EP0352900A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Reversible optical switch
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1989-06-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An optical switch comprising, a first optical coupling (107) for coupling a first pair of optical fibers Tx,Rx) to a second pair of optical fibers (O,I) a second optical coupling (108) for coupling the optical fibers (Tx, Rx) each other and for coupling the optical fibers (O,I) to each other, and a mechanized assembly (100) for aligning either the first ooptical coupling (107) or the second optical coupling (108) with the corresponding optical fibers (Tx,Rx,O,I) the optical fibers (Rx,Rx) are aligned with corresponding duplex connectors (136, 136) of a transceiver (130), and the optical fibers (O,I) are aligned with one end (144) of an interconnect housing (142) having a second end (140) into which are pluggably received a corresponding connector (133, 135, 133A) for optical cables (132, 134) in alignment with the duplex connectors (136, 136) and corresponding optical fibers (Rx, Tx, O,I) of each pair, and the mechanized assembly (100) includes a pair of waveguides (30, 40) with looped optical paths, each of the looped optical paths being in alignment with a corresponding pair of optical fibers (Rx, Tx, O, I) upon movement of the mechanized assembly (100).
Inventors
- 👤 Terry Patrick Bowen
- 👤 Sherry Jilene Harms
- 👤 John Carey Hoffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:05
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/354; G02B6/3562; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3508; G02B6/351; G02B6/3512; G02B6/3514; G02B6/352; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3572
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
An optical switch comprising, a first pair of optical fibers Rx, Tx, a second pair of optical fibers O, I a first optical coupling (107) for coupling the optical fibers Rx, Tx of the first pair to corresponding optical fibers O, I of the second pair, a second optical coupling (108) for coupling the optical fibers Rx, Tx of the first pair to each other and for coupling the optical fibers O, I of the second pair to each other, and a mechanized assembly (100) for aligning either the first optical coupling (107) or the second optical coupling (108) with the corresponding optical fibers Rx, Tx, O, I, wherein the improvement comprises; the optical fibers Rx, Tx of the first pair are aligned with corresponding duplex connectors (136, 136) of a transceiver (130), and the optical fibers, I of the second pair are aligned with one end (144) of an interconnect housing (142) having a second end (140) into which are pluggably received corresponding connectors (133), (135, 133A) for optical cables (132, 134) in alignment with the duplex connectors (136, 136) and corresponding optical fibers Rx, Tx, O, I of each pair, a solenoid (120) for moving the mechanized assembly (100), the mechanized assembly 100 includes lenses (109a, 109b) aligned with corresponding optical fibers Rx, Tx, O, I of each pair, and the mechanized assembly (100) includes a pair of waveguides (30, 40) with looped optical paths, each of the looped optical paths being in alignment with a corresponding pair of optical fibers Tx, Rx, O, I upon movement of the mechanized assembly (100) by the solenoid (120).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
An optical switch comprising, a first pair of optical fibers Rx, Tx, a second pair of optical fibers O, I a first optical coupling (107) for coupling the optical fibers Rx, Tx of the first pair to corresponding optical fibers O, I of the second pair, a second optical coupling (108) for coupling the optical fibers Rx, Tx of the first pair to each other and for coupling the optical fibers O, I of the second pair to each other, and a mechanized assembly (100) for aligning either the first optical coupling (107) or the second optical coupling (108) with the corresponding optical fibers Rx, Tx, O, I, wherein the improvement comprises; the optical fibers Rx, Tx of the first pair are aligned with corresponding duplex connectors (136, 136) of a transceiver (130), and the optical fibers, I of the second pair are aligned with one end (144) of an interconnect housing (142) having a second end (140) into which are pluggably received corresponding connectors (133), (135, 133A) for optical cables (132, 134) in alignment with the duplex connectors (136, 136) and corresponding optical fibers Rx, Tx, O, I of each pair, a solenoid (120) for moving the mechanized assembly (100), the mechanized assembly 100 includes lenses (109a, 109b) aligned with corresponding optical fibers Rx, Tx, O, I of each pair, and the mechanized assembly (100) includes a pair of waveguides (30, 40) with looped optical paths, each of the looped optical paths being in alignment with a corresponding pair of optical fibers Tx, Rx, O, I upon movement of the mechanized assembly (100) by the solenoid (120).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; the lenses (109a, 109b) and the pair of waveguides (30, 40) are mounted along guide rails (104, 104), a stop (124) is provided at one end of the guide rails (104, 104) for stopping motion of the lenses (109a, 109b) and the waveguides (30, 40) along the guide rails (104, 104), and the solenoid (120) is at the opposite end of the guide rails (104, 104).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; the assembly (100) includes a permanent magnet (122) facing the solenoid (120) and moveable along the guide rails (104, 104) with the lenses (109a, 109b) and the waveguides (30, 40).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each of the waveguides (30, 40) is a reflector with two parabolic reflecting surfaces (42, 44, 32, 34).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each of the waveguides (30, 40) is a glass substrate having waveguide channels between beveled end faces (55, 56, 57, 58).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each of the waveguides (30, 40) is an optical fiber (36, 46).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; the corresponding optical cable (132, 134) provides an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber aligned with the corresponding fibers Tx, Rx, O, I of each pair, and the input optical fiber is connected to the output optical fiber by a corresponding waveguide (30, 40).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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