CN2446532Y

CN2446532Y - Fiber Path Conditioner

Info

Publication number: CN2446532Y
Application number: CN 00251107
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李卡多·安东尼欧·罗赛利; 许光裕; 侯宏青; 涂怀铭
Original assignee: DONGYING PHOTOELECTRIC SCIENCE
Current assignee: DONGYING PHOTOELECTRIC SCIENCE
Priority date: 2000-09-07
Filing date: 2000-09-07
Publication date: 2001-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-07

Abstract

An optical fiber path regulator includes an optical fiber aligning head with a groove, a first optical fiber in the groove, a shift device near the optical fiber aligning head, a second optical fiber with its end near the shift device, and a support mechanism connected with the second optical fiber and separated from the shift device.

Description

The fiber path adjuster

The utility model relates to Fiber Optical Communication System (fiber optic communicationssystem), especially relates to making light signal (optical signal) be coupled to the device of another optical fiber from an optical fiber.

Fiber Optical Communication System is to utilize the ability of the huge frequency range that optical fiber transmission signal has, so the invention of optical fiber is to have caused very big impact for communication system.Fiber Optical Communication System contains adjustment station, a plurality of path (switching station), communication signal is able between any two positions in network around footpath (routed), signal that an optical fiber carries is switched to one of them of many optical fiber in each adjustment station, path, makes it to transfer to another the adjustment station, path in the network.The system of switching optical path contains that to make fiber placing be the device of end-to-end (end-to-end) between optical fiber, makes light leave and to be coupled into another optical fiber from an optical fiber.Direct coupling between the single-mode fiber (single mode fiber) is difficulty very, and therefore the end at optical fiber then will use lens.The use of lens element makes that coupling device is complicated, volume becomes big, unstable and expensive, and requires to aim at accurately.When crossing interface between the medium of light at different refractivity, the loss of signal then takes place because of reflection.

Adjustment station, path is reliable (reliable) and tool low insertion loss (insertionloss) and low reflection (back reflection) highly.Insert loss and reduce signal intensity, and return or the signal that reflects causes cross-talk (cross talk).The end of optical fiber need axially reach laterally and aim at, and the interval of small distance must be arranged, just can the match operation demand.

Prior art path adjuster (switching apparatus), for example U.S. Patent number 4,896,935, use step motor (stepping motor) to settle optical fiber as the signal transmission.But step motor has shortcoming, for example poor, interrupted step level of resolution and temperature-sensitive sensitivity.And for example U.S. Patent number 6,004,186, first optical fiber is connected shift unit, shift unit is pivoted between (pivotable) primary importance and the second place, when shift unit during in primary importance, and first optical fiber and second optical fiber align (in alignment), when shift unit during in the second place, first optical fiber and the second optical fiber misalignment (out ofalignment).The shortcoming of this known techniques is, because of first optical fiber connects shift unit, when the shift unit switching, the machine error of shift unit is via the interlock of first optical fiber and shift unit, influence the aligning between first and second optical fiber easily, cause its repeatability (repeatability) undesirable.

The purpose that the utility model is is to provide highly reliably and does not need lens and step motor, have quick switching rate, low consumpting power, small size and wide operating temperature range, do not influence and aim between the optical fiber, can reusable fiber path adjuster.

For achieving the above object, the utility model provides a kind of fiber path adjuster, it is characterized in that: comprising:

One forms reeded optical fiber align head;

One first optical fiber is installed in this groove, and an end of this first optical fiber is an end of this groove of spacing;

One is installed on the shift unit of contiguous this optical fiber align head, is to be pivoted between a primary importance and the second place;

One second optical fiber, the end of this second optical fiber are contiguous this shift units; And

One supporting mechanism that be connected with this second optical fiber, that separate with this shift unit, this second optical fiber, this shift unit and this groove are to be set to: when this shift unit during in this primary importance, this end of this second optical fiber hangs down and is subjected to elasticity strength and aims at this end of this first optical fiber in this groove, when this shift unit during in this second place, this second optical fiber is by this shift unit contact, and makes this end misalignment of this first and second optical fiber.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this end of this first and second optical fiber is the tangent plane that forms the angle that tilts.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this angle is between 6 ° to 10 °.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this angle is 8 °.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this tangent plane is the tangent plane through grinding and polishing.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: also comprising anti-reflecting layer, is to be positioned at least on one of them of this two tangent plane.

