Optical switch

• US 8,335,413 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daylight Solutions, Inc. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Daylight Solutions, Inc. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Dromaretsky, Alexander, Pushkarsky, Michael, Borgardt, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): PEACE, RHONDA S
• Application Number:
  US13/267,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20120057366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4818 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/351 involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements G02B6/3538 takes precedence; interposed waveguides G02B6/3502
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3528 the optical element being a prism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3558 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation

Abstract

An optical fiber switch (16) for alternatively redirecting an input beam (14) comprises a redirector (18) and a redirector mover (20). The redirector (18) redirects the input beam (14) so that a redirected beam (46) alternatively launches from the redirector (18) (i) along a first redirected axis (354) that is spaced apart from a directed axis (344A) when the redirector (18) is positioned at a first position (348), and (ii) along a second redirected axis (356) that is spaced apart from the directed axis (344A) when the redirector (18) is positioned at a second position (350) that is different from the first position (348). The redirector mover (20) moves the redirector (18) about a movement axis (366) between the first position (348) and the second position (350).

Claims

1. An optical fiber switch for alternatively redirecting an input beam along a first redirected axis and along a second redirected axis, the input beam being launched along an input axis and directed along a directed axis, the optical switch comprising:

a redirector that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis, the redirector redirecting the input beam so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along the first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along the second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position; and

a redirector mover that moves the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector, wherein at least one of the stator component and the rotor component includes a component aperture, and wherein the input beam is directed through the component aperture.

2. The optical fiber switch of claim 1 wherein the component aperture is coaxial with the movement axis.

3. The optical fiber switch of claim 1 wherein the movement axis is substantially coaxial with the directed axis, and wherein the redirector is fixedly coupled to the rotor component.

4. The optical fiber switch of claim 1 wherein the redirector includes an input reflective surface that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis and an output reflective surface that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the input reflective surface, the input reflective surface being fixedly coupled to the output reflective surface.

5. The optical fiber switch of claim 1 further comprising a director having a director reflective surface that directs the input beam from the input axis to the directed axis.

6. The optical fiber switch of claim 1 further comprising a locking assembly that selectively locks the redirector at the first position and at the second position.

7. A light source assembly comprising a light source that generates an input beam, and the optical fiber switch of claim 1 that alternatively redirects the input beam along the first redirected axis and the second redirected axis.

8. The light source assembly of claim 7 further comprising a control system that controls the optical fiber switch to perform individual switching operations within a substantially constant movement time rate regardless of the temperature of the optical fiber switch.

9. A method for alternatively redirecting an input beam, the input beam being launched along an input axis, the method comprising the steps of:

directing the input beam along a directed axis;

positioning a redirector along the directed axis in the path of the input beam;

redirecting the input beam with the redirector so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along a first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along a second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position; and

moving the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position with a redirector mover, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector, wherein at least one of the stator component and the rotor component has a component aperture, and wherein the input beam is directed through the component aperture.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of moving the redirector includes the component aperture being coaxial with the movement axis.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of moving the redirector includes the movement axis being substantially coaxial with the directed axis, and wherein the step of positioning the redirector includes the step of fixedly coupling the redirector to the rotor component.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of positioning the redirector includes the redirector comprising an input reflective surface that is positioned along the directed axis in the path of the input beam, and an output reflective surface that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the input reflective surface, the input reflective surface being fixedly coupled to the output reflective surface.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of directing the input beam includes the step of directing the input beam from the input axis to the directed axis with a director reflective surface.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of selectively locking the redirector at the first position and at the second position with a locking assembly.

15. A method for forming a light source assembly including the steps of generating an input beam with a light source, and alternatively redirecting the input beam along the first redirected axis and along the second redirected axis with the method of claim 9.

16. An optical fiber switch for alternatively redirecting an input beam along a first redirected axis and along a second redirected axis, the input beam being launched along an input axis and directed along a directed axis, the optical switch comprising:

a redirector that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis, the redirector redirecting the input beam so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along the first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along the second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position;

a redirector mover that moves the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, wherein at least one of the stator component and the rotor component includes a component aperture;

wherein the input beam is directed through the component aperture; and

wherein the component aperture is coaxial with the movement axis; and

a locking assembly that selectively locks the redirector at the first position and at the second position.

