Mechanical optical switching device
US4239331A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1978 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3572
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switching device for use with optical fibers. The fibers are positioned on input and output sides of the switch, with each fiber terminated by a lens for collimating incident light emitted from an input optical fiber. At least one transparent dielectric plate, with a uniform refractive index, is disposed between lenses associated with the input and output sides of the switch. The transparent plate changes the optical transmission path of the collimated light beam when present in a light transmission path. When the transparent dielectric plate is driven into the light transmission path, the optical axis is switched from one to a different output optical fiber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.