# US 5,353,361 A · Method for assembling a light wave guide switch

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- Number: US 5,353,361 A
- Document ID: US5353361A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/941,063
- Filed: 1992-12-08
- Granted: 1994-10-04
- Earliest claimed: 1990-04-12
- Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Christoph Maczey; Joachim Schulze; Klaus Schulz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5353361A

## CPC

- G02B 6/3508: {Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends}
- B23K 26/361: for deburring or mechanical trimming (B23K26/351 takes precedence)
- G02B 6/25: Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
- G02B 6/2552: {reshaping or reforming of light guides for coupling using thermal heating, e.g. tapering, forming of a lens on light guide ends}
- B23K 2103/42: {Plastics other than composite materials}
- B23K 2103/50: {Inorganic materials other than metals or composite materials}
- G02B 6/3552: {1x1 switch, e.g. on/off switch}
- G02B 6/3562: {Switch of the bypass type, i.e. enabling a change of path in a network, e.g. to bypass a failed element in the network}
- Y10S 83/913: Filament to staple fiber cutting
- Y10T 29/49105: Switch making
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method for assembling a light wave guide switch calls for a switch having two groups of front ends of light wave guides. Each group of front ends faces the other group of front ends and each group is disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the light wave guides. The switch also has centering devices that extend parallel to each other, without offset, from a first end of a base plate to a second end of the base plate. The centering devices secure a plurality of light wave guides each extending through the coupling plane when each of the wave guides forms a single component. The method includes the steps of coupling the first end of the base plate to a stationary part of the switch and coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position. The method also includes the steps of cutting the light wave guides with a laser in the coupling plane and cutting the base plate in the region of the coupling plane.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for assembling a light wave guide switch having two groups of end faces of light wave guides, each group of end faces facing the other group of end faces and each group being disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the light wave guides, said switch further having a base plate with centering devices that extend parallel to each other from a first end of the base plate to a second end of the base plate, each centering device securing a light wave guide that extends through the coupling plane when each of said wave guides forms a single component, said method comprising the steps of:
coupling the first end of the baseplate to a stationary part of the switch while the switch is in a given switching position;
coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position;
cutting the light wave guides with a laser in the coupling plane; and
cutting the base plate in the region of the coupling plane,
wherein the two coupling steps are completed before either of the cutting steps is performed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of cutting the base plate comprises the step of cutting the base plate with a laser.

### Claim 3

A method for assembling a light wave guide switch having two groups of end faces of light wave guides, each group of end faces facing the other group of end faces and each group being disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the light wave guides, said switch further having a base plate with centering devices that extend parallel to each other from a first end of the base plate to a second end of the base plate, each centering device securing a light wave guide that extends through the coupling plane when each of said wave guides forms a single component, said method comprising the steps of:
coupling the first end of the baseplate to a stationary part of the switch while the switch is in a given switching position;
coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position;
cutting the light wave guides with a laser in the coupling plane; and
cutting the base plate in the region of the coupling plane,
wherein the two coupling steps are completed before either of the cutting steps is performed, the step of cutting the base plate comprises the step of cutting the base plate with a laser, and the step of cutting the base plate is performed before the step of cutting the light wave guides.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the light wave guides each have a coating and the step of cutting the light wave guides includes the step of cutting the light wave guides and their coatings in the coupling plane with a laser.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the light wave guides each have a coating and the step of cutting the light wave guides includes the step of cutting the light wave guides and their coatings in the coupling plane with a laser.

### Claim 6

A method for assembling a light wave guide switch having two groups of end faces of light wave guides, each group of end faces facing the other group of end faces and each group being disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the light wave guides, said switch further having a base plate with centering devices that extend parallel to each other from a first end of the base plate to a second end of the base plate, each centering device securing a light wave guide that extends through the coupling plane when each of said wave guides forms a single component, said method comprising the steps of:
coupling the first end of the baseplate to a stationary part of the switch while the switch is in a given switching position;
coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position;
cutting the light wave guides with a laser in the coupling plane; and
cutting the base plate in the region of the coupling plane,
wherein the two coupling steps are completed before either of the cutting steps is performed, and wherein the light wave guides each have a coating and further comprising the steps of removing the coatings in the region of the coupling plane before cutting the wave guides and sheathing the light wave guides with plastic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the light wave guides each have a coating and further comprising the steps of removing the coatings in the region of the coupling plane before cutting the wave guides and sheathing the light wave guides with plastic.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the plastic applied to the light wave guides is applied in liquid form.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the plastic is formed as an adhesive.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the adhesive is curable by UV radiation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the base plate comprises a window-like, continuous recess disposed in the region of the coupling plane which produces two cross-pieces disposed on opposite sides of the recess that extend parallel to the light wave guide.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the base plate is formed from silicon.