The utility model also provides a kind of fiber path adjuster, it is characterized in that: comprising:

One is equipped with the optical fiber align head of rhombus groove, and this rhombus groove has a bottom land and groove top;

First and second optical fiber is to be installed on this bottom land and groove top respectively, and an end of this first and second optical fiber is an end of this rhombus groove of spacing;

One the 3rd optical fiber, an end of the 3rd optical fiber are contiguous this shift units; And

One supporting mechanism that separates with this shift unit, be to be connected in the 3rd optical fiber, the 3rd optical fiber, this shift unit and this rhombus groove are to be set to, when this shift unit during in this primary importance, this end of the 3rd optical fiber is subjected to elasticity strength and aims in this bottom land with this end of this first optical fiber, when this shift unit during in this second place, this end of the 3rd optical fiber is subjected to elasticity strength and aims in this groove top with this end of this second optical fiber.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this end of the 3rd optical fiber and this end of this first and second optical fiber are the tangent planes that forms the angle that tilts.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this angle is 8 °.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: also comprising anti-reflecting layer, is to be positioned at least on one of them of this three tangent plane.

One is formed with the first optical fiber align head of first groove;

One is installed on first optical fiber in this first groove, and an end of this first optical fiber is an end of this first groove of spacing;

One is formed with the second optical fiber align head of second groove, is to be mounted to this first optical fiber align head, and this first groove and this second groove are faced mutually;

One is installed on second optical fiber in this second groove, and an end of this second optical fiber is this end of this first groove of spacing;

One is installed on the shift unit of contiguous this first optical fiber align head, is to pivot to be located between a primary importance and the second place;

One the 3rd optical fiber, the end of the 3rd optical fiber are contiguous this shift units; And

One supporting mechanism that separates with this shift unit, be to be connected in the 3rd optical fiber, the 3rd optical fiber, this shift unit and this two groove are to be set to, when this shift unit during in this primary importance, this end of the 3rd optical fiber is subjected to elasticity strength and aims in this first groove with this end of this first optical fiber, when this shift unit during in this second place, this end of the 3rd optical fiber is subjected to elasticity strength and aims in this second groove with this end of this second optical fiber.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this angle is 8 °.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: this first and second optical fiber align head is to separate a spacing.

Described fiber path adjuster is characterized in that: also comprising a clamper, is to be positioned at outside this two groove, and this clamper contains a guide groove that moves with this end of guiding the 3rd optical fiber between this two groove.

After having adopted said structure, fiber path adjuster of the present utility model, this fiber path adjuster comprises that one forms reeded optical fiber align head, one first optical fiber, one is installed on the shift unit of contiguous this optical fiber align head, one second optical fiber, and a supporting mechanism that be connected with this second optical fiber, that separate with this shift unit.This second optical fiber separates with shift unit and by supporting mechanism's set, the end that makes second optical fiber in groove with the end of first optical fiber on time, the end of second optical fiber is not subjected to the interlock of shift unit and rocks, can not influence second with the end of first optical fiber between aim at.The utility model forms anti-reflecting layer to eliminate the Fabry-Perot effect in the optical fiber connector of fiber path adjuster again, make insertion loss spectra planarization between the optical fiber of fiber path adjuster, it is not only highly reliable, and do not need lens and step motor, advantage with quick switching rate, low consumpting power, small size and wide operating temperature range also can reduce the insertion loss and the reflection of optically-coupled between the optical fiber of fiber path adjuster.

Below, with embodiment the utility model is done further detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the side view of 1 * 1 fiber path adjuster, shows that input optical fibre is arranged to provide light signal to output optical fibre;

Fig. 2 is the cut-open view of the fiber path adjuster of Fig. 1 along the A-A line;

Fig. 3 is the stereographic map of the fiber path adjuster of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is the side view of fiber path adjuster among Fig. 1, shows that input and output optical fibre are at " opening " state;

Fig. 5 is the side view of 1 * 2 fiber path adjuster, shows that input optical fibre is arranged so that light signal to the first output optical fibre to be provided;

Fig. 6 is the cut-open view of the fiber path adjuster of Fig. 5 along the B-B line;

Fig. 7 is the side view of the fiber path adjuster of Fig. 5, shows that input optical fibre is arranged so that light signal to the second output optical fibre to be provided;

Fig. 8 is the side view of the fiber path adjuster embodiment of different fiber alignment head;

Fig. 9 is that fiber path adjuster among Fig. 8 is along the cut-open view of C-C line; And

Figure 10 is the schematic perspective view with fiber path adjuster embodiment of guide groove.

