Optical cross connect switch having improved alignment control system
US6763160B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/356
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for an optical fiber cross-connect switch incorporating an absolute position encoder and a magnetic actuation system into its alignment system. The switch comprises two optically opposed arrays of fiber-optic switching units, each of which contains a single fiber active to send or receive an optical communication signal. The magnetic actuation system comprising four magnetically polarizable actuator branches positioned surrounding the fiber and a magnetizable disk circumferentially attached to the fiber end. Selective magnetic polarization of the actuator branches bends the fiber end. A two-dimensional Moiré type position encoder determines the absolute position of the fiber end. The encoder comprises at east one plurality of radiation sources, which emits pulses of radiation (control signals) directed toward the switching units. Each switching unit is equipped with a reticle, an optical system that focuses the control signals onto the reticle, and a single photodetector, which measures the power of the control signals transmitted through the reticle. A controller uses the measured control signals to determine the two-dimensional position…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.