DE102004027222A1 - Optical multimode switch with optical fiber input and output, has parabolic reflector or reflector coupled to drive to allow channel selection by tilting or linear movement - Google Patents

Abstract

At least one parabolic reflector (3) and at least one reflector (4) are arranged in the beam path between the input (1) and the output (2). For channel selection, the parabolic reflector and/or the reflector is coupled to a drive so that it tilts with respect to the beam, or is linearly moved in one direction or plane.

Description

The The invention relates to multimode optical switches having an optical waveguide as input and at least one optical fiber as output.

By WO 98/43125 A1 (optical multiple switch) is an optical one Switch known, being over a maximum of two recesses a switching is achieved thereby that this optionally with a visually thinner or denser fabric be filled. There are two surfaces the recess either as reflection surfaces or as a transmissive Surfaces. By changing the optical properties within a transparent the body With this recess results in a complicated structure.

The DE 199 10 375 A1 (Optical Switch and Modular Switching System of Optical Switching Elements) describes an optical device having channels in which liquids with a suitable refractive index are located. By shifting the liquids within the channels by means of actuators, the light is optionally passed through the liquid. With the selection of a suitable refractive index, light rays can be deflected at arbitrary angles, so that a switching is given. The disadvantage of this solution consists in the movement of the liquids by means of the actuators, wherein a movable liquid is connected to a mechanically acting actuator.

The EP 0 955 559 A1 (Optical switch) includes an optical switch with several Kolliminatoren as reflector modules, each with two mutually perpendicular reflection surfaces. One of the reflector module is displaceably guided via a drive, so that switching to optical fibers is given as outputs. Such a switch is not free from spherical aberration for collimated beams, so that aberrations may occur.

In the US 5,361,315 (Refractive element in an optical beam switch) are located between the input and output a light-refracting element and a reflection element. The switching function is based on the change of the angle of the refractive element with respect to the light rays. The angle determines the channel selection. Disadvantages are in particular the necessary defined positions of the refractive element to the light rays, since these positions determine the channel selection.

Another optical switch is through the DE 101 16 513 A1 (Optical switch), wherein in the beam direction, a fiber array, a lens array, a deflection module and a reflector module are present. Via the deflection module in the beam path, a parallel offset is achieved. This parallel offset corresponds to the spacing of adjacent lenses of the lens array. This offset is achieved by a double refraction in a body which is movable in the beam path. About the reflector module, the light beams are deflected at least twice in a plane. For switching the beams to other outputs, the reflector module must be moved. For switching, the lenses, a beam-breaking element and the reflector module are necessary.

Of the The invention defined in claim 1 is based on the problem Light rays between at least one input and at least one Switch output without movement of an optical fiber directly.

This Problem is solved with the features listed in claim 1.

The according to the invention optical Multimode switches are characterized in particular by the fact that light rays between at least one input and at least two outputs without Movement of optical fibers can be switched directly. Of the multimode optical switch is based on a switchable imaging optics, which is a 1: 1 image of the end face of the optical waveguide the entrance to the frontal area an optical waveguide realized as an output.

To are in the beam path between the fiber optic cable as an input and the optical waveguide (s) as an output at least one parabolic mirror and arranges at least one mirror, wherein for a channel selection of the parabolic mirror and / or the mirror is coupled to at least one drive, that the parabolic mirror and / or the mirror opposite the Rays tiltable and / or linear in one direction or in several Directions and thus is movable in one plane.

The basis of the optical multi-mode switch advantageously only reflective elements up to the reflection coefficient without wavelength dependence. Refractive elements with an inherent dispersion are not necessary. At least one parabolic mirror is based on the multimode optical switches. Parabolic mirrors are free of spherical aberration for collimated beams which are incident parallel to the axis of symmetry of the parabolic mirror and are therefore characterized in that the reflected beams pass exactly through the focal point. So that the focus is not within the collimated Strahles is preferably parabolic mirrors are used in the so-called off-axis positioning.

in principle the collimated light rays reach the identical parabolic mirror or another identical parabolic mirror.

Basically results in the total extent a so-called 4f structure.

One Another advantage of the optical multi-mode switches is that that these switches are used for switching light beams with a large spectral Range from ultraviolet to infrared can be used depends on the mirror layer used.

advantageously, if this layer is e.g. made of gold, silver or aluminum or is a dielectric layer or a combination of metallic and dielectric layer. At least one of the mirrors is with coupled to at least one drive, so that a channel selection can be done. Depending on the movements of the at least one driven Mirror can be both a selection of arranged in a row Ends of optical fibers as outputs as well as a selection of ends of optical waveguides arranged in a two-dimensional array as exits take place, wherein the ends of the optical waveguide arbitrary distances from one another can take. This results in the most diverse Applications.

advantageous Embodiments of the invention are in the claims 2 to 9 indicated.