For making narration of the present utility model more clear and definite, and make feature of the present utility model more outstanding and clear, details shows so the element of having known is with the form simplified.

Fig. 1 shows the side view of an embodiment, and adjuster 10 is fiber path adjusters of 1 * 1, has " opening " state (ON state) and " pass " state (OFF State).When adjuster 10 at " opening " state, the end 13 of input optical fibre 12 is aimed at the end 15 of output optical fibre 14, makes light signal be able to be concentrated to the optical fiber 14 from optical fiber 12; When adjuster 10 at " pass " state, end 15 misalignments of the end of optical fiber 12 13 and optical fiber 14 can't be concentrated to the optical fiber 14 light signal from optical fiber 12.

The position of optical fiber 12 is subjected to the control of relay 16.Should notice that relay 16 is comprised in the position of control optical fiber 12 in the preferred embodiment, the utility model is not limited to the use of relay 16, can control the position of the end 13 of optical fiber 12 during its practical application with other devices.Relay 16 comprises shell 22 that is roughly hollow box and the shift unit of being made by strong magnetic material that is roughly elongated rectangular 24.The center of shift unit 24 is installed on the pivoting device 26, is displaced between a pair of

electromagnet

28 and 30 with pivot.The preferably, pivoting device 26 is in the depression 31 at 32 centers, surface that extend into shift unit 24 of the permanent magnet with rectangle haply.The typical construction of relay 16 comprises book rectangle projection 34, and it extends the plane top of a distance to shift unit 24.

The end 13 contiguous shift units 24 of optical fiber 12, and use a supporting mechanism to support optical fiber 12, as shown in FIG., optical fiber 12 is installed on the cylinder 11, cylinder 11 separates with shift unit 24, for example cylinder 11 is fixed on the shell (not shown) of adjuster 10, thus, the mechanism that supports optical fiber 12 and switch its position promptly is separated.

Bestow the end 36 that electric signal to electromagnet 28 makes it to attract shift unit 24, so that shift unit 24 and optical fiber 12 are placed on the down position of Fig. 1.Relay 16 adjacent fiber alignment heads 42, optical fiber 14 is to be installed in the V-type groove 40 that lengthways forms in the alignment head 42, A-A line cut-open view along Fig. 1, as Fig. 2, optical fiber 14 extends to a part of length of V-type groove 40, and be fixed in the V-type groove 40 by suitable solid, as in known optical fiber technology.

Optical fiber 12 is installed on the cylinder 11, is located at the down position of Fig. 1, and its end 13 extends in the V-type groove 40 and the end 15 of adjacent fiber 14 is also aimed at, and light signal is coupled into terminal 15 from terminal 13.The preferably,

optical fiber

12 and 14

end

13 and 15 form the tangent plane 13S and the 15S at tool angles of inclination, through grinding and polishing, the scope at angle of inclination is 6 ° to 10 °, and on two tangent plane 13S and 15S or one of them, be covered with anti-reflecting layer, so, be unlikely the Fabry-Perot effect takes place between tangent plane 13S and 15S, make return loss can be reduced to more than the 60dB, and need not lens between

terminal

13 and 15, the insertion loss that can avoid interface reflection to be caused thus, when two tangent plane 13S and 15S all formed anti-reflecting layer, its theoretical value can reduce 0.35dB.

The utility model one important feature is, when adjuster 10 during at " opening " state, as shown in Figure 1, the end 36 of shift unit 24 is adsorbed by electromagnet 28, the end 13 of optical fiber 12 is the decline state, it is aimed at the end 15 of optical fiber 14 in V-type groove 40, at this moment, because optical fiber 12 is to be installed on the cylinder 11, itself and shift unit 24 there is no annexation, therefore, shift unit 24 rock because of machine error caused be unlikely through continuous action relation influence the end 13 of optical fiber 12 and cause terminal 13 with 15 the change of aiming at, so can improve its stability and fiduciary level.

