Patent · US Expired

Switch for light conducting fibers

US4204744A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
2References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 1978
Grant dateMay 27, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 25, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3572
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A switch for optically connecting a first light conducting fiber selectively with at least one second light conducting fiber characterized by a first light conducting fiber having a magnetic sleeve adjacent the free end thereof, at least one second light conducting fiber, a substrate having a first flat surface with a layer being disposed on the first flat surface and having a recess with a groove for each of the first and second fibers extending therefrom. Each of the second fibers is disposed in its respective groove with the free end extending into the recess and the first fiber is disposed in its groove with its free end which has the magnetic sleeve being mobile in the recess between a first position forming an optical connection with one of the second fibers and a second position out of optical connection with one of the second fibers so that an application of an external magnetic field causes the free end of the first fiber to move between the first and second positions. One of the preferred methods of forming the switch comprises providing a substrate having a layer of light sensitive material disposed thereon, exposing the light sensitive material through a mask of a desir…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.