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US 2003/0190117 A1Published application
Optical switch assembly
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorMingbao Zhou
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorMingbao Zhou
Estimating the term…
An optical switch assembly includes an input port (21), an output port (22), a switching device (23)′ and a driving device (25). The input port includes an input fiber (211), a capillary (212) retaining the input fiber and a first collimating lens (213) fixed at a front end of the capillary. The switching device locates between the input and output ports and includes a number of second collimating lenses (231) fixed in a connection plate (232). One end of the connection plate retains the second collimating lenses and a second end connects with the driving device. The output port is aligned with the input port and includes a number of output fibers (221) and a holder (222) retaining the output fibers. The driving device drives the switching device to position a second collimating lens in a light path between the input and output ports thereby effecting a switching between the input and output fibers.
An optical switch assembly for switching light beams from one optical input fiber between a plurality of optical output fibers comprising:
An optical switch assembly for switching light beams from one optical input fiber between a plurality of optical output fibers comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements: the optical element being refractive
The optical element being refractive: the optical element being a lens
3D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a volume: 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output…
Characterised by the actuating force: mechanical force, e.g. pressure variations
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical switch assembly, and more particularly to a mechanical optical switch assembly.
2. Description of Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical switch assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical switch assembly of FIG. 1, taken along line II-II;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a holder of FIG. 2, taken along line III-III
One preferred embodiment of an optical switch assembly according to the present invention will be described in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, an optical switch assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an input port 21, a switching device 23, an output port 22, a driving device 25 connecting with the switching device 23, and a base 24.
Referring to FIG. 2, the input port 21 comprises an input fiber 211, a capillary 212, a first collimating lens 213, a first sleeve 214 and a first outer sleeve 216. The input fiber 211 is fixed in the capillary 212 using epoxy resin (not labeled). The capillary 212 has an oblique forward end face 2121 which inclines at an angle preferably between 6 and 8 degrees. The first collimating lens 213 has an oblique rearward end face 2131 and an aspherical forward end face (not labeled) at opposite end thereof. The oblique rearward end face 2131 inclines at an angle matching that of the oblique forward end face 2121 of the capillary 212. The aspherical forward end face is designed to collimate light beams emitted from the input fiber 211 into parallel light beams. The first collimating lens 213 is made using a molding method. The first inner sleeve 214 encloses the capillary 212 and the first collimating lens 213, with the forward end face 2121 of the capillary 212 being spaced from and parallel to the rearward end face 2131 of the first collimating lens 213. The first outer sleeve 216 encloses the first inner sleeve 214.