JP2000066125A - Light switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: In an optical switch, when a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are stacked and arranged, the size in the height direction can be reduced, so that the device can be downsized and highly integrated. To SOLUTION: In each fiber alignment groove 15 on a substrate 9, a plurality of fixed side optical fibers 6 stripped from the tip of a tape fiber 5 are arranged. On the fixed-side optical fiber 6, a plurality of fixed fixed-side optical fibers 6 stripped from the tip of another tape fiber 5 are simultaneously attached to two adjacent fixed-side optical fibers 6 on the lower side. Stacked to touch. Then, the distal end portions of all the fixed side optical fibers 6 are cut, and the end faces of the fixed side optical fibers 6 are the same.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch for selectively optically connecting a plurality of fixed optical fibers and movable optical fibers arranged in a fiber arrangement member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional optical switch, for example, a switch described in JP-A-9-80329 is known. The optical switch described in this publication is provided with two optical fiber holders provided with a plurality of guide grooves for fixing each optical fiber of the fixed-side optical fiber cable, and each optical fiber of the fixed-side optical fiber cable. An optical fiber moving mechanism for moving the movable optical fiber. The two optical fiber holders are arranged in an overlapping manner, and each optical fiber of the fixed-side optical fiber cable is divided and arranged in each guide groove of the optical fiber holder.

[0003]

However, in the above prior art, since two optical fiber holders for holding the fixed side optical fiber are stacked,
The size in the height direction becomes large, and it is difficult to achieve miniaturization and high integration of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch capable of reducing the size in the height direction when a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are stacked and arranged, thereby achieving miniaturization and high integration of the device. That is.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fixed-side optical fiber comprising a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers arranged on a fiber array member, the movable-side optical fibers being opposed to each other. In the optical switch for selectively optically connecting the optical fiber and the movable optical fiber, a plurality of fixed optical fibers are brought into contact with each other and stacked on a fiber array member to form a multi-stage structure.

As described above, by stacking a plurality of fixed optical fibers in contact with each other, the dimension in the height direction is reduced as compared with a case where several fiber array members in which the fixed optical fibers are arrayed are stacked. Thus, miniaturization and high integration of the device can be achieved. Further, since only one fiber array member is required, the structure is simplified.

In the above optical switch, preferably, the lowermost fixed optical fiber among the plurality of fixed optical fibers is arranged in a fiber alignment groove formed on the surface of the fiber arrangement member. I do. Thereby, the fixed-side optical fibers located at the lowermost stage can be easily arranged at substantially the same pitch on the fiber arrangement member.
Therefore, the axis alignment of the fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber located at the lowermost stage can be easily performed, and as a result, the connection loss between the fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber is reduced.

Preferably, the upper fixed optical fibers are stacked so that two adjacent lower fixed optical fibers are simultaneously in contact with each other. This makes it possible to easily arrange the second or higher fixed optical fibers at substantially the same pitch on the fiber arrangement member.
Therefore, the axis alignment of the second-stage or higher fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber can be easily performed, and as a result, the connection loss between the fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber is reduced.

Further, preferably, in a state where the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are arranged in a fiber arrangement member in a multi-stage structure, the distal end portion of the fixed-side optical fiber is cut and the end faces of the fixed-side optical fiber are flush with each other. Configuration. Thus, when the movable optical fiber is opposed to the fixed optical fiber, the distance between the end face of the movable optical fiber and the end face of the fixed optical fiber becomes constant. Variation in connection loss with the connection is prevented. In addition, cutting can be easily performed.

Preferably, in a state where the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are arranged in a fiber arrangement member in a multi-stage structure, a tip portion of the second or more fixed-side optical fibers of the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers is provided. And the cladding portion of the fixed-side optical fiber located thereunder are cut at the same time, so that the fixed-side optical fibers are arranged stepwise. Thus, when the movable optical fiber is opposed to the fixed optical fiber, the distance between the end surface of the movable optical fiber and the end surface of the fixed optical fiber is constant in the same stage, so that the fixed optical fiber Variations in connection loss with the side optical fiber are prevented. Further, the fixed-side optical fiber excluding the fixed-side optical fiber located at the uppermost stage is cut only in the clad portion and not cut in the core portion, so that an increase in loss of the optical fiber is prevented.

