Alignment switch with fiber stabilizing guide

摘要

An optical switch for selectively coupling the free end of an input fiber to the free ends of one of two output fibers includes a fiber stabilizing guide. Each of the output fibers is adhesively fixed within a v-groove of an output alignment block. The output alignment blocks are held in stacked relationship within a housing with their v-grooves upturned. An input alignment block having an inverted v-groove within its bottom surface is provided for guiding the input optical fiber, upon switching, toward engagement with the output fiber fixed to the upper output alignment block. A generally-planar fiber guide is fixed transverse to the arm of a two-position switch. The guide includes an internal rectangular aperture for receiving the input fiber whose width and height each exceed the diameter of the fiber. The guide is arranged so that the fiber is in contact with the bottom edge of the rectangular aperture when the state of the two-position switch makes optical connection between the input fiber and the output fiber fixed to the upper output alignment block and the input fiber is in contact with the top edge of the aperture with the input fiber is in optical contact with the output fiber fixed to the lower output alignment block.