OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

A switch (2) for optical fibers (100a-d) includes two identical housing halves (4, 4') for retaining the optical fibers (100a-d) in a substantially fixed position. The fibers (100a-d) are retained with the housing halves (4, 4') forming two pairs of opposed optical fibers. An intermediate fiber (92) is provided between the opposed fibers, and each end of the intermediate fiber (92) is moveable into alignment with one of two fibers to form four switching positions. The intermediate optical fiber (92) is externally plated with a metallic coating which provides a resiliency to the fiber (92), allowing the fiber (92) to provide its own spring retention within an associated alignment groove (38, 38'). A switching plate (60, 60') is also provided for each free end of the intermediate fiber (92) for switching movement of the free ends into optical alignment with the free ends of the optical fibers (104a-d). Transverse movement also axially moves the optically aligned fiber out of an abutting relationship with the free end of the intermediate fiber (92) to maintain the surface finish on the ends of the optical fibers (92, 104a-d). The switch can also be made in the form of an electromagnetic switch where end portions of optical fibers (321-324) having ferromagnetic metal coatings of constant thickness are secured together in pairs (321, 323 and 322, 324) in an alignment channel (313) adjacent a solenoid (318). The pair of fiber end portions (321 and 323) are fixed adjacent one channel sidewall (314) and the pair (322 and 324) are movable by activation of the solenoid (318) from a position in which they are inherently spring-biased against the opposite sidewall (315, Fig. 11) with only fibres (324) and (323) in optical alignment to a position in which they abut sidewall (314) bringing fibers (324 and 321) and (322 and 323), respectively, into alignment.