Preferably, the movable side optical fiber has a multi-stage structure. This makes it possible to collectively connect a fixed number of fixed-side optical fibers in a multi-stage manner, thereby shortening the operation time for connecting the fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber.

In this case, preferably, the movable side optical fibers are adjacent to each other, and the movable side optical fiber has a configuration in which the number of cores on the lower side is larger than that on the upper side. Thereby, the movable-side optical fiber is kept in a stable state, and it is easy to make a collective connection with the fixed-side optical fiber.

Preferably, each of the movable optical fibers is joined near the tip. As a result, the number of cores on the upper and lower stages of the movable optical fiber is the same,
Alternatively, even if the number of cores on the lower side is smaller than that on the upper side of the movable side optical fiber, the movable side optical fiber is kept in a stable state, and the collective connection with the fixed side optical fiber is facilitated.

Further, preferably, when the fixed side optical fiber and the movable side optical fiber are selectively optically connected to each other, an auxiliary member is interposed between the fiber array member and the movable side optical fiber to form a fiber array member. In the above, the movable optical fiber is made higher. Accordingly, when the number of stages of the movable-side optical fiber is smaller than the number of stages of the fixed-side optical fiber, connection with the fixed-side optical fiber located at the upper stage can be easily performed.

Further, moving means for moving the movable optical fiber in three axial directions may be provided. Thereby, when the number of stages of the movable-side optical fiber is smaller than the number of stages of the fixed-side optical fiber and the fixed-side optical fibers are arranged stepwise, connection with the fixed-side optical fiber located at the upper stage is easy. Can be done.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an optical switch according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the optical switch is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an optical switch according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the optical switch 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 3 which can be opened and closed, and a sealed case 11 which can be opened and closed is arranged in the housing 3. This sealed case 1
An optical fiber alignment member 1 comprising a substantially rectangular substrate 9
The fixed-side optical fiber 6 includes a plurality (32 in this case) of fixed-side optical fibers 6 stripped from the tips of a plurality of (four in this case) tape fibers 5. A fiber group 60 is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, each tape fiber 5 is formed as an eight-core tape fiber in which eight fixed optical fibers 6 are bundled and covered, and are stacked in four stages. Therefore, 32 fixed optical fibers 6 are juxtaposed on the substrate 9. Here, the four tape fibers 5 are referred to as 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d in order from the top, and the fixed optical fibers 6 stripped from the tips of the tape fibers 5a to 5d are referred to as 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, respectively.

Returning to FIG. 1, a head base 12 which moves in the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) of the fixed-side optical fibers 6 is disposed in the sealed case 11, and the head base 12 has a movable arm. 14 is fixed. At the distal end of the movable arm 14, there are provided two sets of movable-side optical fibers 7 each including a plurality of (here, three) movable-side optical fibers 7.
When the movable arm 14 is actuated, the distal end of each movable optical fiber 7 comes into contact with the substrate 9 of the optical fiber alignment member 10.

The fixed optical fiber 6 is a tape fiber 5
As shown in the figure, the liquid is guided to the outside through the through hole 11a of the sealed case 11 and the fiber outlet 16a of the housing 3. The movable optical fiber 7 is provided in the through hole 1 of the sealed case 11.
1b and the movable optical fiber lead-out part 17 of the housing 3 to the outside. After the fixed optical fiber 6 and the movable optical fiber 7 are inserted into the through holes 11a and 11b, the through holes 11a and 11b are sealed in a liquid-tight state or sealed with an adhesive.

A coupling position selecting mechanism 21 for driving the head base 12 in the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) of the fixed optical fibers 6 is provided in the housing 3. The coupling position selection mechanism 21 includes a screw shaft 22 extending in the X-axis direction in the housed sealed case 11, a female screw portion 23 provided on the head base 12 and screwed to the screw shaft 22.
A stepping motor 24 having an encoder 24 a as a driving source for driving the screw shaft 22, and a bearing 25 fixed to the sealed case 11 and supporting the screw shaft 22
During normal switching and address adjustment,
In order to achieve the pitch feed of the movable arm 14 and the head base 12, a control unit 26 for controlling the rotation of the stepping motor 24 is provided.

