JPH06273680A - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent refractive index matching liquid from flowing out by providing a sealing structure for enabling the filling of the refractive index matching liquid. CONSTITUTION:In a cylindrical sleeve 12, a cylindrical tube 7 obtained by fixing a movable optical fiber 9, a hollow solenoid coil tube 20 obtained by winding a hollow solenoid coil 10 round the outside circumference thereof and a semi-circular cylinder 3 are arrayed. Then, the split part 14 of the sleeve 12 is coated with an adhesive agent. Besides, the airtight state thereof is kept by providing a scooping groove 6 orthogonally crossed to a V-shaped groove 5 at one part of the cylinder 3 and coating it with a sealing adhesive agent 15. Moreover, an ejecting pipe 13 for preventing the tube 20 from being rotated and filling the refractive index matching liquid is provided in the tube 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber movable mechanical optical switch used for optical communication and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A mechanical optical switch having a structure in which an optical fiber is directly driven to switch an optical path has a characteristic that the structure is simple and low insertion loss, downsizing, and low driving power can be obtained. Many types of switch structures have been proposed so far. Among them is the optical switch shown in FIG.

This mechanical optical switch is of the 1 × 2 type and has a base fixed to the cylindrical tube 7 in a cantilever shape, and a magnetic body 8 having desired magnetic characteristics fixed to the surface near the tip thereof. Movable naked optical fiber 9 and hollow solenoid coil 10 provided for inverting the magnetic poles at both ends of the magnetic body.
And a pair of permanent magnets 11 for applying a magnetic attraction force to the magnetic body 8 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and two fixed on the V-shaped groove 5 formed in the flat portion of the half cylinder 3. Stationary optical fiber 1 (which is hidden by the half-cylinder 3 and cannot be seen) and a cylindrical sleeve 12 which holds the cylindrical tube 7 and the half-cylinder 3 in alignment and which fixes the hollow solenoid coil 10 and the permanent magnet 11. Has been done.

The operation of this switch is as follows. The movable raw optical fiber 9 is magnetically attracted to one of the pair of permanent magnets 11 according to the magnetic poles at both ends of the magnetic body 8, and the tip thereof is V-shaped formed on the flat portion of the half-cylinder 3. Optically couple with one of the two stationary bare optical fibers 1 on the groove 5. Energize the solenoid coil 8
When the magnetic poles at both ends of the magnetic body 8 are reversed by applying a magnetic field along the optical axis to the movable bare optical fiber 9, the movable bare optical fiber 9 is attracted to the other permanent magnet 11 side and optically coupled to the other stationary bare optical fiber 1. . Even when the current is not supplied, the magnetic body 8 is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet 11, so that the coupling state with one of the stationary bare optical fibers 1 can be maintained,
A self-holding switching operation can be obtained.

[0005]

In the above optical switch, there is a gap of several tens of μm between the end faces of the two stationary bare optical fibers 1 and the movable bare optical fiber 9. The conventional optical switch has the following problems because the end faces of the optical fibers are arranged in the space.

It has been difficult to obtain low insertion loss and low reflection characteristics. In addition, the movable bare optical fiber 9 after the magnetic pole is reversed
At the time of optically coupling the stationary optical fiber 1 with the stationary optical fiber 1, chattering occurs due to the influence of the magnet attractive force. For this reason, the time until the optical path is completely coupled and the insertion loss is stabilized is 5 to 10
However, there is a problem in that the mechanical strength such as shock and vibration is weak and the reliability is lowered.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for filling the inside of the optical switch with a refractive index matching liquid in order to solve such a conventional problem, and enable the filling of the refractive index matching liquid. By doing so, it is possible to obtain an optical switch with high performance and high reliability.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a hollow solenoid coil tube 20 having a hollow solenoid coil 10 on its outer periphery, and a cylindrical sleeve 1
2 and the movable naked optical fiber 9 are fixed to the cylindrical tube 7, the joining portion of the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the half-split cylinder 3, the joining portion of the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the hollow solenoid coil tube 20, and the split portion 14 of the cylindrical sleeve 12. Sealing adhesive 1 over the entire area
5 was applied. Furthermore, deeper than the V-shaped groove 5 of the half cylinder 3,
A sealing groove 1 is provided by providing a flat groove 6 which is orthogonal to the V-shaped groove 5.
No. 5 was applied to prevent the refractive index matching liquid from flowing out. In addition, the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 uses a thin pipe having the same size as the split width of the split portion 14 of the cylindrical sleeve 12 for preventing the rotation of the solenoid coil tube 20 and filling the refractive index matching liquid. The injection pipe 13 was installed vertically on the same line as the drawn out portion of the coil lead wire 16.

[0009]