17. An optical fiber switch for alternatively redirecting an input beam along a first redirected axis and along a second redirected axis, the input beam being launched along an input axis and directed along a directed axis, the optical switch comprising:

a director having a director reflective surface that directs the input beam from the input axis to the directed axis;

a window, wherein the input beam passes through the window prior to contacting the director reflective surface;

a redirector that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis, the redirector redirecting the input beam so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along the first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along the second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position; and

a redirector mover that moves the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the director reflective surface being positioned substantially between the stator component and the redirector, and the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector.

18. The optical fiber switch of claim 17 wherein the director includes a director shaft that extends through the window.

19. An optical fiber switch for alternatively redirecting an input beam along a first redirected axis and along a second redirected axis, the input beam being launched along an input axis and directed along a directed axis, the optical switch comprising:

a director having a director reflective surface that directs the input beam from the input axis to the directed axis;

a redirector that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis, the redirector redirecting the input beam so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along the first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along the second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position; and

a redirector mover that moves the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, at least one of the stator component and the rotor component including a component aperture, wherein the director includes a director shaft that extends through the component aperture, the director shaft retaining the director reflective surface such that the director reflective surface is positioned substantially between the stator component and the redirector, and the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector.

20. An optical fiber switch for alternatively redirecting an input beam along a first redirected axis and along a second redirected axis, the input beam being launched along an input axis and directed along a directed axis, the optical switch comprising:

a director having a director reflective surface that directs the input beam from the input axis to the directed axis;

a redirector that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis, the redirector redirecting the input beam so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along the first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along the second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position; and

a redirector mover that moves the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the director reflective surface being secured to the stator component, and the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector.

21. A light source assembly comprising:

a light source that generates an input beam;

an optical fiber switch that alternatively redirects the input beam along the first redirected axis and the second redirected axis, the optical fiber switch comprising a redirector that is positioned in the path of the input beam along the directed axis, the redirector redirecting the input beam so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along the first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along the second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position; and

a redirector mover that moves the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector; and

a control system that controls the optical fiber switch to perform individual switching operations within a substantially constant movement time rate regardless of the temperature of the optical fiber switch.

22. A method for alternatively redirecting an input beam, the input beam being launched along an input axis, the method comprising the steps of:

directing the input beam from the input axis to a directed axis with a director reflective surface, the director reflective surface being retained with a director shaft;

positioning a redirector along the directed axis in the path of the input beam;

redirecting the input beam with the redirector so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along a first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along a second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position;

moving the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position with a redirector mover, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, at least one of the stator component and the rotor component having a component aperture, the director shaft extending through the component aperture such that the director reflective surface is positioned substantially between the stator component and the redirector, and the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector.

23. A method for alternatively redirecting an input beam, the input beam being launched along an input axis, the method comprising the steps of:

directing the input beam from the input axis to a directed axis with a director reflective surface, the input beam passing through a window prior to the input beam contacting the director reflective surface;

positioning a redirector along the directed axis in the path of the input beam;

redirecting the input beam with the redirector so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along a first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along a second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position;

moving the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position with a redirector mover, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the director reflective surface being positioned substantially between the stator component and the redirector, and the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector.

24. A method for alternatively redirecting an input beam, the input beam being launched along an input axis, the method comprising the steps of:

directing the input beam from the input axis to a directed axis with a director reflective surface;

positioning a redirector along the directed axis in the path of the input beam;

redirecting the input beam with the redirector so that a redirected beam alternatively launches from the redirector (i) along a first redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a first position, and (ii) along a second redirected axis that is spaced apart from the directed axis when the redirector is positioned at a second position that is different from the first position;

moving the redirector about a movement axis between the first position and the second position with a redirector mover, the redirector mover including a stator component and a rotor component that moves relative to the stator component, the director reflective surface being secured to the stator component, and the input beam being directed along the directed axis substantially between the stator component and the redirector prior to the input beam being redirected by the redirector.