Favorable realization variants for optical Multimode switches are through the developments of the claims 2 to 6 given.

• – ein planer Reflexionsspiegel,
• – ein weiterer Parabolspiegel,
• – ein Spiegelsystem aus zwei Planspiegeln und ein planer Reflexionsspiegel oder
• – ein Spiegelsystem aus zwei Planspiegeln und ein weiterer Parabolspiegel ein Bestandteil der erfindungsgemäßen optischen Multimodeschalter.

In addition to the parabolic mirror is advantageously as a mirror

• A plane reflection mirror,
• - another parabolic mirror,
• A mirror system consisting of two plane mirrors and a plane reflection mirror or
• - A mirror system consisting of two plane mirrors and another parabolic mirror a part of the optical multi-mode switch according to the invention.

A the mirror devices of these multimode optical switches coupled with at least one drive, so that a channel selection given is. The number of switchable outputs depends in particular according to the number of directions and the lengths of the movements.

To are in particular according to the embodiment of claim 7 end regions the fiber optic cable as outputs arranged in a row or in several rows. Depending on the arrangement of Components of the optical multi-mode switch is the end area of the optical waveguide as an input part of a series or is spaced therefrom.

embodiments The invention are shown in principle in the drawings and will be closer in the following described.

It demonstrate:

1 a multi-mode optical switch with a parabolic mirror and a movable plane reflecting mirror,

2 a multi-mode optical switch with a movable parabolic mirror and a fixed plane reflecting mirror,

3 a multimode optical switch with two parabolic mirrors, at least one being movable,

4 a multimode optical switch with two parabolic mirrors and a mirror system with movable mirrors and

5 a multimode optical switch with a parabolic mirror, a plane reflecting mirror and a mirror system with moving mirrors.

1st embodiment

An optical multimode switch with an optical fiber as input 1 and at least one optical fiber as an output 2 consists in a first embodiment essentially of a parabolic mirror 3 and a tiltable plane reflecting mirror 4 ,

The 1 shows in principle a multi-mode optical switch with a parabolic mirror 3 and a tiltable plane reflecting mirror 4 ,

In the focal length of the parabolic mirror 3 is the entrance 1 in which the divergent emerging radiation is collimated. The collimated radiation passes over the plane reflection mirror 4 on the identical parabolic mirror 3 that puts the collimated radiation on the selected output 2 focused. The plane reflection mirror 4 is also in the focal length of the parabolic mirror 3 arranged.

The plane reflection mirror 4 is tiltable either in one axis or in two axes and adjustable. For the tilting / tilting this is with a number of known electric drive / drives 7 coupled. The movement of the drive (s) 7 is preferably continuous and thus analog. About the tilt angle of the plane reflection mirror 4 the channel selection takes place. The outputs can be 2 be arranged arbitrarily side by side. With only one analog tilt axis, the outputs are located 2 in a row, with the individual outputs 2 can take any distances to each other. With two analog tilting axes, the outputs 2 be arranged in a field, with the individual outputs 2 again can take any distances to each other. But also an arrangement in a row or in a two-dimensional field with equidistant positioning is possible. The analogue adjustable drive / the analogue adjustable drives 7 can advantageously be provided with a position control.

2nd embodiment

An optical multimode switch with an optical fiber as input 1 and at least one optical fiber as an output 2 consists in a second embodiment essentially of a movable parabolic mirror 3 and a fixed plane reflecting mirror 4 ,

The 2 shows in principle such a multi-mode optical switch.

In focal length of the parabolic mirror 3 is the entrance 2 in which the divergent emerging radiation is collimated. The collimated radiation passes over the plane reflection mirror 4 on the identical parabolic mirror 3 that puts the collimated radiation on the selected output 2 focused. The plane reflection mirror 4 is also in the focal length of the parabolic mirror 3 arranged.

The parabolic mirror 3 is guided in one or in two directions continuously movable. For the movement of the parabolic mirror 3 this is with a translatory drive or two translatory drives 8th coupled, so that the parabolic mirror 3 in one direction or in two directions and thus in a plane is adjustable. The channel length is selected via the movement length / movement lengths. The end regions of the optical waveguides can be used as outputs 2 in rows (movement of the parabolic mirror 3 in one direction) or arbitrarily in a two-dimensional field (movement of the parabolic mirror 3 in the x and y directions). With only one analog translation axis, the outputs are located 2 in a row, with the individual outputs 2 can take any distances to each other. With two analog translation axes, the outputs 2 be arranged in a field, with the individual outputs 2 again can take any distances to each other. But also an arrangement in a row or in a two-dimensional field with equidistant positioning is possible. The analogue adjustable drive or the analogue adjustable drives 8th can advantageously be provided with a position control.

