# US 6,298,181 B1 · Optical fiber switching arrangement

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- Number: US 6,298,181 B1
- Document ID: US6298181B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/378,024
- Filed: 1999-08-20
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1998-08-21
- Assignees: Analytical Instruments Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Donald B. Nuzzio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6298181B1

## CPC

- G02B 6/3504: {Rotating, tilting or pivoting the waveguides, or with the waveguides describing a curved path (rotary joint G02B6/3628)}
- G02B 6/3546: {NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation}
- G02B 6/3598: {Switching means directly located between an optoelectronic element and waveguides, including direct displacement of either the element or the waveguide, e.g. optical pulse generation (based on changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00; optical pulse generation in optical transmitters H04B10/508; optical pulse generation by controlling laser operation H01S3/00)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A switching arrangement for optical fibers is provided with a plurality of first optical fibers and a plurality of second optical fibers. A photoemitter element is arranged to communicate optically with a selectable one of the plurality of first optical fibers, and a photodetector element communicates optically with a selectable one of the plurality of second optical fibers. A communications arrangement enables optical communication between the photoemitter and photodetector elements, and respectively selected ones of the first and second optical fibers simultaneously. The communications arrangement has a displaceable portion and a stationary portion. A drive arrangement is coupled to the displaceable portion of the communications arrangement. A controller is coupled to the drive arrangement for controlling a displacement of the displaceable portion of the communications arrangement. Displacement is effected along a linear path, or in other embodiments, along a circular path.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A switching arrangement for optical fibers, the arrangement comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers;
a photoelectric element for communicating optically with selectable ones of said plurality of optical fibers;
a communications arrangement for enabling optical communication between said photoelectric element and a selected one of said plurality of optical fibers, said communications arrangement having a displaceable carrier for displacing said plurality of optical fibers; and
a controller for controlling said communications arrangement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The switching arrangement of claim 1, wherein a selected one of said optical fibers is translated by the displaceable carrier to the vicinity of said photoelectric element for establishing optical communication therewith, in response to said controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The switching arrangement of claim 2, wherein the translation of said displaceable carrier is responsive to data of location stored in said controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The switching arrangement of claim 2, wherein the translation of said displaceable carrier is responsive to communication optimization.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The switching arrangement of claim 2, wherein the translation of said displaceable carrier is along a circular path.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The switching arrangement of claim 2, wherein the translation of said displaceable carrier is along a linear path.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The switching arrangement of claim 2, wherein the translation of said displaceable carrier is responsive to indicia on the carrier.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The switching arrangement of claim 1, wherein said controller controls the displacement of the displaceable carrier.

### Claim 9

A switching arrangement for optical fibers, the arrangement comprising:
a plurality of first optical fibers;
a plurality of second optical fibers;
a photoemitter element for communicating optically with a selectable one of said plurality of first optical fibers;
a photodetector element for communicating optically with a selectable one of said plurality of second optical fibers;
a communications arrangement for enabling optical communication between said photoemitter and photodetector elements, and respectively selected ones of said first and second optical fibers simultaneously, said communications arrangement having a displaceable portion and a stationary portion;
a drive arrangement coupled to the displaceable portion of said communications arrangement; and
a controller coupled to said drive arrangement for controlling a displacement of the displaceable portion of said communications arrangement.

### Claim 10

A switching arrangement for optical fibers, the arrangement comprising:
a plurality of first optical fibers;
a plurality of second optical fibers;
a photoemitter element for communicating optically with selectable ones of said plurality of first optical fibers;
a photodetector element for communicating optically with selectable ones of said plurality of second optical fibers;
a communications arrangement for enabling optical communication between said photoemitter and photodetector elements, and respectively selected ones of said first and second optical fibers simultaneously; and
a controller for controlling a displacement of said communications arrangement.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The switching arrangement of claim 10, wherein said controller controls a rotational displacement of said communications arrangement.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The switching arrangement of claim 11, wherein said plurality of first optical fibers is arranged in substantially semicircular configuration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The switching arrangement of claim 12, wherein said plurality of second optical fibers is arranged in substantially semicircular configuration, in diametrical opposition to said plurality of first optical fibers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The switching arrangement of claim 13, wherein said pluralities of first and second optical fibers are arranged in individually corresponding diametrical opposition with respect to corresponding optical fibers of each of said pluralities.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The switching arrangement of claim 11, wherein said communications arrangement comprises a rotatable mirror.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The switching arrangement of claim 15, wherein said rotatable mirror is a dual-sided rotatable mirror.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The switching arrangement of claim 10, wherein said communications arrangement controls a linear displacement of said communications arrangement.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The switching arrangement of claim 17, wherein said plurality of first optical fibers is arranged linearly parallel to said plurality of second optical fibers.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The switching arrangement of claim 17, wherein said communications arrangement comprises a rotatable screw shaft.