Fig. 3 shows the stereographic map of fiber path adjuster 10, in adjuster 10, as previously mentioned, when the end 36 of shift unit 24 is adsorbed by electromagnet 28, optical fiber 12 hangs down and its end 13 enters in the V-type groove 40, makes terminal 13 to aim in V-type groove 40 with 15, the preferably, cylinder 11, optical fiber 12 and V-type groove 40 are arranged to make that the end 13 of input optical fibre 12 is bent when this state takes place, so make it be subjected to elasticity strength and constrain in V-type groove 40.Otherwise, if bestow the end 37 that electric signal to electromagnet 30 makes it to attract

shift unit

24,12 of optical fiber are by projection 34 contact and force its end 13 to leave the position of aforementioned " opening " state up, as shown in Figure 4, at this moment, the end 36 of shift unit 24 and the end of optical fiber 12 13 are propradation, therefore make

terminal

13 and 15 misalignments.

Fig. 5 shows the side view of another embodiment, adjuster 50 is fiber path adjusters of 1 * 2, it comprises the tectonic association optical fiber align head 52 and second output optical fibre 54 of Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, and the element that comprises adjuster 10 in the adjuster 50 is to have the reference drawing number identical with Fig. 1 to Fig. 4.With reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, optical fiber align

head

52 and 42 is suitable, is the shell (not shown) that is separately fixed at adjuster 50, between the two apart from X, optical fiber 54 is fixed in the V-type groove 56 of alignment head 52, and makes V-type groove 56 parallel with 40 and face with each other, as shown in Figure 6.

Adjuster 50 can provide light signal from input optical fibre 12 to output

optical fibre

14 or 54 one of them.Bestow electric signal to electromagnet 28 and cause that shift unit 24 moves to the down position of Fig. 5, with the end 13 of aligning optical fiber 12 and the not end 15 of optical fiber 14.Use among the embodiment of bolt-lock one, the end 36 that can keep shift unit 24 lacking any control signal lower electromagnet 28 tool residual magnetisms here makes it be in down position.Bestow electric signal to electromagnet 30 and cause that shift unit 24 pivots so that shift unit 24 places the lifting position of Fig. 7 with respect to its fulcrum.When shift unit 24 in lifting position, its terminal 37 contact electromagnet 30, the residual magnetism bolt-lock shift unit 24 of electromagnet 30 is in lifting position.

When shift unit 24 in lifting position, optical fiber 12 is aimed at the end 13 of input optical fibre 12, as shown in Figure 7 by projection 34 contact up with the end 58 of output optical fibre 54 in V-type groove 56.V-type groove 56 is arranged to make works as shift unit 24 in lifting position, end 13 oppressed the entering in the V-type groove 56 of optical fiber 12, the mode of the end 13 of optical fiber 12 and V-type groove 40 as the aforementioned, input optical fibre 12 has a sweep just outside V-

type groove

40 and 56, so that work as shift unit 24 in lifting position, the elastic force in the input optical fibre 12 keeps the sidewall of terminal 13 contact V-type grooves 56.Therefore, bestow control or switching signal to relay 16 and the light of switch adjuster 50 makes it to be output between

optical fiber

14 and 54.

Above-mentioned explanation is to be example with 1 * 2 fiber path adjuster 50, the personage who has the knack of this technology is when knowing, its structure is similar to adjuster 50 in 2 * 1 fiber path adjuster embodiment, but with optical fiber 12 as output terminal, with

optical fiber

14 and 54 as input end.

Fig. 8 shows the cut-open view of the embodiment of different fiber alignment head, it is analysed and observe as shown in Figure 9 along the C-C line, and its element and sign figure number are identical with Fig. 5, but optical fiber align head 60 is a block (block), its center wears rhombus groove 62, and cell wall is installed

optical fiber

54 and 14 up and down.When shift unit 24 rise thereon and down position between when mobile, the end 13 of input optical fibre 12 is to be subject in the rhombus groove 62 to move.

In Figure 10, have the optical fiber align head 42 of spacing X and 52 structure as shown in Figure 5, V-type groove 40 and the 56 outer clampers 64 of installing, its guide groove 66 passes for optical fiber 12, the height of guide groove 66 is slightly less than the bottom land spacing of

groove

40 and 56, and width Y is less than the width of V-

type groove

40 and 56, and greater than the external diameter (the about 125 μ m of representative value) of optical fiber 12, preferably, width Y are the external diameters that is slightly larger than optical fiber 12.When shift unit 24 rise thereon and down position between when mobile, optical fiber 12 is limited and move in guide groove 66, with the instability that machine error caused of further reduction by shift unit 24.

