JPH0432368B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light conversion device, and more particularly to a light conversion device that converts light using an electrical signal in a device using an optical fiber.

Conventional technology Conventionally, this type of device has been described, for example, in Figure 1a, page 113 of "Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Utilization" by Toshio Nemoto et al., published by Ohmsha Co., Ltd. on April 16, 1981. A switch is proposed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the light conversion device described in the above-mentioned document has the disadvantage of being large in size because one electromagnet is provided at each of the top and bottom of the vertically moving optical fiber.

Further, even if only one electromagnet is provided on either the upper or lower side of the optical fiber, the portion housing the electromagnet protrudes outside the main body, which inevitably increases the overall size.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to insert an optical fiber that moves up and down into the center of a cylindrical electromagnet, and to An object of the present invention is to provide a novel light conversion device that can be configured extremely compactly by utilizing space as effectively as possible.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the light conversion device according to the present invention has a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the main body,
at least one of the optical fibers having a free end;
In a light conversion device that converts light by vertical movement of two optical fibers, a hollow electromagnet is disposed in the main body, and a plunger having a through hole is fitted into the hollow part of the electromagnet so as to be movable left and right. A converter is attached to the tip of the plunger, an optical fiber having a free end is inserted into the hollow portion and the center of the through hole, and the vicinity of the free end of the optical fiber is fitted into the through hole of the converter; The left and right movement of the plunger causes the free end of the optical fiber to move up and down due to the sliding of the protrusion or groove that faces and engages with the groove or protrusion provided on the inner surface of the main body or the converter. The optical fiber is configured to selectively face or separate from the fixed end face of another optical fiber to convert light.

Embodiments Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, of which Figure 1 is a front view showing the inside with one side of the main body removed, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, and Figure 3 is the main body. FIG. 3 is a front view showing one side and the internal mechanism removed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 11 indicates a main body, and optical fibers 12, 13, and 14 extending outward are fixed to the left and right ends of the main body 11, respectively. An electromagnet 15 consisting of a cylindrical iron core 15a and a coil 15b is disposed in the inner cavity 11a of the main body 11, and a cylindrical plunger 17 with a through hole 17a is disposed within the electromagnet 15 via a spring 16.
are fitted to be movable in the left and right direction (longitudinal direction). A converter 18 having a through hole 18a into which the free end 12a of the optical fiber 12 is loosely fitted is rotatably connected to the tip flange of the plunger 17. That is, recesses (not shown) are provided on both sides of the tip flange of the plunger 17, and the support shafts 18b provided on both inner sides of the converter 18 fit into the recesses.
The conversion support 18 is rotatable by the plunger 17 about these support shafts 18b. The uneven relationship between the recess and the support shaft 18b may be reversed, that is, the recess of the plunger 17 may be the support shaft, and the support shaft 18b may be a hole or a recess. On both outer sides of the converter 18, protrusions 18c are formed which slide and fit into inclined grooves (slanted recesses) 19 cut into the inner surface of the main body 11. On the contrary, main body 1
It is also possible to make one inclined groove 19 a protrusion, and to make the opposing protrusion 18c of the converter 18 an inclined groove (or an inclined hole).

A female thread 20 is formed at one end (right side) of the main body 11, and a male thread 2 is screwed into the female thread 20.
1 has a through hole 21 in the center screw direction (longitudinal direction)
a, and a plurality of recesses 21b (three in this embodiment) are formed in the direction of the through hole, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the thread of the screw. optical fiber 1
2 into the through hole 21a of the male screw 21, the hollow part of the electromagnet 15, the through hole 17a of the plunger 17, and the through hole 18a of the converter 18, and then screw the male screw 21 into the female screw.
The inclined surface of the tip of the screw contacts the inner wall of the female thread 20,
As a result, the outer side of the threaded portion of the male thread 21 is compressed due to the cutout 21b, and as a result, the optical fiber 12 is firmly fixed to one end of the main body.

Note that 22 is a guide projection for the optical fibers 13 and 14, 23 is a lead wire for supplying power to the coil 15b, 24 is an uneven portion for connecting the main body 11 and another main body (not shown), and 25 is a protrusion of the lead wire 23. Each drawing hole is shown.

Next, the operation will be explained. When coil 15b is not energized, it is biased to the left by the spring force of plunger 17 or spring 16, as seen in FIG.
The end face of a is opposed to the end face of the optical fiber 13. Next, when power is supplied to the coil 15b through the lead wire 23, the electromagnet 15 is energized and the plunger 17 moves to the right in FIG. 1 against the spring 16. During the movement, the protrusion 18c provided on the converter 18 is slid on the inclined groove (or inclined recess) 19 provided on the inner wall of the main body 11, and the through hole is moved according to the movement of the converter 18. 18a
The free end 12 of the optical fiber 12 is loosely fitted into the
a is moved downward, and its tip surface becomes the optical fiber 1.
It is separated from the end face of optical fiber 14 and is opposed to the end face of optical fiber 14 . That is, a conversion of light takes place. When the power to the coil 15 is cut off, the operation is opposite to that described above, and the end face of the free end portion 12a is separated from the end face of the optical fiber 14 and faces the end face of the optical fiber 13, resulting in the state shown in FIG.

