Fiber optics bypass switch

Claim 2

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector having a symmetry point; loop means defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations; means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate about said symmetry point and said I and D locations are optically conjugate about said symmetry point, and a second disposition where said I and O locations are optically conjugate about said symmetry point, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate about said symmetry point, and said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate about said symmetry point such that optical paths between pairs of transceiver terminals are simultaneously switchable in connection with a loopback path defined through said loop means for enabling a self-test of functionality through said switch.

Claim 3

The switch of claim 1 wherein said loop means comprises a single optical fiber, the ends of which define said loop ends.

Claim 4

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends, wherein said loop means comprises: first and second optical fibers, each having first and second ends; an additional concave reflector; and means for registering the respective first ends of said first and second fibers at a pair of optically conjugate locations with respect to said additional concave reflector; whereupon the respective second ends of said first and second fibers define said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate and said I and D locations are optically conjugate, and a second disposition where said I and O locations are optically conjugate, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate, and said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate.

Claim 5

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends, wherein said loop means comprises: first and second optical fibers, each having first and second ends; an additional concave reflector; and means for registering the respective first ends of said first and second fibers at a pair of optically conjugate locations with respect to said additional concave reflector; whereupon the respective second ends of said first and second fibers define said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate and said I and D locations are optically conjugate, and a second disposition where said I and O locations are optically conjugate, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate, and said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein said six locations are disposed in a linear array.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 wherein said six locations are equally spaced.

Claim 8

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations, wherein said six locations are disposed in two rows of three each; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate and said I and D locations are optically conjugate, and a second disposition were said I and O locations are optically conjugate, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate, and said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate.

Claim 9

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations, wherein said six locations are disposed in two rows of three each; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate and said I and D locations are optically conjugate, and a second disposition were said I and O locations are optically conjugate, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate, and said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate.

Claim 10

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations, wherein the locations in the two rows are staggered; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate and said I and D locations are optically conjugate, and a second disposition where said I and O locations are optically conjugate, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate, sand said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate.

Claim 11

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a concave reflector; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations, wherein the locations in the two rows are staggered; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said S and O locations are optically conjugate and said I and D locations are optically conjugate, and a second disposition where said I and O locations are optically conjugate, said S and L2 locations are optically conjugate, sand said L1 and D locations are optically conjugate.

Claim 12

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a spherical reflector characterized by a center of curvature; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations; said six locations being disposed so as to be characterized by first and second symmetry points; said first symmetry point being midway between said S and O locations and midway between said I and D locations; said second symmetry point being midway between said I and O locations, midway between said S and L2 locations, and midway between said L1 and D locations; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said center of curvature is at said first symmetry point and a second disposition where said center of curvature is at said second symmetry point.

Claim 13

A fiber optic bypass switch comprising: a spherical reflector characterized by a center of curvature; loop means, defining a pair of optical fiber ends, called loop ends, for transmitting light from one of said loop ends to the other of said loop ends; first, second, third, and fourth optical transceiver terminals, each adapted to register a respective optical transceiver at one of four respective locations, designated the S, D, I, and O locations; fifth and sixth optical transceiver terminals for registering said loop ends at respective fifth and sixth locations, designated the L1 and L2 locations; said six locations being disposed so as to be characterized by first and second symmetry points; said first symmetry point being midway between said S and O locations and midway between said I and D locations; said second symmetry point being midway between said I and O locations, midway between said S and L2 locations, and midway between said L1 and D locations; and means for effecting movement of said reflector relative to said optical transceiver terminals between a first disposition where said center of curvature is at said first symmetry point and a second disposition where said center of curvature is at said second symmetry point.

Claim 14

The switch of claim 8 wherein said loop means comprises a single optical fiber, the ends of which define said loop ends.

Claim 15

The switch of claim 8 wherein said loop means comprises: first and second optical fibers, each having first and second ends; an additional spherical reflector; and means for registering the respective first ends of said first and second fibers at a pair of optically conjugate locations with respect to said additional spherical reflector; whereupon the respective second ends of said first and second fibers define said loop ends.

Claim 16

The switch of claim 8 wherein said six locations are disposed in a linear array.

Claim 17

The switch of claim 11 wherein said six locations are equally spaced.

Claim 18

The switch of claim 11 wherein said six locations are in the order S, D, I, O, L1 and L2.

Claim 19

The switch of claim 8 wherein said six locations are disposed in two rows of three each.

Claim 20

The switch of claim 14 wherein the locations in the two rows are staggered.