fibers in first and second optical fiber arrays in a fiber optic, cross-connect switch, the optical signals being of a first set of wavelengths, the switch having at least a first mirror array comprising at least one individually controllable, tiltable mirror positioned to direct the signal beams emitted from the end of one optical fiber in one optical fiber array to the end of another optical fiber in the other optical fiber array, the method comprising:
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injecting into the signal beams an alignment light beam having a second wavelength different from the first set of wavelengths;
creating combined images with the alignment light beam of the ends of the optical fibers in the first and second optical fiber arrays;
reflecting the combined images of the ends of the fibers in the first and second optical fiber arrays onto a detector array; and
providing output signals from the detector array, which output signals are indicative of the degree of overlap coincidence of the images of the ends of the fibers from both the first and second optical fiber arrays. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a fiber optic, cross-connect switch coupling optical signals of a first set of wavelengths from the ends of optical fibers in a first fiber optic array to the ends of optical fibers in an array second fiber optic array, the cross-connect switch having at least a first minor array which comprises at least one individually controllable, tiltable mirror positioned to direct the signal beams emitted from the end of one optical fiber in one fiber optic array to the end of another optical fiber in the other fiber optic array, a closed loop alignment system comprising:
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a source of an alignment light beam having a second wavelength different from the first set of wavelengths;
a detector array having output signals;
means for injecting the alignment beam into the signal beams; and
means for directing the reflected combination of the images of the ends of the optical fibers in the first and second fiber optic arrays onto said detector array, the output signals of said detector array being indicative of the relative alignment of the images of the ends of the fibers from both the first and second fiber optic arrays. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification