Fiber optic switch with prism mounted for reciprocal and rotational movement
AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited
InventorsJohn C. Anderson, John C. Goodwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical switch has a reciprocating prism. In one position of the prism, light passes from an input fiber, through a collimating lens, directly to a focussing lens and then into an output fiber. In another prism position, the collimated light is incident on the prism, is deflected by the prism and enters a different focussing lens and output fiber. Coaxially aligned with the lenses are respective precision molded conical recesses which flare outwardly to receive the precision ground conical ends of fiber terminations.
Claims13
An optical switch comprising a housing, a prism movably mounted within the housing for reciprocal movement along an axis of reciprocal movement between first and second positions and for rotational movement about said axis of reciprocal movement, means for adjustably rotating the prism about said axis of reciprocal movement, and a plurality of lenses mounted in the housing and distributed around the axis of reciprocal movement, the lenses having coplanar longitudinal axes wherein in the first position of the prism, light collimated by a first lens passes directly into a second lens, and in the second position of the prism, light collimated by said first lens is directed into the prism, is deflected thereby and after exiting the prism, enters a third lens.
An optical switch comprising:
- a housing;
- a prism support member movably mounted to the housing for reciprocal movement along an axis of reciprocal movement and for rotational movement about said axis of reciprocal movement, the prism support member having a keyway extending parallel to the axis of reciprocal movement;
- a cam engaging the keyway;
- means for moving the cam to adjustably rotate the prism support member about said axis of reciprocal movement;
- a prism fixed to the prism support member;
- a plurality of lenses mounted to the housing and distributed around the axis of reciprocal movement, the lenses having coplanar longitudinal axes;
- and
- means for moving the prism support member along the axis of reciprocal movement to move the prism between first and second positions wherein in the first position of the prism, light collimated by a first lens passes directly into a second lens, and in the second position of the prism, light collimated by said first lens is directed into the prism, is deflected thereby and after exiting the prism, enters a third lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.