Non-blocking mechanical fiber optic matrix switch
US6961486B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3874
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A first plurality of stages each support a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of N optical input fibers. A second plurality of stages each support a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of M optical output fibers. Mechanical mechanisms translate the stages along a plurality of orthogonal X and Y axes to align a facet of a selected one of the N input optical fibers with a facet of a selected one of the M output optical fibers. The stages of the input optical fibers, the output optical fibers, or both, have mechanical mechanisms for moving the ferrules along Z axes perpendicular to the X and Y axes into and out of alignment holes of a central panel to physically mate the facets of the coupled fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.