FIBER OPTIC SWITCH AND PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR

摘要

A fiber optic switch includes a plurality of optical modules (35) that selectively direct light between optical fibers. Each optical module includes an optical fiber, and a light beam steering mechanism (42,44) for directing light from or to an optical fiber. A processor (60) within the optical module, and an optical detector (64) form a control circuit such that each optical module can align light from fibers within the optical switch. In one embodiment, the beam steering mechanism includes one or more piezoelectric motors (140) that position lenses in front of an optical fiber. The capacity of the fiber optic switch can be increased or decreased by adding or removing optical modules from the switch.