Passive optical through switches

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9335484-B2
Application number	US-201414203817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A passive optical fiber switch includes: a housing defining a plurality of ports configured to receive fiber optic connectors; a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths; and an arm positioned relative to one of the plurality of ports such that the arm moves as a fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port, movement of the arm causing the waveguide paths to shift to break a normal through configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A passive optical fiber switch, comprising:
a housing defining a plurality of ports configured to receive fiber optic connectors in an axial direction;
a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths;
an arm positioned relative to one of the plurality of ports such that the arm moves in the axial direction as a fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port, movement of the arm causing the waveguide paths to shift to break a normal through configuration;
a spring positioned to move the arm in the axial direction into the normal through configuration; and
a first magnet coupled to the arm, the first magnet being positioned relative to a second magnet coupled to one of the waveguide paths, the first magnet causing the second magnet to move the one waveguide path to break the normal through configuration.

2. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , further comprising a ferrule sub-assembly positioned between each of the plurality of ports and the plurality of waveguide paths.

3. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , wherein the spring is compressed by the arm when the arm is moved as the fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port.

4. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , further comprising a ferrule sub-assembly positioned between each of the plurality of ports and the plurality of waveguide paths.

5. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 4 , wherein each ferrule sub-assembly includes a sleeve and a ferrule.

6. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , wherein the spring is compressed by the arm when the arm is moved as the fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port.

7. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a plurality of arms, each of the arms extending from the substrate to one of the plurality of ports.

8. A passive optical fiber switch, comprising:
a housing defining a plurality of ports configured to receive fiber optic connectors;
a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths;
a first arm positioned relative a first port of the plurality of ports such that the first arm moves as a first fiber optic connector of the plurality of fiber optic connectors is positioned in the first port;
a first magnet coupled to the first arm, the first magnet being moved by the first arm, movement of the first arm causing the first magnet to be positioned relative to a second magnet on one of the waveguide paths to repel the second magnet and thereby break a normal through configuration; and
a first spring to move the first arm when the first fiber optic connector is removed from the first port to cause the first magnet to be positioned relative to the second magnet to attract the second magnet and thereby create the normal through configuration.

9. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second arm positioned relative a second port of the plurality of ports such that a second arm moves as a second fiber optic connector of the plurality of fiber optic connectors is positioned in the second port;
a third magnet coupled to the second arm, the third magnet being moved by the second arm, movement of the second arm causing the third magnet to be positioned relative to a fourth magnet on one of the waveguide paths to repel the fourth magnet and thereby break a normal through configuration; and
a second spring to move the second arm when the second fiber optic connector is removed from the second port to cause the third magnet to be positioned relative to the fourth magnet to attract the fourth magnet and thereby create the normal through configuration.

10. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 8 , further comprising a ferrule sub-assembly positioned between each of the plurality of ports and the plurality of waveguide paths.

11. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 10 , wherein each ferrule sub-assembly includes a sleeve and a ferrule.

12. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a plurality of arms, each of the arms extending from the substrate to one of the plurality of ports.

13. A method for switching a fiber optic connection, the method comprising:
providing a housing defining a plurality of ports configured to receive fiber optic connectors, and a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths;
allowing an arm positioned relative to one of the plurality of ports to move as a fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port, movement of the arm causing the waveguide paths to shift to break a normal through configuration;
positioning a spring to move the arm into the normal through configuration;
allowing the spring to be compressed by the arm when the arm is moved as the fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port; and
positioning a first magnet coupled to the arm relative to a second magnet coupled to one of the waveguide paths, the first magnet causing the second magnet to move the one waveguide path to break the normal through configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a ferrule sub-assembly positioned between each of the plurality of ports and the plurality of waveguide paths.

Assignees

• Adc Telecommunications Inc
• Tyco Electronics Corp
• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Pepe Paul John
• Coffey Joseph C

Classifications

• G02B6/3574

  Mechanical force, e.g. pressure variations · CPC title

• G02B6/3562 Primary

  Switch of the bypass type, i.e. enabling a change of path in a network, e.g. to bypass a failed element in the network · CPC title

• G02B6/355

  1x2 switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of two possible outputs · CPC title

• G02B6/3508 Primary

  Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends · CPC title

• G02B6/3506

  Translating the waveguides along the beam path, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by translation of the waveguide ends · CPC title