DISPOSITIF DE COMMUTATION EN CASCADE PAR FLEXION DE FIBRES OPTIQUES POUR RESEAU DE TRANSMISSION D'INFORMATIONS

摘要

The switch consists of an optical fibre between two plates. The end of the fibre is free to move between two positions (each opposite an external optical fibre). A section of the fibre is fixed. The region between the end and the fixed section is free to bend under the action of a switching force. The fixed section of the fibre is located in a small channel formed by two V-shaped grooves in the opposing faces of the two plates. This channel holds the fibre rigidly. The flexible region is located in a larger channel formed by two larger V-shaped grooves in the plates. The larger channel is large enough to accommodate two fibres side by side. Several such switches can be stacked into an array.