OPTICAL FIBER SWITCH INCLUDING AN INDEX MATCHING ELASTOMERIC SOLID LAYER PROVIDING CORE AND CLADDING INDEX OF REFRACTION MATCHING AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

An optical fiber switch which may include first and second angled optical fibers having respective first and second end faces. Each of the first and second angled optical fibers may include a core having a core index of refraction, and a cladding surrounding the core and having a cladding index of refraction different than the core index of refraction. The optical fiber switch may further include a first index matching elastomeric solid layer having a proximal face coupled to the first end face and a distal face opposite the proximal face to be repeatably optically coupled to the second end face. The first index matching elastomeric solid layer may have an index of refraction profile matching an index of refraction of the core and the cladding. The optical fiber switch may also include at least one actuator for relatively moving the first and second angled optical fibers between a coupled position and an uncoupled position.