Abstract: An apparatus and method of optical switching wherein the output ends of input optical channels 142 are held by and movable by actuator arm 108 of a conventional computer disk drive assembly and the input ends of output optical channels 144 are held by and movable by the disk 102 of the assembly. Fixed supports 120 and 136 stabilize the input and output optical channels prior to entry into the optical switch 100. A high resolution voice coil motor receives the switching signal and moves the actuator arm which in turn moves the input optical channels to align them with the selected output channels. Disk 102 is preferably partially rotatable by a disk motor so that the output optical channels are movable and switching speed can be increased. A linear embodiment operates in an equivalent manner with a linearly movable disk and linear actuator arm. An alternative embodiment operates with two or more voice coil motor driven actuator arms, without the use of a disk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of optical switching wherein a plurality of individual activation strips (18) are adhered longitudinally upon an optical channel, such as an optical fiber (14) to cause the fiber to undulate in 2½ dimensions when the activation strips are activated. The activation strips are activated with a constant or varying electrical source and are located at the free end of the optical fiber. Contraction and expansion of respective activation strips causes a free end of the optical fiber to be displaced or to undulate. A multichannel switch (100) operates by moving the free end of the selected input fiber and the free end of the selected output fiber toward one another so that the signal is sent from the input to the output fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of optical switching wherein a plurality of individual activation strips (18) are adhered longitudinally upon an optical channel, such as an optical fiber (14) to cause the fiber to undulate in 2½ dimensions when the activation strips are activated. The activation strips are activated with a constant or varying electrical source and are located at the free end of the optical fiber. Contraction and expansion of respective activation strips causes a free end of the optical fiber to be displaced or to undulate. A multichannel switch (100) operates by moving the free end of the selected input fiber and the free end of the selected output fiber toward one another so that the signal is sent from the input to the output fiber.

Abstract: An optical switch comprised of an artificial muscle activation material that is adhered longitudinally around an optical channel, such as an optical fiber or group of fibers, to cause the channel to undulate in 2-½ dimensions when the material is activated by a voltage source via electrodes on the surface of the artificial muscle activation material. The material can be applied to the optical channel in a series of longitudinal strips or as a jacket surrounding the channel. When activated by a voltage source, be it a constant source or a variable source varying in amplitude, frequency or polarity, the artificial muscle material bends, causing the optical channel to also bend. The artificial muscle activation material can be formed into an optical channel itself when formed into a channel and cladded to have internal reflection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of optical switching wherein a plurality of activation strips (18) are adhered longitudinally around an optical channel, such as an optical fiber (14) to cause the fiber to undulate in 2½ dimensions when the activation strips are activated. The activation strips are activated with a voltage source. By varying the polarity of the activation strip itself or the source used to activate the activation strip, the optical fiber can be caused to undulate by contraction and expansion of respective activation strips.

Abstract: This invention relates to the determination of parameters for selecting materials for use as liners in shaped charges to transfer the greatest amount of energy to the explosive jet. Multi-layer liners constructed of metal in shaped charges for oil well perforators or other applications are selected in accordance with the invention to maximize the penetrating effect of the explosive jet by reference to four parameters: (1) Adjusting the explosive charge to liner mass ratio to achieve a balance between the amount of explosive used in a shaped charge and the areal density of the liner material; (2) Adjusting the ductility of each layer of a multi-layer liner to enhance the formation of a longer energy jet; (3) Buffering the intermediate layers of a multi-layer liner by varying the properties of each layer, e.g.