Optical change-over switch for optical communications or spectroscopy

摘要

The switch has an incoming optical fibre (8) selectively coupled to one of a number of outgoing optical fibres (9,10,11,12) via a mechanical switching device. The incoming optical fibre is fitted through a base plate (2), which is reciprocated or rotated relative to a holder (1), also supporting an independently reciprocated or rotated counter- plate (3) incorporating the outgoing optical fibres. The movements of the base-plate and the counter-plate are controlled via independent pneumatic or electromechanical drives, for exact positioning of the incoming optical fibre relative to the required outgoing optical fibre.