The structure of the fixed-side optical fiber group 60 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a predetermined number (here, 16) of fiber alignment grooves 15 extending linearly in the optical fiber coupling direction (Y-axis direction) is formed on the surface of the substrate 9. The fixed side optical fibers 6 are arranged on one side of the optical fiber 15 and fixed by an adhesive, and the movable side optical fibers 7 are mounted on the other side of the fiber alignment groove 15.
Is introduced.

The arrangement and fixation of the fixed-side optical fibers 6 on the substrate 9 are performed as follows. First, an adhesive is poured into each fiber alignment groove 15, and the second-stage tape fiber 5
The fixed-side optical fibers 6c of c and the fixed-side optical fibers 6d of the first-stage tape fiber 5d are alternately arranged one by one from the one end side (left side in the drawing) in each fiber alignment groove 15. Next, an adhesive is applied onto each of the fixed-side optical fibers 6c and 6d arranged in each of the fiber alignment grooves 15, and
The fixed-side optical fibers 6a of the first-stage tape fiber 5a and the fixed-side optical fibers 6b of the third-stage tape fiber 5b are simultaneously brought into contact with the lower-side fixed-side optical fibers 6a and 6b. Fibers 6a and 6
b. One by one from the one end (left side in the figure).

Thereafter, the fixed optical fibers 6a to 6d
The fixed-side optical fibers 6a to 6d are bonded and fixed on the substrate 9 by pressing the fixed-side optical fiber group 60 made of from above with the cover plate 8. Then, the distal end portion of each of the fixed-side optical fibers 6a to 6d is cut by a cutting polisher (not shown) so as to be cut.
Shall be the same surface. Reference numeral 9a denotes a cutting groove formed by cutting with a cutting grinder. Thus, the operation of setting the fixed-side optical fiber group 60 on the substrate 9 is completed.

Subsequently, the structure of the movable side optical fiber group 70,
A mechanism for introducing each movable side optical fiber 7 of the movable side optical fiber group 70 into the optical fiber alignment groove 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, one end of a movable arm 14 is rotatably supported by a mount 30 fixed to the head base 12 via a support shaft 32,
At the other end of the movable arm 14, two movable optical fiber groups 70 (only one set is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) composed of three movable optical fibers 7 are fixed via a fiber fixing member 31. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 5, the movable-side optical fiber group 70 has a two-stage structure in which two movable-side optical fibers 7 are arranged on the lower side and one on the upper side. One movable side optical fiber 7 on the upper stage is stacked so as to simultaneously contact two adjacent movable side optical fibers 7.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the movable side optical fiber group 70
The end face of each movable optical fiber 7 is the same plane, and a joint 13 is formed near the tip of each movable optical fiber 7. It is preferable that the joining portion 13 is formed by fusing the movable optical fibers 7 to each other from the viewpoint of the stability and reliability of fixing the movable optical fibers 7. Of course,
Other methods, for example, the movable side optical fibers 7 may be joined together with an adhesive.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, a compression spring 29 is interposed between the base end of the movable arm 14 and the mount 30.
The tip of the movable arm 14 is lifted upward by the spring 29. Instead of providing the compression spring 29 between the movable arm 14 and the mounting table 30 as described above, a leaf spring may be used as the movable arm, and this leaf spring may be mounted on the mounting table 30. Further, a block-shaped fiber pressing member 33 for pressing the movable optical fiber 7 from above is fixed to the distal end portion of the fiber fixing member 31.

Further, the mount 30 is provided with a movable arm drive mechanism 34 for driving the movable arm 14.
The movable arm drive mechanism 34 has a pressing arm 35 located above the movable arm 14 and extending along the movable arm 14. One end of the pressing arm 35 is fixed to the mounting table 30, The end extends to near the distal end of the movable arm 14 to form a pressing portion 35a.
It is bent in a letter shape. The pressing arm 35 is
It has a spring property and is forcibly lifted by the operation bar 36. The operation bar 36 is provided for the pressing arm 3.
5 and the movable arm 14, one end surface of which is supported by the plunger 37 a of the solenoid 37.
9 is fixed to a swing portion 38 that swings around the center.

