Abstract: In an optical MDF (main distributing frame) for interconnecting external subscriber optical lines (122) with office optical lines (131) through jumpering operation, a matrix waveguide (128, 129, 130) having a plurality of crosspoints coupled with external lines and office lines is used. The matrix waveguide has a groove (235 in FIG. 4A) at each crosspoint so that said crosspoint is switched ON or OFF depending upon whether said groove is filled with matching oil or not, so that one of the external lines is connected to the selected office line. Said matching oil has the same refractive index as that of waveguides. Each crosspoint groove is coupled with a respective oil pool (236), which supplies matching oil which has essentially the same refractive index as that of a waveguide to said groove.

Abstract: The optical switch according to the present invention momentarily switches the optical transmission lines made of tapes in which optical fibers are laid parallel to each other. This optical switch has a main body provided at the top thereof with a plug chamber in which a stationary and moving plugs in which the end portions of the optical fibers are fixed so as to abut each other are received, and a sliding mechanism provided on the moving plug. Also, the optical switch has charged in the plug chamber thereof with an oil for reducing the connecting loss, and it has an oil-leak preventive mechanism to prevent the oil from leaking from the hole in which the push pin pressing the moving plug is inserted. Further, the optical switch is provided with a lateral-pressure adjusting mechanism which appropriately gives a lateral pressure to the moving plug by means of the push pin. Furthermore, the optical switch has a cushion mechanism to accommodate a fine vibration or the like caused as the moving plug is moved.

Abstract: A switch for coupling a row of three input/output optical fibers. The switch is based on a spatial light modulator device, having a tiltable mirror element, with a grazing mirror layer, a lens layer, and a fiber holder layer assembled on top. The grazing mirror layer directs light to or from the outer fibers to or from the tiltable mirror and permits the fiber holder layer to hold the axes of the ends of the fibers parallel to each other. The lens layer is interposed between the fiber holder layer and the grazing mirror layer for coupling light into and out of the fibers.

Abstract: A structure for providing an N by N optical switch includes input and output structures disposed on either side of a planar electronic shutter array. Each of the input and output structures, which respectively provide optical signal splitting and combining, is realized by the stacking of N molded optical elements. Each element is formed of a plurality of molded materials with one providing an optical waveguide and the other providing a supporting structure for such waveguides. Advantageously, both the input and output structures utilize the same molded optical element and are fabricated in an identical manner. After such fabrication, the one structure to be designated as the output structure is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the input structure prior to abutment against the planar electronic shutter array.

Abstract: A switching device which uses a pivotable switching element carrying a first magnet and a movable component carrying a second magnet mounted adjacent thereto, the north and south poles of the magnets being arranged so that, when the movable component is moved to a first location, the magnets attract and the pivotable element is in a first switch position and, when the movable component is moved to a second location, the magnets repel and the pivotable element is in a second switch position.

Abstract: An optical switch having two spherical or elliptical corner-reflecting surfaces provided in a light-conducting member, a shutter to open and close a light path between the corner-reflecting surfaces, and focusing lenses to focus the incident beam from an emitting optical fiber and to focus the emitting beam from the light-conducting member to a primary receiving optical fiber. Because almost all the beam transmitted through the light-conducting member is focused at one point in an air gap in which the shutter moves, the optical switch can transmit the beam with high efficiency without leakage to the outside, and a small stroke of the shutter is sufficient to completely transmit or stop the beam.

Abstract: The rotational optical switch of the present invention includes a switch enclosure, a light conductor, an optical shutter, a torsion spring biasing the shutter towards a bistable state, and a shutter actuator. The switch enclosure generally encloses the remaining components. The light conductor is received in the switch enclosure and extends between the enclosure and a transceiver, which provides a signal reflective of the state of the optical shutter. The optical shutter is pivotally mounted within the switch enclosure and is bistable between a reflective state which reflects light into the light conductor, and a nonreflective state which does not reflect light into the light conductor. The shutter pivots on arms to either end of a support cylinder which have knife edges. The shutter actuator is pivotally connected to the optical shutter by the torsion spring to cause the optical shutter to snap between the bistable states. The optical shutter has two reflectors in opposite reflective states.

Abstract: A remote switch system for controlling electrical devices, such as electrical lights, from a remote switch location using a single optical fiber to communicate the controlling signal from the remote switch to the device. Typically, the remote switch may be added to a normal switch near the device during modification or remodeling of a building, automobile or the like or installed in during original construction. The fiber optic system includes both an emitter and a detector at the first end of a fiber optic. The emitter sends a light signal through the fiber and the detector detects a reflected signal coming back through the fiber. Conventional switching circuits or relays turn the electrical device, e.g. a light, to a different state, such as "on" or "off" in response to a pulse of light or the presence or absence of a returning signal.

Abstract: A switch for controlling the transmission of light from a first optical fiber to at least a second optical fiber or from a single bidirectional optical fiber back to itself includes a housing having a spherical concave reflector mounted therewithin. Fiber mounting means is provided for mounting optical fiber(s) at a predetermined location within the housing such that at least a portion of a beam of light emanating from the end face of one fiber propagates along an incidence path toward the reflector from which it is reflected by the curved concave reflector along a predetermined reflectance path. A light interrupter is mounted within the housing for switchable movement between a light transmissive state and a light interruptive state. A light absorbing member is positioned such that residual light reflected from the light interrupter is directed toward and absorbed by the light absorbing member.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical switch for a sensor. The optical switch conducts radiation emitted from a radiation source into a fiber leading to the sensor and conducts radiation returning from this fiber onto an optoelectric receiver. The optical switch includes a filter having wavelength-dependent transmission and reflection characteristics as well as optical components for collimating or focusing. The optical components together with the filter define a component unit in the form of an acute angle optical switch. The optical switch also has a first beam splitter mounted downstream of the component for collimating the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The beam splitter splits off a component of the radiation emitted by the radiation source as a reference beam and the reference beam is guided via deflecting prisms and spacers to a second beam splitter.

Abstract: A photointerruptor for use in an optical transmission-type rotary encoder comprising a rotatable pulse scale having a code pattern and a light-emitting optical fiber and a light-receiving optical fiber secured to a housing with their end faces being opposed to each other on both sides of the code pattern. The housing has a housing main body a pair of optical fiber opposing members for previously inserting the top ends of the respective optical fibers and a housing main body having fitting recesses for holding the optical fiber opposing members with the end faces of the optical fibers being opposed to each other at a predetermined distance on both sides of the code pattern. The housing main body may be constituted by a pair of optical fiber opposing members engageable with each other.

Abstract: A bimorph using ultraviolet setting glue to laminate a piezoelectric film structure, having etched-back metalization patterns on the surfaces of the piezoelectric film. The bimorph is used in a bimorph light modulator including a substrate on which fiber optic input and output light guides are mounted. A gap between the light guides serve as an optical coupling. A bimorph is affixed to the substrate with a shutter attached to one end thereof and positioned within the gap for blocking the light coupling when the bimorph is in the unenergized state. When the bimorph is energized, it pulls the shutter out of the gap, thereby allowing light coupling. Top and bottom stops are used to limit the bimorph movement to damp resonant vibrations and improve on and off times. Viscous air damping is used to eliminate or minimize bounce of the top and bottom stops and to help damp resonant vibration.