US 4,229,068 AGranted

Fiber optic relay switch

AssigneeTRW Inc.

InventorsMalcolm H. Hodge, William M. Dunn

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Abstract

A fiber optic relay switch is provided for switching an optical signal from a first fiber to a second fiber. The switch comprises a pair of cylindrical members which are axially aligned and rotatable with respect to each other. Housed in the first member is at least a first optic fiber. In the second member is provided at least two optic fibers. A coupling face is provided between the ends of the first and second member. The fiber in the first member is terminated with the end of the fiber being aligned with the coupling face of the first member and is aligned with at least one of the two fibers in the second member. The two fibers in the second member are terminated with the ends thereof being aligned with the coupling face of the second member. When the members are rotated a predetermined angular amount the fiber in the first member is aligned with the other of the fibers in the second member. This enables the switching of optical signals provided from the fiber in the first member to the first of the fibers to be switched to the second of the fibers in the second member.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A fiber optic relay switch for switching optical signals from a first fiber to a second fiber, said switch comprising a first member for housing at least one optic fiber and a second member for housing at least two optic fibers;

said first and second members each having a coupling face and including a tube at the center thereof surrounded by a plurality of parallel rods which are secured to the periphery of said tube;
each pair of adjacent rods and the outer peripheries of said tubes of said first and second members defining interstitial channels for reception of optic fibers;
said faces of said first and second members being slidably disposed with respect to each other so that in a first position of said members the interstital channels thereof are aligned whereby the end of a fiber in said first member and having an end terminated with the coupling face of said first member is aligned with and optically coupled with the end of a fiber which is disposed in said second member and terminated with the coupling face of said second member, and in a second position of said members the end of such fiber in said first member is aligned with and optically coupled with the end of another fiber in said second member which latter end is terminated with the face of said second member whereby movement of said members relative to each other between said first and second positions switches the optical signals in a first path to a second path.

said first and second members each having a coupling face and including a cylindrical surface engaging in tangential relationship a plurality of parallel rods which are secured to said cylindrical surface;
each pair of adjacent rods and said cylindrical surfaces of said first and second members defining interstitial channels for reception of optic fibers;
said faces of said first and second members being slidably disposed with respect to each other so that in a first position of said members the interstitial channels thereof are aligned whereby the end of a fiber in said first member and having an end terminated with the coupling face of said first member is aligned with and optically coupled with the end of a fiber which is disposed in said second member and terminated with the coupling face of said second member, and in a second position of said members the end of such fiber in said first member is aligned with and optically coupled with the end of another fiber in said second member which latter end is terminated with the face of said second member whereby movement of said members relative to each other between said first and second positions switches the optical signals in a first path to a second path.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.