Switch mechanism for interconnection of optical fibres - comprises rotatable ball at fibre end orientated through electromagnetic clutch by electric motor driven plate

摘要

A rotatable ball is housed in a support and is fitted with a lens which locates at the end of an optical fibre maintained in position by a support sleeve. The sleeve is attached by a connecting link to a sleeve on an electromagnetic assembly. This allows connection or disconnection of drive to the ball. The electromagnet assembly is mounted in a plate moved vertically by a motor driven screw to position the ball direction of orientation. The motor is rotated via an amplifier which receives its signals from a D/A converter connected to a processor. A memory provides the demand signals which the processor compares with the output of a counter connected to an optical coder coupled to the movable plate.