In the optical switch 1 constructed as described above, when the plunger 37a is retracted in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4, the swing portion 38 rotates in the direction of arrow C, and the pressing portion 35 is pressed by the spring force of the pressing arm 35 itself. 35a is the movable arm 14
Press the tip of from above. Then, the tip of the movable arm 14 rotates in the direction of arrow D about the support shaft 32, and the two movable optical fibers 7 below the movable optical fiber group 70 enter the optical fiber alignment groove 15. At this time, the tip of each movable optical fiber 7 is pressed from above by the fiber pressing member 33, and the movable optical fiber 7 is
Pressed to 5.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the two movable optical fibers 7 on the lower stage of the movable optical fiber group 70 are connected to two adjacent fixed optical fibers on the lower stage of the fixed optical fiber group 60. The movable optical fiber group 7 opposes the fibers 6c and 6d at a desired interval, and one movable optical fiber 7 in the upper stage of the movable optical fiber group 70 is desirably in the upper fixed optical fiber 6a or 6b of the fixed optical fiber group 60. Oppose with an interval of. Therefore, each movable optical fiber 7 of the movable optical fiber group 70 can be collectively connected to the fixed optical fiber 6.

In this embodiment constructed as described above, a plurality of fixed optical fibers 6 stripped from the tip of the tape fiber 5 are stacked in contact with each other, as in the prior art. Therefore, the size in the height direction is smaller than when a plurality of fiber array members in which a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are arrayed are stacked, whereby the size and integration of the device can be reduced. Further, since only one fiber array member 10 is required, the structure is simplified.

At this time, the fixed optical fibers 6c and 6d on the lower side of the fixed optical fiber group 60 are
Since the fixed side optical fibers 6c and 6d can be easily arranged at substantially the same pitch on the substrate 9 because they are arranged in the fiber alignment grooves 15 formed above. Therefore, the fixed optical fibers 6c and 6d and the movable optical fiber 7
Can be easily performed, and as a result, the connection loss between the fixed-side optical fibers 6c and 6d and the movable-side optical fiber 7 is reduced.

On the other hand, the fixed optical fibers 6a and 6b on the upper stage side of the fixed optical fiber group 60 are stacked so as to simultaneously contact two adjacent fixed optical fibers 6c and 6d on the lower stage. Therefore, the fixed side optical fibers 6a and 6b can be easily arranged at substantially the same pitch. Therefore, the fixed optical fibers 6a, 6a
b and the movable-side optical fiber 7 can be easily aligned, and as a result, the fixed-side optical fibers 6a, 6b
Connection loss between the optical fiber 7 and the movable optical fiber 7 is reduced.

The movable optical fiber group 70 has a two-stage structure in which two movable optical fibers 7 are arranged on the lower stage and one movable optical fiber 7 is arranged on the upper stage. The two fixed-side optical fibers 6 and the upper fixed-side optical fiber 6 can be collectively optically connected, and the working time for optical connection can be reduced.

At this time, the number of the movable side optical fibers 7 on the lower side of the movable side optical fiber group 70 is made larger than that on the upper side,
In addition, since the movable optical fibers 7 are joined near the respective ends, the movable optical fibers 7 are kept in a very stable state, and the collective connection with the fixed optical fiber 6 is facilitated.

Further, the end portion of each fixed-side optical fiber 6 is cut so that the end surface of the fixed-side optical fiber 6 becomes the same surface, and the end surface of each movable-side optical fiber 7 also becomes the same surface. Therefore, when the movable optical fiber 7 is opposed to the fixed optical fiber 6, the distance between the end face of the movable optical fiber 7 and the end face of the fixed optical fiber 6 becomes substantially constant. The connection loss between the optical fiber 6 and the movable optical fiber 7 hardly varies.
Further, since the cutting process is performed so that the end faces of the fixed side optical fibers 6 are the same, the cutting process can be easily performed.

