Patent US3889745A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0323920A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Optical switch system
Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-01-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-01-09
Abstract
Abstract An optical switch system (SW) used in a monitoring system for monitoring a large-scale optical transmission line (1) including a multiplicity of optical fibers, or like systems for switching optical transmission paths. The optical switch system comprises first (10) and second (20) optical switches. The first optical switch serves to optically connect one end face of a single first optical fiber (11) selectively to one end face of any one of n second optical fibers (12). The second optical switch serves to optically connect end faces of n third optical fibers (230) substantially simultaneously to respective end faces of fourth optical fibers of a desired bundle selected from a plurality of optical fiber bundles (270) each composed of substantially n optical fibers, the third optical fibers (230) being optically connected at other end faces to other end faces of the second optical fibers (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Hisaharu C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Yanagawa
- 👤 Toshihiro C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Ochiai
- 👤 Hidehisa C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Miyazawa
- 👤 Shizuka C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Yamaguchi
- 👤 Tsuyoshi C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Fumeno
- 👤 Hiroshi C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Raijo
- 👤 Seiji C/O Chiba Works The Furukawa Ohmizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:05
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3508; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3825; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3835; G02B6/3869; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3875; G02B6/3885; G02B6/3897; H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/0001; H04Q11/0003; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/356; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3574; G02B6/3582; G02B6/3887; G02B6/38875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An optical switch system for optically connecting to optical transmission lines including a multiplicity of optical fibers, for switching optical transmission paths, characterized by comprising: first optical switch means for optically connecting one end face of a single first optical fiber selectively to one end face of any one of n second optical fibers; and second optical switch means for optically connecting end faces of n third optical fibers substantially simultaneously to respective end faces of fourth optical fibers of a desired bundle selected from a plurality of optical fiber bundles each composed of substantially n optical fibers, said third optical fibers being optically connected at other end faces to other end faces of said second optical fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An optical switch system for optically connecting to optical transmission lines including a multiplicity of optical fibers, for switching optical transmission paths, characterized by comprising: first optical switch means for optically connecting one end face of a single first optical fiber selectively to one end face of any one of n second optical fibers; and second optical switch means for optically connecting end faces of n third optical fibers substantially simultaneously to respective end faces of fourth optical fibers of a desired bundle selected from a plurality of optical fiber bundles each composed of substantially n optical fibers, said third optical fibers being optically connected at other end faces to other end faces of said second optical fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
The optical switch system according to claim 1, wherein said first optical switch means comprises n adapter means individually connected to the ends of said second optical fibers, and ferrule means connected to the end of said first optical fiber and having an end face at which said end face of said first optical fiber is exposed, said ferrule means being connectible to any one of said adapter means and, when connected to one of said adapter means, optically connecting the end face of said first optical fiber to the end face of the corresponding second optical fiber to which said ferrule means is being connected by means of the adapter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
The optical switch system according to claim 2, wherein said first optical switch means further comprises first selector means for producing a selection signal to connect said ferrule means to a desired one of said n adapter means, first conveyor means for moving said ferrule means to any one of said adapter means, first coupler/decoupler means for connecting and disconnecting said ferrule to and from said adapter means, and first controller means for causing said first conveyor means to move said ferrule means to a selected one of said adapter means and causing said first coupler/decoupler means to connect said ferrule means to the selected one of said adapter means, and subsequently disconnect it therefrom, in accordance with the selection signal from said first selector means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The optical switch system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said first optical switch means further comprises housing means to which said adapter means are attached, and dummy adapter means provided in said housing means, the end face of said ferrule means being projected outside of said dummy adaptor means when said ferrule means is coupled thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The optical switch system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said first conveyor means includes a base, a first ball screw rotatably supported by said base, transport table means fitted on said first ball screw and movable in an axial direction of said first ball screw with rotation of the same, and first drive means for rotating said first ball screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
The optical switch system according to claim 5, wherein said first coupler/decoupler means includes second drive means held by said transport table means and having a rotary shaft, cam means attached the rotary shaft of said second drive means, slide table means positioned above said transport table means and carrying said ferrule means, said slide table means being slidable above said transport table means toward said adapter means, and connecting arm means coupled at one end to said cam means eccentrically with the rotary shaft of said second drive means and coupled at its other end to said slide table means, said connecting arm means causing said slide table means to reciprocate above said transport table means when actuated by rotation of said rotary shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The optical switch system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said first controller means includes sensor means for detecting a position of the adapter means to which said ferrule means is to be moved, said first controller means causing said ferrule means to move to the position of the adapter means detected by said sensor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