3rd embodiment

An optical multimode switch with an optical fiber as input 1 and at least one exit 2 consists in a third embodiment essentially of two identical parabolic mirrors 3a . 3b , wherein at least one guided is movable.

The 3 shows in principle such a multi-mode optical switch.

In focal length of the first parabolic mirror 3a is the entrance 1 in which the divergent emerging radiation is collimated. The collimated radiation reaches the second identical parabolic mirror 3b that puts the collimated radiation on the selected output 2 focused. The parabolic mirrors 3a . 3b are arranged to each other such that their foci and axes of symmetry coincide.

At least one of the parabolic mirrors 3a . 3b is guided in one or two directions. For an analog continuous motion of the parabolic mirror 3a . 3b this is with a translatory drive or two translatory drives 8th coupled, so that the parabolic mirror 3a . 3b in one direction or in two directions and thus in a plane is adjustable. The channel length is selected via the movement length / movement lengths. The optical fibers can be used as outputs 2 in rows (movement of the parabolic mirror 3a . 3b in one direction) or in a two-dimensional field (movement of the parabolic mirror 3a . 3b in the x and y directions). With only one analog translation axis, the outputs are located 2 in a row, with the individual outputs 2 can take any distances to each other. With two analog translation axes, the outputs 2 be arranged in a field, with the individual outputs 2 again can take any distances to each other. But also an arrangement in a row or in a two-dimensional field with equidistant positioning is possible. The analogue adjustable drive or the analogue adjustable drives 8th can advantageously be provided with a position control.

4th embodiment

An optical multimode switch with an optical fiber as input 1 and at least one optical fiber as an output 2 consists in a fourth embodiment essentially of a mirror system and two identical parabolic mirrors 3a . 3b ,

The 4 shows in principle such a multi-mode optical switch.

After the entrance 1 is a mirror system as a pair of mutually parallel plan mirrors 5 . 6 , The symmetry axis and the plane mirror 5 . 6 may include an angle of 45 ° in one embodiment. With the mirror system, the light beams are reflected twice. The rear in the beam direction second plane mirror 6 is larger than the front first plane mirror 5 , so that the divergent rays in the direction of the first parabolic mirror 3a be reflected. Through this parabolic mirror 3a the rays are collimated. The collimated radiation reaches the second identical parabolic mirror 3b that puts the collimated radiation on the selected output 2 focused. The parabolic mirrors 3a . 3b are arranged to each other such that their foci and axes of symmetry coincide.

The mirror 5 . 6 of the mirror system are with drives 9 . 10 coupled so that they are independently movable. The movements are not continuous but bistable. The smaller first mirror 5 can be moved between two fixed end positions. The distance of the end positions is chosen so that the beam passing through the entire structure on the adjacent optical fiber as an output 2 meets. The larger second mirror 6 can also be moved between two end positions. The distance of these end positions is chosen so that the beam passing through the entire structure on the next but one optical waveguide of adjacent optical fibers as an output 2 meets. The movement length thus corresponds to twice the movement length of the smaller first mirror 5 , Altogether four positions are adjustable so that four channels can be addressed. These are the end portions of the optical fibers as outputs 2 arranged in a matrix. The drives 9 . 10 can be realized very easily, since no regulation is necessary. These only work against attacks.

In a further embodiment can be located next to this first mirror system behind the entrance (addressed four channels in a row) a second identical mirror system in front of the outputs be. The second mirror system is 90 degrees from the first mirror system rotated so that the larger mirror is the first mirror, the smaller mirror addresses the second mirror and four rows of outputs can be. With four drives as actuators 16 channels can be addressed become.

5th embodiment

An optical multimode switch with an optical fiber as input 1 and at least one optical fiber as the output 2 consists in a fifth embodiment essentially of a mirror system, a parabolic mirror 3 and a plane reflecting mirror 4 ,

The 5 shows in principle such a multi-mode optical switch.

After the entrance 1 is a mirror system as a pair of mutually parallel plan mirrors 5 . 6 , With the mirror system, the light beams are reflected twice as much, that one opposite the one from the optical waveguide as input 1 Exiting light radiation parallel offset light radiation is present. The rear in the beam direction second plane mirror 6 is larger than the front first plane mirror 5 , so that the divergent rays in the direction of the parabolic mirror 3 be reflected. Through this parabolic mirror 3 the rays are collimated. The collimated radiation reaches the plane reflection mirror 4 that the collimated light rays on the parabolic mirror 3 reflected back. The plane reflection mirror 4 is tilted so that the returning beam to a first output 2 meets and does not run back into the entrance 1 meets. The plane reflection mirror 4 is in the focal length of the parabolic mirror 3 arranged.