In the present embodiment, the movable optical fibers 7 are joined near the respective ends. However, as described above, the number of the movable optical fibers 7 in the lower stage of the movable optical fiber group 70 is changed to the upper stage. By setting the number to be larger than that, the movable optical fibers 7 are kept in a stable state to some extent, so that the movable optical fibers 7 do not necessarily have to be joined to each other.

After all the fixed side optical fibers 6 are arranged on the fiber array member 10, the distal end portion of each fixed side optical fiber 6 is cut. However, the fixed side optical fibers 6 are arranged. At this point, the end face of each fixed-side optical fiber 6 is substantially the same, and if the connection accuracy is not so affected, it is not particularly necessary to cut the distal end portion of the fixed-side optical fiber 6.

A second embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawing, the same or equivalent members as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, the optical switch 1A is
The fixed-side optical fiber group 60A has a plurality of (32) fixed-side optical fibers 6 arranged on the substrate 9 in a stepwise manner. The setting of the fixed-side optical fiber group 60A is performed as follows.

That is, first, the second stage tape fiber 5
The fixed-side optical fibers 6c of c and the fixed-side optical fibers 6d of the first-stage tape fiber 5d are alternately arranged one by one from one end (left side in the drawing) in each fiber alignment groove 15 on the substrate 9. Next, each fixed-side optical fiber 6a of the fourth-stage tape fiber 5a and each fixed-side optical fiber 6b of the third-stage tape fiber 5b are fiber-coupled to the tips of the lower-stage fixed-side optical fibers 6c and 6d. In a state shifted by a predetermined amount in the direction (Y-axis direction), one by one from the one end (left side in the figure) is alternately stacked so as to simultaneously contact the fixed-side optical fibers 6c and 6d.

After the cover plate 8 is attached, as shown in FIG. 8, the distal ends of the fixed optical fibers 6c and 6d on the lower side of the fixed optical fiber group 60A and the fixed optical fibers on the upper side are fixed. The cutting ends of the fibers 6a and 6b are cut by a cutting grinder. Here, the lower fixed-side optical fibers 6c and 6d and the upper fixed-side optical fibers 6a and 6d
b, and when the cutting ends of the fixed optical fibers 6a, 6b are actually cut by the cutting / polishing device, the fixed optical fibers 6c, 6d positioned thereunder are simultaneously cut.
It is inevitable that the upper part of the will be cut. In this case, only the clad portion Q of the fixed side optical fibers 6c and 6d is cut, and the core portion P is not cut.

As shown in FIG. 9, the optical switch 1A has two movable optical fiber groups 70A fixed to the movable arm 14 via the fiber fixing member 31. The movable optical fiber group 70A has two lower optical fibers,
It has a two-stage structure in which one movable-side optical fiber 7 is arranged on the upper stage, and one movable-side optical fiber 7 on the upper stage is simultaneously connected to two adjacent movable-side optical fibers 7 on the lower stage. They are stacked so as to be in contact with and protrude from the lower movable optical fiber 7. As shown in FIG. 10, a joint 13A formed by fusing the movable optical fibers 7 to each other is provided at the distal end portion of each movable optical fiber 7, as described above.

When optical connection is performed in the optical switch 1A configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the two movable optical fibers 7 on the lower stage of the movable optical fiber group 70A are used.
Respectively enter the optical fiber alignment grooves 15, and the protruding portion of one movable side optical fiber 7 on the upper side of the movable side optical fiber group 70A is fixed to two adjacent lower fixed sides of the fixed side optical fiber group 60A. It is mounted on the fixed side optical fibers 6c and 6d so as to be in contact with the side optical fibers 6c and 6d at the same time.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, since a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 6 are stacked in contact with each other, a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers 6 are formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Effects such as a reduction in the dimension in the height direction when the fibers 6 are stacked and arranged can be achieved, and a reduction in the size and high integration of the device can be achieved.