In the optical switch configured as described above, the inside of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is completely sealed by applying the sealing adhesive 15, and the refractive index matching liquid can be filled. Moreover, since the sealing adhesive 15 is applied to the V-shaped groove 5 of the half-split cylinder 3 which is orthogonal to the V-shaped groove 5, the outflow of the refractive index matching liquid from the flat surface joining surface of the half-split cylinder 3 can be prevented. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the refractive index matching liquid from entering the interior of the stationary optical fiber 2. Also, the hollow solenoid coil tube 2
The hollow solenoid coil tube 2 is connected to the hollow solenoid coil tube 2 by the injection pipe 13 installed on the same line as the unwinding portion of the coil lead wire 16.
Since 0 is guided during insertion into the cylindrical sleeve 12 and rotation after insertion can be prevented, the coil lead wire 16 drawn out for the electrode is not broken. Also, the injection pipe 1
3 is also fixed vertically to the hollow solenoid coil tube 10,
Since the protrusion is long, the hollow portion of the solenoid coil can be sufficiently filled without the index matching liquid adhering to the main body of the optical switch.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a cylindrical tube 7 having a movable bare optical fiber 9 fixed therein, a hollow solenoid coil tube 20 having an injection pipe 13, and a half cylinder 3 are aligned and held in a cylindrical sleeve 12. The injection pipe 13 provided in the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 is inserted into the guide through the split portion 14 provided in the cylindrical sleeve 12, and prevents the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 from rotating and has a predetermined length. It is protruding. Further, in the half-split cylinder 3, a flat groove 6 is arranged on the outer side of the end surface of the cylindrical sleeve 12 so that the sealing adhesive 15 can be easily applied, and is held in alignment.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a sealing adhesive 15 is applied to the joints and the outer periphery of the joints of the respective components held in alignment. The sealing adhesive 15 is a split portion 1 of the cylindrical sleeve 12.
4 Apply evenly over the entire area. The coating is evenly applied to the joint between the cylindrical tube 7 and the cylindrical sleeve 12, the outer periphery of the joint between the half cylinder 3 and the cylindrical sleeve 12, and the joint between the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the hollow solenoid coil tube 20. Also, the half-cylinder 3
The flat portion joining surface is provided with a flat groove 6 which is orthogonal to the V-shaped groove 5 provided on the side of the half-cylinder 3 where the stationary bare optical fiber is held, and is deeper than the V-shaped groove 5, and is sealed from the flat groove 6. Apply the adhesive 15. The sealing adhesive 15 is also applied to the mating portion 21 of the half cylinder. In this way, it is completely sealed except for the inlet 13.

3 (a) and 3 (b) show an example of a structure for blocking the refractive index matching liquid of the countersunk groove 6 provided in the half cylinder 3. In FIG. 3A, the stationary naked optical fiber 1 has a V-shaped groove 5
It is regulated by the shape of the flat portion 4 and is fixed by adhesion. In order to prevent the intrusion of the refractive index matching agent into the stationary core optical fiber 2, the stationary bare optical fiber 1 is completely covered with the sealing adhesive 15, and the end face of the flat portion of the half-cylinder 3 is joined. In order to easily apply the sealing adhesive 15, the bleeding groove 6 is provided, and is disposed outside the end of the cylindrical sleeve 12 and held. FIG. 3B is an assembled top view of the refractive index matching liquid blocking structure.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show an example of the shape and attachment of the injection pipe 13 for the refractive index matching liquid, which also serves to prevent the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 from rotating. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axis, FIG.
(B) is a sectional view parallel to the axis. An injection pipe 13 using a small-diameter pipe is fixed to the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 on the same line as the winding portion of the coil lead wire 16 and perpendicular to the axial direction of the hollow solenoid coil tube 20, and a split portion 14 of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is fixed. Is inserted in the guide. Due to this structure, the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 can be easily inserted into the cylindrical sleeve 12 without rotating, and the unrolled portion of the coil lead wire 16 is protected. The sealing structure of the present optical switch is formed as described above.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, a sealing adhesive is applied to the joint between the cylindrical sleeve and the fixed cylindrical tube of the movable raw optical fiber and the joint of the half-cylinder to match the refractive index. Prevents the liquid from flowing out, and provides a half groove that is deeper than the V-shaped groove and is orthogonal to the V-shaped groove on the side where the stationary bare optical fiber is held. A sealing adhesive is applied to match the refractive index. The structure that prevents the liquid from flowing out and the structure that the injection pipe for filling the refractive index matching liquid is installed in the hollow solenoid coil tube make it possible to fill the refractive index matching liquid. Excellent optical characteristics can be obtained. In addition, by filling the refractive index matching liquid, the refractive index matching liquid can be used as a shock absorber to provide a highly reliable optical switch having mechanical strength. Further, since the injection port provided vertically to the hollow solenoid coil tube also serves to prevent the rotation of the hollow solenoid coil tube, disconnection of the coil lead wire can be prevented and the yield in manufacturing can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sealing adhesive application portion of an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and an assembly view showing a refractive index matching liquid damming structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a refractive index matching liquid injection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a structure of a conventional optical switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 stationary bare optical fiber 2 stationary core optical fiber 3 half-split cylinder 4 shed portion 5 V-shaped groove 6 shed groove 7 cylindrical tube 8 magnetic material 9 movable bare optical fiber 11 permanent magnet 12 cylindrical sleeve 13 injection pipe 14 split portion 15 sealed Stopping adhesive 16 Coil lead wire 20 Hollow solenoid coil tube

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A movable bare optical fiber having a base fixed to a first cylindrical tube in a cantilever shape and having a magnetic substance fixed near its tip, and a movable bare optical fiber provided so as to surround the magnetic substance. A second cylindrical tube around which a hollow solenoid coil is wound around the side surface, permanent magnets arranged opposite to each other in parallel magnetism and at equal intervals as opposite magnetism, and V-shaped formed in a flat portion of a half-cylinder. From one or two stationary naked optical fibers fixed on the groove, a cylindrical sleeve holding the first cylindrical tube, the second cylindrical tube and a half-cylinder in alignment and fixing the permanent magnet on the side surface. A mechanical optical switch that performs a self-holding type switch operation in which the tip of the movable bare optical fiber and the tip of the stationary bare optical fiber face each other on the V-shaped groove, and the movable bare optical fiber inside the optical switch. The tip and the stationary bare optical fiber tip face each other Optical switch refractive index matching liquid into minute characterized in that it is filled. 2. A groove for applying a sealant for blocking an outflow dam of a refractive index matching liquid is made orthogonal to the V-shaped groove in a part of a portion of the half-cylinder where the stationary naked optical fiber is fixed. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the optical switch is provided. 3. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the hollow solenoid coil tube is provided with an injection pipe for a refractive index matching liquid which also serves to prevent rotation of the solenoid coil.