The plane mirrors 5 . 6 of the mirror system are with drives 9 . 10 coupled so that they are independently movable. The movements are not continuous but bistable. The smaller first plane mirror 5 can be moved between two fixed end positions. The distance of the end positions is chosen so that the beam passing through the entire structure on the adjacent optical fiber as an output 2 meets. The larger second plane mirror 6 can also be moved between two end positions. The distance of these end positions is chosen so that the beam passing through the entire structure on the next but one optical waveguide of adjacent optical fibers as an output 2 meets. The movement length thus corresponds to twice the movement length of the smaller first plane mirror 5 , Altogether four positions are adjustable so that four channels can be addressed. These are the end portions of the optical fibers as outputs 2 arranged in a row. The drives 9 . 10 can be realized very easily, since no re necessary. These only work against attacks.

The drives listed in the embodiments 7 to 10 are not shown in the figures. The arrows on the movable components show the directions of movement, which have correspondingly realized drives 7 to 10 be executed.

The translational drives of the embodiments one to five are electrically controllable movement devices as a piezoelectric bending plate, piezoelectric multi-morph element, piezoelectric linear drive, electromechanical linear actuator, electromagnetic linear stepper drive or magnetostrictive linear drive.

For the tilting movements can also rotationally acting drives can be used.

In embodiments the embodiments can the end portions of the optical fibers combined into arrays the embodiments one to five in several spaced and parallel to each other Grooves of a plate-shaped body be introduced. The introduction of the grooves is based on known etching or Abtragsverfahren. In these grooves are the end portions of the optical fibers. For one increase stability the optical fibers, the end regions are covered with a plate, which either run flat or also has corresponding grooves. The end areas the optical fibers are advantageously glued into these grooves.

Claims (7)

Optical multimode switch with an optical waveguide as input and at least one optical waveguide as output, characterized in that in the beam path between the input ( 1 ) and the output ( 2 ) at least one parabolic mirror ( 3 ) and at least one mirror are arranged and that for a channel selection of the parabolic mirror ( 3 ) and / or the mirror is coupled to at least one drive such that the parabolic mirror ( 3 ) and / or the mirror is tiltable with respect to the beams and / or is linearly movable in a direction or in a plane. Optical multi-mode switch according to claim 1, characterized in that in the beam direction to the input ( 1 ) successively a parabolic mirror ( 3 ) and a plane reflection mirror ( 4 ) are arranged as a mirror and that the plane reflection mirror ( 4 ) with at least one drive ( 7 ) is coupled so that the plane reflection mirror ( 4 ) is movable relative to the beam either in a tilt axis or in two mutually perpendicular tilt axes. Optical multi-mode switch according to claim 1, characterized in that in the beam direction to the input ( 1 ) successively a parabolic mirror ( 3 ) and a plane reflection mirror ( 4 ) are arranged as a mirror and that the parabolic mirror ( 3 ) with either a translatory drive or translatory drives ( 8th ) is coupled so that the parabolic mirror ( 3 ) is movable either in one direction or in one plane. Optical multi-mode switch according to claim 1, characterized in that in the beam direction after the input successively a parabolic mirror ( 3a ) and another identical parabolic mirror ( 3b ) are arranged as a mirror and that at least one of the parabolic mirrors ( 3 ) with either a translatory drive or translatory drives ( 8th ) is coupled so that the parabolic mirror ( 3 ) is movable either in one direction or in one plane. Optical multi-mode switch according to claim 1, characterized in that in the beam direction after the input two identical parabolic mirror ( 3a . 3b ) and between entrance ( 1 ) and / or output ( 2 ) are arranged a mirror system and that the mirror system with either a translatory drive or translational drives ( 9 . 10 ) is coupled so that the mirror system or mirrors ( 5 . 6 ) of the mirror system are movable independently of one another either in one direction or in one plane, whereby the beams from the input ( 1 ) and / or the second parabolic mirror ( 3b ) via the mirror system to the first parabolic mirror ( 3a ) and / or to the exit ( 2 ) reach. Optical multi-mode switch according to claim 1, characterized in that in the beam direction to the input ( 1 ) successively a mirror system consisting of two plane mirrors ( 5 . 6 ), a parabolic mirror ( 3 ) and a plane reflection mirror ( 4 ) are arranged and that the mirror system with either a translational drive or translational drives ( 9 . 10 ) is coupled so that the mirror system or mirrors ( 5 . 6 ) of the mirror system are independently movable either in one direction or in one plane. Optical multi-mode switch according to one of the claims 1 to 3 or 6 , characterized in that end regions of the optical waveguides are used as output ( 2 ) are arranged in a row or in several rows and that the end region of the optical waveguide is used as input ( 1 ) is part of a series.