In this embodiment, the distal end portion of each fixed optical fiber 6 on the lower side of the fixed optical fiber group 60A and the distal end portion of each fixed optical fiber 6 on the upper side are cut off. When each movable optical fiber 7 of the side optical fiber group 70A faces the fixed optical fiber 6, the distance between the end face of the movable optical fiber 7 and the end face of the fixed optical fiber becomes substantially constant in the same stage. ,For this reason,
The connection loss between the fixed optical fiber 6 and the movable optical fiber 7 hardly varies. When optically connecting the fixed optical fiber 6 in the upper stage of the fixed optical fiber group 60A, the movable fixed optical fiber 6 is movable relative to two adjacent fixed optical fibers 6 located below the fixed optical fiber 6. Since the projecting portions of the movable optical fibers 7 on the upper stage side of the optical fiber group 70A are stacked so as to be simultaneously in contact with each other, the connection loss between the fixed optical fiber 6 and the movable optical fiber 7 is reduced. Further, the fixed-side optical fiber group 60
Since the core portion P of the fixed-side optical fiber 6 located below the fixed-side optical fiber 6 on the upper side of A is not cut when cutting, the loss of the optical fiber is prevented from increasing. be able to.

A third embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawings, the same or equivalent members as those of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 11, the optical switch 1B has a set of movable optical fibers 70B fixed to the movable arm 14 via the fiber fixing member 31. The movable optical fiber group 70B has three lower optical fibers and two upper optical fibers.
It has a two-stage structure in which the two movable optical fibers 7 are arranged, and each of the two movable optical fibers 7 in the upper stage is simultaneously connected to two adjacent movable optical fibers 7 in the lower stage. They are stacked so as to be in contact with and protrude from the lower movable optical fiber 7. As shown in FIG. 12, a joint 13B formed by fusing the movable optical fibers 7 to each other is provided at the distal end of each movable optical fiber 7, as shown in FIG.

A mounting auxiliary member 31A is fixed to the distal end of the fiber fixing member 31. The two movable optical fibers in the upper stage of the movable optical fiber group 70B are fixed to the distal end of the mounting auxiliary member 31A. A fiber pressing member 33a for pressing the fiber 7 from above is fixed. Also,
At the distal end of the fiber fixing member 31, there is provided a fiber pressing member 33b for pressing the three lower movable optical fibers 7 from above via the upper movable optical fiber 7 in the movable optical fiber group 70B. Fixed. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

In this embodiment configured as described above, the upper movable optical fiber 7 and the lower movable optical fiber 7 of the movable optical fiber group 70B are individually separated by the fiber pressing members 33a and 33b. Since the pressing is performed, all the movable optical fibers 7 can be reliably pressed.

A fourth embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawings, the same or equivalent members as those of the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 13 and FIG.
C has a movable optical fiber group 70C fixed to the movable arm 14 via the fiber fixing member 31. The movable optical fiber group 70C has two lower optical fibers,
It has a two-stage structure in which two movable optical fibers 7 are arranged on the upper stage side, and each movable optical fiber 7 is arranged apart from each other.

At the tip of the mounting auxiliary member 31A,
A fiber pressing member 33a for pressing the upper two movable-side optical fibers 7 from above on the movable-side optical fiber group 70C is fixed, and the movable-side optical fiber group 70C is attached to the distal end of the fiber fixing member 31. Fiber pressing members 33m and 33n for individually pressing the two movable optical fibers 7 on the lower stage from above are fixed. Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the two movable optical fibers 7 at the lower stage of the movable optical fiber group 70C are individually pressed by the fiber pressing members 33m and 33n. The movable optical fibers 7 that are separately arranged as described above can be reliably pressed.

A fifth embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawing, the same or equivalent members as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Further, the fixed-side optical fiber group 60 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 15 and FIG.
D has two movable-side optical fibers 7 fixed to the movable arm 14 via a fiber fixing member 31, and these movable-side optical fibers 7 are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction.

The mounting table 40 fixed to the side surface of the head base 12 on the substrate 9 side has two solenoids 41 (one in FIG. 15) each having a plunger 41a which moves forward and backward in the fiber coupling direction (Y-axis direction). Only shown). On the plunger 41a of each solenoid 41, two auxiliary members for assisting in changing the height of the movable optical fiber 7 on the substrate 9, for example, a dummy optical fiber (dummy fiber) 42 are coupled. The dummy fiber 42 extends along the movable optical fiber 7.

