Fiber optic switch

Claim 2

A fiber optic switch for optically connecting and disconnecting a first and a second light conductor, said first conductor having an axis, said switch comprising: a transverse adjusting element for moving an end of the first conductor transverse to the conductor axis between first and second fixed transverse switch positions; and an axial adjusting element for moving the end of the first conductor in the direction of the conductor axis between first and second fixed axial switch positions; characterized in that: the transverse adjusting element and the axial adjusting element are separately actuable such that the end of the first conductor can be moved transversely without being moved axially, and the end of the first conductor can be moved axially without being moved transversely; and the axial adjusting element moves the end of the conductor by expanding or contracting substantially uniformly in the direction of the conductor axis.

Claim 3

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the axial adjusting element comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

Claim 4

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the transverse adjusting element and the axial adjusting element are combined with one another to form an adjusting member.

Claim 5

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the transverse adjusting element is a piezoelectric bending beam.

Claim 6

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the transverse adjusting element is a piezoelectric disc.

Claim 7

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the transverse adjusting element is a piezoelectric plate.

Claim 8

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the axial adjusting element is a piezoelectric disc.

Claim 9

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the axial adjusting element is a piezoelectric plate.

Claim 10

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting member is a piezoelectric multimorphous strip.

Claim 11

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the adjusting member has an end rigidly connected to a housing.

Claim 12

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that: the axial adjusting element comprises a uniformly polarized piezoelectric material; and the transverse adjusting element comprises a piezoelectric member having two oppositely polarized layers.

Claim 13

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the piezoelectric member is provided with planar electrodes perpendicular to the polarization of the member but parallel to the layers thereof.

Claim 14

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting member accommodates ends of two or more light conductors.

Claim 15

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the light conductors are arranged in longitudinal ducts in the adjusting member.

Claim 16

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the adjusting member is movable between first and second switch positions, and is aligned in one or both positions by an abutment.

Claim 17

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the abutment is formed by a holder of the second light conductor.

Claim 18

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switch further comprises a control stage for generating actuating signals for the adjusting elements to align the first light conductor at the switch positions.

Claim 19

A fiber optic switch as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the switch further comprises a light receiver arranged at each switch position, the outputs of the light receivers being input into the control stage, the control stage actuating the adjusting element to minimize the light received by the receivers.

Claim 20

A fiber optic switch for optically connecting and disconnecting a first and a second light conductor, said first conductor having an axis, said switch comprising: a transverse adjusting element for moving an end of the first conductor transverse to the conductor axis between first and second fixed transverse switch positions; and an axial adjusting element for moving the end of the first conductor in the direction of the conductor axis between first and second fixed axial switch positions; characterized in that: the transverse adjusting element and the axial adjusting element are separately actuable such that the end of the first conductor can be moved transversely at any axial position without being moved axially, and the end of the first conductor can be moved axially at any transverse position without being moved transversely; and the axial adjusting element moves the end of the conductor by expanding or contracting substantially uniformly in the direction of the conductor axis.

Claim 21

A fiber optic switch for optically connecting and disconnecting a first and a second light conductor, said first conductor having an axis, said switch comprising: a transverse adjusting element for moving an end of the first conductor transverse to the conductor axis between first and second fixed transverse switch positions; and an axial adjusting element for moving the end of the first conductor in the direction of the conductor axis between first and second fixed axial switch positions; characterized in that: the transverse adjusting element and the axial adjusting element are separately actuable such that the end of the first conductor can be moved transversely at any axial position without being moved axially, and the end of the first conductor can be moved axially at any transverse position without being moved transversely; and the axial adjusting element moves the end of the conductor by expanding or contracting substantially uniformly in the direction of the conductor axis.