Claims

1. An optical fiber path adjuster, characterized in that: comprising:

a grooved optical fiber alignment head;

A first optical fiber is installed in the groove, and an end of the first optical fiber is spaced from an end of the groove;

a shifting device mounted adjacent to the fiber alignment head pivots between a first position and a second position;

a second optical fiber, the end of which is adjacent to the displacement device; and

a support mechanism connected to the second optical fiber and separate from the displacement device, the second optical fiber, the displacement device and the groove are configured such that when the displacement device is in the first position, The end of the second optical fiber hangs down and is aligned with the end of the first optical fiber in the groove by elastic force, when the displacement device is in the second position, the second optical fiber is pushed up by the displacement device Arriving to misalign the ends of the first and second optical fibers.

2. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of the first and second optical fibers are cut planes inclined at an angle.

3. The optical fiber path adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the angle is between 6° and 10°.

4. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 3, wherein the angle is 8°.

5. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cut surface is a ground and polished cut surface.

6. The optical fiber path adjuster according to claim 5, further comprising an anti-reflection layer located on at least one of the two cut surfaces.

7. An optical fiber path adjuster, characterized in that: comprising:

An optical fiber alignment head pierced with a diamond-shaped groove, the diamond-shaped groove has a groove bottom and a groove top;

The first and second optical fibers are respectively mounted on the groove bottom and the groove top, and one end of the first and second optical fiber is spaced from one end of the diamond-shaped groove;

a third optical fiber having an end adjacent to the displacement device; and

A support mechanism separate from the displacement device is connected to the third optical fiber, and the third optical fiber, the displacement device and the diamond-shaped groove are arranged so that when the displacement device is in the first position, the The end of the third optical fiber is aligned with the end of the first optical fiber in the groove bottom by elastic force, and when the displacement device is in the second position, the end of the third optical fiber is aligned with the end of the first optical fiber by elastic force The end of the second optical fiber is aligned in the groove top.

8. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 7, wherein the end of the third optical fiber and the ends of the first and second optical fibers form a tangential plane inclined at an angle.

9. The optical fiber path adjuster according to claim 8, wherein the angle is between 6° and 10°.

10. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angle is 8°.

11. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cut surface is a ground and polished cut surface.

12. The optical fiber path adjuster according to claim 11, further comprising an anti-reflection layer located on at least one of the three cut surfaces.

13. An optical fiber path adjuster, characterized in that: comprising:

a first optical fiber alignment head formed with a first groove;

a first optical fiber installed in the first groove, an end of the first optical fiber is spaced from an end of the first groove;

A second optical fiber alignment head formed with a second groove is mounted to the first optical fiber alignment head so that the first groove and the second groove face each other;

a second optical fiber mounted in the second groove, an end of the second optical fiber being spaced from the end of the first groove;

a displacement device mounted adjacent to the first optical fiber alignment head and pivotally disposed between a first position and a second position;

a third optical fiber, the end of the third optical fiber is adjacent to the displacement device; and

A support mechanism separate from the displacement device is connected to the third optical fiber, the third optical fiber, the displacement device and the two grooves are arranged so that when the displacement device is in the first position, the The end of the third optical fiber is aligned with the end of the first optical fiber in the first groove by elastic force, and when the displacement device is in the second position, the end of the third optical fiber is subjected to elastic force and aligned with the end of the second optical fiber in the second groove.

14. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 13, wherein the end of the third optical fiber and the ends of the first and second optical fibers form a tangential plane inclined at an angle.

15. The optical fiber path adjuster according to claim 14, wherein the angle is between 6° and 10°.

16. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 15, wherein the angle is 8°.

17. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cut surface is a ground and polished cut surface.

18. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an anti-reflection layer located on at least one of the three cut surfaces.

19. The optical fiber path adjuster as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second optical fiber alignment heads are separated by a distance.

20. The optical fiber path adjuster according to claim 13, further comprising a clamper located outside the two grooves, the clamper includes a guide to guide the end of the third optical fiber in the two grooves Guide slots for movement between slots.