Passive optical through switches

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9772450-B2
Application number	US-201615097529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

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;
a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths;
at least one port coupled to the housing, the port being configured to receive at least a portion of a fiber optic connector in an axial direction; and
a push arm associated with the at least one port;
wherein, upon insertion of the portion of the fiber optic connector, the fiber optic connector physically moves the push arm to cause the waveguide paths to shift to break a normal through configuration.

2. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , wherein the push arm is biased into the normal through configuration.

3. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 2 , wherein the push arm is biased by a spring.

4. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , further comprising at least one magnet coupled to the push arm.

5. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 4 , wherein the at least one magnet causes the waveguide paths to shift to break the normal through configuration.

6. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second port configured to receive at least a portion of a second fiber optic connector for optical coupling when the passive optical fiber switch is in the normal through configuration; and
a third port configured to receive at least a portion of a third fiber optic connector for optical coupling when the normal through configuration is broken.

7. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 1 , wherein the push arm includes a body extending in the axial direction from the at least one port to the waveguide paths.

8. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 7 , wherein the body of the push arm is biased into the normal through configuration.

9. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 8 , wherein the body of the push arm is biased by a spring.

10. The passive optical fiber switch of claim 9 , further comprising at least one magnet coupled to the body of the push arm.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Pepe Paul John
• Coffey Joseph C

Classifications

• G02B6/355

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

• G02B6/3562

  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

• G02B6/358

  Latching of the moving element, i.e. maintaining or holding the moving element in place once operation has been performed; includes a mechanically bistable system · CPC title

• G02B6/3608

  Fibre wiring boards, i.e. where fibres are embedded or attached in a pattern on or to a substrate, e.g. flexible sheets (optical ribbon cables in support members G02B6/4401) · 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