High-reliability robotic cross-connect systems

A high-capacity optical fiber switching system for selectively interconnecting individual input fibers to individual output fibers, comprising:

• a three-dimensional distribution of paired linear elements of selected flexibility and length with a first element of each pair disposed in spaced-apart horizontal rows and vertical columns defining a transverse interchange plane and each having a lower length extending for a selected distance perpendicularly in a first direction from the transverse interchange plane, including individual couplers distributed throughout the rows and columns to couple different signal conductors received oppositely therein, the paired linear elements each including a second movable element including a terminus of a different chosen optical fiber in the switching system and engageable in any selected coupler in a position above and parallel to the lower element of the pair;
• an optical fiber engagement/disengagement transport device having a narrow horizontal dimension to be movable in horizontal space between any two adjacent columns, and including an axially movable gripper for selectively engaging the second movable element of a chosen optical fiber to transport the chosen optical fiber to a different position;
• and
• a two-dimensional positioning system, coupled from above the transport device to the position of the transport device within the three-dimensional distribution in the spaces between columns, to selected row levels, the positioning system comprising coupled signal-controlled and orthogonally related vertical and horizontal linear drives selectively and oppositely moving the transport device parallel to the columns and rows, the vertical linear drive comprising an upper hollow linear body fitting movably within the spaces between adjacent columns of fibers, a lower inner linear body slidably movable within the upper hollow linear body, and a motor-driven cable drive coupled to move both linear bodies in a selected proportionality,
• wherein the vertical linear drive further comprises an internal low friction guidance mechanism appended to an upper end of the lower linear body and contacting an inner wall of the upper hollow linear body, and the cable drive comprises a drive motor on the exterior of the two-dimensional positioning system, and
• wherein the optical fiber engagement/disengagement transport device further comprises a transport body that is narrow relative to a longitudinal axis of an optical fiber engaged thereby, and wherein the transport body includes a signal-actuated drive providing two different states of engagement and one state of disengagement of an optical fiber in said optical fiber engagement/disengagement transport device.