The optical switch system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said second switch means comprises first multiple-fiber connector means connected to the end of each of said n third optical fibers and having an end face at which the end faces of said third optical fibers are exposed, and second multiple-fiber connector means equal in number to said optical fiber bundles, connected individually to the ends of said optical fiber bundles each composed of said fourth optical fibers, and having an end face at which the end face of the corresponding optical fiber bundle is exposed, said first multiple-fiber connector means being connected to one of said second multiple-fiber connector means at end faces thereof, thereby optically connecting said third optical fibers substantially simultaneously to respective said fourth optical fibers through the second multiple-fiber connector means which is being connected to said first multiple-fiber connector means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The optical switch system according to claim 8 wherein said first multiple-fiber connector means includes an alignment pin projecting from the end face thereof and having a tapered distal end to be fitted in a hole bored in the end face of said second multiple-fiber connector means, said alignment pin serving to guide the end face of said first multiple-fiber connector means to a predetermined position relative to the end face of said second multiple-fiber connector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
175 words
The optical switch system according to claim 8 or 9 wherein said second optical switch means includes holder means on which said second multiple-fiber connector means are secured and arranged in respective predetermined positions, second conveyor means holding said first multiple-fiber connector means, for moving the same among said second multiple-fiber connector means on said holder means, second coupler/decoupler means for connecting the end face of said first multiple-fiber connector means to the end face of any one of said second multiple-fiber connector means at a predetermined position, second selector means for producing a selection signal selecting one of said second multiple-fiber connector means, and second controller means for causing said second conveyor means to move said first multiple-fiber connector means to a selected one of said second multiple-fiber connector means and causing said second coupler/decoupler means to connect the end face of said first multiple-fiber connector means to the end face of the selected second multiple-fiber connector means and subsequently disconnect it therefrom, in accordance with the selection signal from said second selector means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical switch system according to claim 10, wherein said holder means securely holds said second multiple-fiber connector means disposed in a matrix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
The optical switch system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said second conveyor means includes a base, a second ball screw rotatably supported by said base, a movable stage fitted on said second ball screw and movable in an axial direction of said second ball screw with rotation of the same, a movable table positioned above said movable stage and movable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said second ball screw, third drive means for moving said movable table above said movable stage, and fourth drive means for rotating said second ball screw.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The optical switch system according to claim 12, wherein said second coupler/decoupler means includes lifter means attached to said movable table of said second conveyor means and movable vertically, fifth drive means for vertically moving said lifter means, and retainer means hanging from said lifter means and holding said first multiple-fiber connector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The optical switch system according to claim 13, wherein second coupler/decoupler means includes position adjuster means for adjusting the position of connection of said first multiple-fiber connector means and said second multiple-fiber connector means, said position adjuster means hanging said retainer means such that said retainer means is movable only upward relative to said lifter means and is allowed to swing when moved upward.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical switch system according to claim 14, wherein said second coupler/decoupler means includes spring means urging said position adjuster means downward with a predetermined urging force.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical switch system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said third optical fibers comprise a fiber ribbon having n optical fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optical switch system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said optical fiber bundles including said fourth optical fibers each comprise a fiber ribbon having n optical fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical switch system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, which further includes multiple-fiber connector means for optically connecting each of said third optical fibers to a corresponding one of said second optical fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A group of the optical switch systems according to any one of claims 1 to 18, which comprises third optical switch means for optically connecting one end face of a single fifth optical fiber selectively to one end face of any one of a plurality of first optical fibers of said group of optical switch systems.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical switch system for optically connecting to optical transmission lines including a multiplicity of optical fibers, for switching optical transmission paths, characterized by comprising: first optical switch means for optically connecting one end face of a single first optical fiber selectively to one end face of any one of n second optical fibers; and second optical switch means for optically connecting end faces of said n second optical fibers substantially simultaneously to respective end faces of third optical fibers of a desired bundle selected from a plurality of optical fiber bundles each composed of substantially n optical fibers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical switch system for optically connecting to optical transmission lines including a multiplicity of optical fibers, for switching optical transmission paths, characterized by comprising: first optical switch means for optically connecting one end face of a single first optical fiber selectively to one end face of any one of n second optical fibers; and second optical switch means for optically connecting end faces of said n second optical fibers substantially simultaneously to respective end faces of third optical fibers of a desired bundle selected from a plurality of optical fiber bundles each composed of substantially n optical fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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