US 6,005,998 A · Strictly non-blocking scalable matrix optical switch

Abstract

A scalable, non-blocking fiber optic matrix switch has two arrays of light beam collimators arranged to face one another in free space, and a number of optical fibers coupled to each of the arrays. Each collimator has a tubular body with a fiber receiving part at one end, and a lens mounting part at an opposite end of the body. A lens fixed in the mounting part produces a collimated light beam from light emitted from an end of an optical fiber inserted in the fiber receiving part. First and second motor assemblies with corresponding positioning elements displace the collimator body so that its light beam is steered to a desired position along "X" and "Y" axes in response to operation of the motor assemblies. A signal carried on a fiber entering a first collimator in one array can be switched into a fiber of a second collimator in the opposite array, by displacing the collimators so as to direct the beam of the first collimator to align with a lens axis of the second. For an N.times.N matrix switch, N collimators are used at each array, and up to N optical signals can be cross-connected without blocking.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A fiber optic light beam collimator, comprising;

a generally tubular collimator body having a fiber receiving part at one end of the collimator body, and a lens mounting part at an opposite end of said body;
a lens fixed in said lens mounting part for producing a collimated light beam from light transmitted from an end of an optical fiber when said the fiber is inserted in said fiber receiving part;
a first motor assembly mounted on a motor frame and having a first positioning element configured to deflect said light beam to a desired position along a first axis in response to operation of the first motor assembly;
and
a second motor assembly mounted on said motor frame and having a second positioning element configured to deflect said light beam to a desired position along a second axis in response to operation of the second motor assembly.

2 more elements

A strictly non-blocking fiber optic switch, comprising:

a first fiber optic beam deflection array, and a second fiber optic beam deflection array supported in confronting relation to the first beam deflection array;
wherein each of said beam deflection arrays comprises at least one fiber optic beam deflection cluster including four light beam collimators, and each light beam collimator comprises,
a generally tubular collimator body having a fiber receiving part at one end of the collimator body, and a lens mounting part at an opposite end of said body, and
a lens fixed in the lens mounting part for producing a collimated light beam from light transmitted from an end of an optical fiber when said fiber is inserted in said fiber receiving part;
said beam deflection cluster having a motor frame, and four motor sets wherein each motor set comprises,
a first motor assembly mounted on said motor frame and having a first positioning element configured to displace a corresponding collimator body so that its associated light beam is deflected to a desired position along a first axis in response to operation of the first motor assembly;
and
a second motor assembly mounted on said motor frame and having a second positioning element configured to displace said corresponding collimator body so that said associated light beam is deflected to a desired position along a second axis in response to operation of the second motor assembly;
wherein a light beam from a first collimator of said first beam deflection array is deflected to connect with a desired second collimator of the second beam deflection array, in response to operation of the motor sets associated with the first and the second collimators.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Strictly non-blocking scalable matrix optical switch

Life of this patent

Strictly non-blocking scalable matrix optical switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13