When the plunger 41a is retracted,
Only the distal end portion of the dummy fiber 42 is in a state of entering the optical fiber alignment groove 15 on the substrate 9. In this state, when the pressing portion 35a pushes the distal end of the movable arm 14 from above, the movable optical fiber 7 enters the optical fiber alignment groove 15, and the movable optical fiber 7 is moved to the fixed optical fiber group 60.
The optical fiber can be optically connected to the lower fixed optical fiber 6 on the lower side at a desired interval.

On the other hand, when the plunger 41a advances, the dummy fiber 42 moves in the optical fiber alignment groove 15 in the fiber coupling direction (Y-axis direction) as shown in FIG. It almost coincides with the position of the end face of the side optical fiber 7. In this state, when the pressing portion 35a presses the tip of the movable arm 14 from above,
The movable-side optical fiber 7 is placed on the dummy fiber 42 so as to be in contact with the two dummy fibers 42 at the same time, and the movable-side optical fiber 7 becomes the fixed-side optical fiber on the upper side of the fixed-side optical fiber group 60. 6 can be optically connected to each other at a desired interval.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the dummy fiber 42 which can move back and forth in the Y-axis direction is provided.
The upper fixed optical fiber 6 of the fixed optical fiber group 60
When the optical fiber 7 is optically connected to the movable optical fiber 7, the dummy fiber 42 is interposed between the substrate 9 and the movable optical fiber 7. The optical fiber 7 can be optically connected to the fixed optical fiber 6 in the upper part without being stacked in a stage.

A sixth embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, the same or equivalent members as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Further, on the substrate 9, a fixed-side optical fiber group 60A shown in FIG.

In FIG. 17, the optical switch 1E is a fifth switch.
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, two movable optical fibers 7 are fixed to the movable arm 14 via the fiber fixing member 31.

Also, the optical switch 1E connects the head base 12 as shown in the first embodiment to the fixed side optical fiber 6.
Instead of the coupling position selection mechanism 21 that drives the head base 12 in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction.
have. The three-axis moving mechanism 50 is, for example, an XYZ table achieved by a combination of ball screws, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In such an optical switch 1E, FIG.
Fixed side optical fiber group 6 arranged in a stepwise manner as shown in FIG.
When the optical connection with the fixed optical fiber 6 on the upper side of the 0A is performed, the head base 12 is first moved in the Z-axis direction by the three-axis moving mechanism 50 to move the movable optical fiber 7 on the fixed side on the upper side. It is adjusted to a height that can face the optical fiber 6.
Next, the head base 12 is moved to Y by the three-axis moving mechanism 50.
The movable optical fiber 7 is moved closer to the fixed optical fiber 6 by being moved in the axial direction.

In this state, the pressing portion 35a is
When the distal end of the fixed optical fiber 6 is pushed from above, the movable optical fiber 7 rides on the fixed optical fiber 6 so as to be simultaneously in contact with two adjacent fixed optical fibers 6 on the lower side of the fixed optical fiber group 60A. The movable side optical fiber 7 is in the state, and the fixed side optical fiber
Opposing each other at a desired interval, and optical connection becomes possible.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, since the three-axis moving mechanism 50 for moving the head base 12 in three axial directions is provided, the movable-side optical fiber 7 is moved in two steps as in the above-described embodiment. The optical fiber connection between the movable-side optical fiber 7 and the fixed-side optical fiber 6 on the upper side of the fixed-side optical fiber group 60A can be performed without stacking.

In some embodiments described above, the upper fixed optical fiber 6 of the fixed optical fiber group is simultaneously brought into contact with two adjacent fixed optical fibers 6 on the lower side. However, the method of stacking the fixed side optical fibers 6 is not particularly limited to this. In short, any structure may be used as long as the fixed-side optical fibers 6 are stacked in contact with each other on the fiber array member 10.

In the above-described embodiment, the fixed optical fibers 6 are stacked in two stages. However, a structure in which three or more fixed optical fibers 6 are stacked may be used.

Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the movable optical fibers 7 are stacked in two stages, but may be stacked in three or more stages. At this time, if the movable optical fibers 7 are bonded to each other, the number of cores in each stage of the movable optical fiber 7 may be the same, or the number of cores in the upper stage may be larger than that in the lower stage. There is no particular problem.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments,
As long as the fixed optical fibers 6 are stacked in three or more stages, the movable optical fibers 7 may be stacked in two or more stages.

[0072]

According to the present invention, when a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are stacked and arranged, the dimension in the height direction is reduced, so that the device can be reduced in size and highly integrated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where fixed optical fibers are arranged in an optical fiber alignment member in the first embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mechanism for introducing the movable optical fiber shown in FIG. 1 into an optical fiber alignment groove.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where the movable optical fiber shown in FIG. 1 is separated from the optical fiber alignment groove.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the movable optical fiber group shown in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the movable optical fiber shown in FIG. 1 has entered an optical fiber alignment groove.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which fixed-side optical fibers are arranged in an optical fiber alignment member in a second embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the fixed optical fiber shown in FIG. 7 has been cut.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a structure of a movable optical fiber group shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the movable optical fiber shown in FIG. 7 has entered an optical fiber alignment groove.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of a movable-side optical fiber group in a third embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable optical fiber shown in FIG. 11 has entered the optical fiber alignment groove.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a structure of a movable-side optical fiber group in a fourth embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the movable optical fiber shown in FIG. 13 has entered an optical fiber alignment groove.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism for introducing a movable optical fiber into an optical fiber alignment groove in a fifth embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a mechanism for introducing a movable optical fiber into an optical fiber alignment groove in a sixth embodiment of the optical switch according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E ... optical switch, 6 ...
Fixed-side optical fiber, 7: movable-side optical fiber, 9: substrate,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical fiber alignment member, 13, 13A, 13B ... Joint part, 15 ... Optical fiber alignment groove, 42 ... Dummy fiber (auxiliary member), 50 ... 3-axis moving mechanism (moving means), 6
0, 60A: fixed side optical fiber group, 70: movable side optical fiber group.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kota 1-chome, Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works 2H036 AA04 CA03 GA37 2H041 AA16 AA18 AB18 AC01 AZ02

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A light for selectively optically connecting the fixed-side optical fiber and the movable-side optical fiber by causing the movable-side optical fiber to face a plurality of fixed-side optical fibers arranged in a fiber array member. An optical switch, wherein the plurality of fixed side optical fibers are in contact with each other and are stacked on the fiber array member to form a multi-stage structure. 2. The fixed-side optical fiber located at the lowest stage among the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers is arranged in a fiber alignment groove formed on the surface of the fiber arrangement member. Item 2. The optical switch according to Item 1. 3. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein said upper fixed optical fibers are simultaneously contacted with two adjacent lower fixed optical fibers.
Or the optical switch according to 2. 4. In a state where the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are arranged in the fiber arrangement member in a multi-stage structure, a tip portion of the fixed-side optical fiber is cut and processed, and an end face of the fixed-side optical fiber is made the same. The optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical switch is a surface. 5. A tip portion of a second or more fixed-side optical fiber of the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers in a state where the plurality of fixed-side optical fibers are arranged in the fiber arrangement member in a multi-stage structure. And a cladding portion of the fixed-side optical fiber located thereunder, which is simultaneously cut, and the fixed-side optical fibers are arranged stepwise.
The optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein said movable side optical fiber has a multi-stage structure. 7. The optical switch according to claim 6, wherein the movable side optical fibers are adjacent to each other, and the movable side optical fibers have a larger number of cores in a lower stage than in an upper stage. 8. The optical fiber according to claim 6, wherein each of the movable optical fibers is bonded near a tip.
An optical switch as described. 9. When the fixed side optical fiber and the movable side optical fiber are selectively optically connected to each other, an auxiliary member is interposed between the fiber array member and the movable side optical fiber to form the fiber. The optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the movable optical fiber is raised on the arrangement member. 10. A moving means for moving the movable-side optical fiber in three axial directions.
6. The optical switch according to any one of 5.