Optical crossbar switch

US8107779B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fiberzone Networks Ltd. · IL

Inventors

• Boaz Pnini · Deggingen, DE
• Ze'ev Ganor · Herzliya, IL
• Rahav Cohen · Raanana, IL
• Menachem Eizenshtat · Raanana, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 26, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 31, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 9, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/35
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical crossbar switch for optically coupling optic fibers comprising: at least one first fiber and a plurality of second fibers; a moveable fiber-end carriage coupled to an end of the at least one first fiber and having at least one latching hook and being constrained to move along a predetermined trajectory; at least one moveable slack-control carriage coupled to the body of the at least one first fiber and constrained to move along a predetermined trajectory; an array of sockets defined by walls, at least one of which walls of each sockets formed having a latch hole for receiving the latching hook; and at least one moving device controllable to move the carriages; wherein to optically couple a first fiber to a second fiber, the at least one moving device moves the fiber-end carriage of at least one of the first and second fibers to a socket and inserts the fiber's fiber end into the socket so that the at least one latching hook latches into the latch hole and secures the carriage to the socket array.