4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the internal mechanism with one side of the main body removed, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism, and is a partially sectional front view showing a state in which the plunger and converter are connected.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment described above is the shape and structure of the plunger 27 and the converter 28, and the state of their connection. is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, the flange of the plunger 27 is formed with branch pieces 27a projecting from both sides, and protrusions 27a' are provided on the inner sides of the branch pieces 27a. On the other hand, converter 2
8 has a through hole 28a to which the free end 12a of the optical fiber 12 is fixed, and on both sides thereof an inclined groove (or inclined recess) in which the protrusion 27a' of the plunger 27 fits and slides. 28b are formed respectively.

To explain the operation of the second embodiment, the plunger 27 is moved from side to side by blinking the electromagnet 15. At that time, the plunger branch 27
As a result of the protrusion 27a' provided inside the converter 28 sliding in the inclined groove 28b of the converter 28, the converter 2
8 moves up and down, and accordingly, the free end 12a of the optical fiber 12 fixed to the converter 28 also moves up and down, so that the end surface of the free end 12a selectively faces the end surface of the optical fibers 13 and 14 to emit light. A transformation is made.

In addition to the first and second embodiments described above, as another embodiment, a plurality of optical fibers (three in the embodiment) are arranged only on the right side of FIG. 1, and a prism or a concave mirror is arranged on the left side. By providing a light converting device such as the above, it is also possible to convert the light from the optical fiber 12 into the optical fibers 13 and 14 by the light converting device.

Effects of the Invention The present invention is constructed and operates as follows, and according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) By converting the movement of the left and right plungers of the electromagnet into vertical movement of the converter using an inclined groove, the operation of converting the light of the optical fiber can be converted into an extremely rational and accurate operation. I can do it. The structure for changing the direction of operation is relatively simple and yet strong, so it can withstand long-term use.

(2) In addition to feature (1) above, since the movable optical fiber is inserted through the center of the electromagnet, the electromagnet that moves the optical fiber up and down can be very rationally housed within the main body. Therefore, it can be manufactured to a size nearly half that of the conventional concept.

(3) Since the optical fiber moves up and down using one point as a fulcrum, unlike the conventional example in which an electromagnet is installed above the optical fiber to operate it, in order to move the optical fiber up and down by circular arc movement using a converter,
Since no excessive force is applied to the optical fiber, the optical fiber will not be damaged or damaged even if it is used (moved) for a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, of which Figure 1 is a front view showing the inside with one side of the main body removed, and Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the inside with one side of the main body removed. A perspective view, FIG. 3 is a front view with one side of the main body and internal mechanism removed, and FIGS. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 4 shows one side of the main body removed. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a partially sectional front view showing the coupling relationship between the plunger and the converter. 11...Main body, 12-14...Optical fiber, 1
5... Electromagnet, 16... Spring, 17, 27... Plunger, 18, 28... Converter, 19... Inclined groove (or inclined hole), 20... Female thread, 21... Male thread, 22... Projection , 23...Lead wire, 24...
...Irregularities, 25...holes.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light conversion device in which a plurality of optical fibers are disposed in a main body, and light is converted by vertical movement of at least one optical fiber having a free end among the optical fibers, wherein the main body A hollow electromagnet is disposed inside the electromagnet, and a plunger having a through hole is fitted into the hollow part of the electromagnet so as to be movable left and right, a converter is attached to the tip of the plunger, and the center of the hollow part and the through hole is fitted. An optical fiber having a free end is inserted into the part, and the vicinity of the free end of the optical fiber is fitted into the through hole of the converter, and by the left and right movement of the plunger, the inner surface of the main body or the converter is attached. The free end of the optical fiber moves up and down due to the sliding of the protrusion or the inclined groove that faces and engages the inclined groove or protrusion, and selectively faces or separates from the end face of the other fixed optical fiber. A light conversion device characterized by converting light. 2. The converter, which has a recess or a protrusion on the outer surface of the plunger and a through hole on the tip surface, is rotatably mounted through the recess or the protrusion of the plunger, and the converter has a recess or a protrusion on the outer surface of the converter. The light conversion device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the provided protrusion or inclined groove is engaged with the inclined groove or protrusion on the inner surface of the main body. 3. A branch is provided at the tip of the plunger, and a protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the branch, and a protrusion is provided in advance on the outer surface of the converter to which the free end of the vertically moving optical fiber is fixed. 2. The light converting device according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion on the support piece that is engaged with the inclined groove. 4. A female thread is provided at a position where the optical fiber having the free end is fixed to the main body, a through hole is formed in the direction of the center thread, and a male thread is provided with a plurality of holes in the threaded portion in the direction of the through hole. death,
Claims 1 to 3 further characterized in that the optical fiber is fixed to the main body by inserting the optical fiber into the through hole of the male thread and screwing the male thread into the female thread. The light conversion device according to any one of the items.