Automated optical main distributing frame system
US5204921A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 7, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/004
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an optical MDF (main distributing frame) for interconnecting external subscriber optical lines (122) with office optical lines (131) through jumpering operation, a matrix waveguide (128, 129, 130) having a plurality of crosspoints coupled with external lines and office lines is used. The matrix waveguide has a groove (235 in FIG. 4A) at each crosspoint so that said crosspoint is switched ON or OFF depending upon whether said groove is filled with matching oil or not, so that one of the external lines is connected to the selected office line. Said matching oil has the same refractive index as that of waveguides. Each crosspoint groove is coupled with a respective oil pool (236), which supplies matching oil which has essentially the same refractive index as that of a waveguide to said groove. Switching at a crosspoint is carried out in a manner that a light signal in a waveguide goes straight through the crosspoint when a groove is filled with matching oil, and the light signal changes its direction at the crosspoint through total internal reflection when the groove is empty. A jumpering operation to connect or disconnect a crosspoint is carried out by a robot (133), which fills o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.