Patent US5337378A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5337378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber switch including partitions for restricting surplus fibers
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1993-04-22
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2013-04-22
Abstract
Abstract An optical matrix switch includes a first guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel, a first slider for holding an optical fiber, the first slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of the first guide mechanism, a first partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of the first guide mechanism the optical fiber being connected to the first slider, and first drive means for moving the first slider along the guide portion of the first guide mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhito Saito
- 👤 Hideo Kobayashi
- 👤 Toshiaki Katagiri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3508; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3574; G02B6/354; G02B6/3542; G02B6/3582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
An optical matrix switch comprising: a first guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel; a first slider for holding an optical fiber, said first slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of said first guide mechanism; a first partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of said first guide mechanism, said optical fiber being connected to said first slider; first drive means for moving said first slider along the guide portion of said first guide mechanism; a second guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel so as to be intersected to the guide portions of said first guide mechanism; a second slider for holding an optical fiber, said second slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of said second guide mechanism; a second partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of said second guide mechanism, said optical fiber being connected to said second slider; and second drive means for moving said second slider along the guide portion of said second guide mechanism; wherein each of said first and second partition members comprises a plate member having J-shaped section, said J-shaped section including a bent portion and a restriction portion for restricting the position of the surplus-length portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
An optical matrix switch comprising: a first guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel; a first slider for holding an optical fiber, said first slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of said first guide mechanism; a first partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of said first guide mechanism, said optical fiber being connected to said first slider; first drive means for moving said first slider along the guide portion of said first guide mechanism; a second guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel so as to be intersected to the guide portions of said first guide mechanism; a second slider for holding an optical fiber, said second slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of said second guide mechanism; a second partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of said second guide mechanism, said optical fiber being connected to said second slider; and second drive means for moving said second slider along the guide portion of said second guide mechanism; wherein each of said first and second partition members comprises a plate member having J-shaped section, said J-shaped section including a bent portion and a restriction portion for restricting the position of the surplus-length portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said guide portions has a guide groove at each of upper and lower portions thereof, and each of said first and second sliders has a pair of engaging portions each of which is engageable with said guide groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second partition members is disposed in such a manner that a concave portion of said bent portion thereof is confronted to said guide groove of said guide portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said first and second sliders holds the optical fiber in a vertical direction to said guide groove, and each of said first and second partition members is disposed such that said guide portion and said bent portion are spaced at an interval to prevent at least the optical fiber from being bent by such an amount that curvature radius thereof is smaller than the minimum critical curvature radius thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein an accommodating space is formed by said partition member and said guide portion, and the optical fiber is supported in the accommodating space with holding a loop having curvature radius above the minimum critical curvature radius.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said first and second sliders has a pin projected therefrom, and each of said first and second drive means has a robot hand to which a split sleeve for holding said pin is fixed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 6, wherein a ferrule for holding the optical fiber is projected at the opposite side to said pin of said slider.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the curvature radius of the optical fiber in the accommodating space is varied in accordance with movement of said slider.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second sliders are disposed so as to nip said first and second guide mechanisms respectively, and a ferrule of said first slider is optically connected to a ferrule of said second slider.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said first and second guide mechanisms is movable upwardly and downwardly by a ball thread which is rotated by a DC servo motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical matrix switch comprising: a guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel; a slider for holding an optical fiber, said slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of said guide mechanism; a partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of said guide mechanism, said optical fiber being connected to said slider; and drive means for moving said slider along the guide portion of guide mechanism; wherein said partition member comprises a plate member having a J-shaped section, said J-shaped section including a bent portion and a restriction portion for restricting the position of the surplus-length portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical matrix switch comprising: a guide mechanism having plural guide portions arranged in parallel; a slider for holding an optical fiber, said slider being freely slidably mounted along a guide portion of said guide mechanism; a partition member for isolating a surplus-length portion of the optical fiber along the guide portion of said guide mechanism, said optical fiber being connected to said slider; and drive means for moving said slider along the guide portion of guide mechanism; wherein said partition member comprises a plate member having a J-shaped section, said J-shaped section including a bent portion and a restriction portion for restricting the position of the surplus-length portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said guide portions has a guide groove at each of upper and lower portions thereof, and said slider has a pair of engaging portions, each of which is engageable with said guide groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein said partition member is disposed in such a manner that a concave portion of said bent portion thereof confronts said guide groove of said guide portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein said slider holds the optical fiber in a vertical direction to said guide groove, and said partition member is disposed such that said guide portion and said bent portion are spaced at an interval to prevent at least the optical fiber from being bent by such an amount that a curvature radius thereof is smaller than the minimum critical curvature radius thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein an accommodating space is formed by said partition member and said guide portion, and the optical fiber is supported in the accommodating space in a loop having curvature radius above the minimum critical curvature radius.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 15, wherein said slider has a pin projecting therefrom, and said drive means has a robot hand to which a split sleeve for holding said pin is fixed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 16, wherein a ferrule for holding the optical fiber projects at the side of said slider opposite said pin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 17, wherein the curvature radius of the optical fiber in the accommodating space varies in accordance with movement of said slider.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 18, wherein said slider is disposed so as to nip said guide mechanism, and a ferrule of said slider is adapted to be optically connected to a ferrule of a slider holding a second optical fiber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical matrix switch as claimed in claim 19, wherein said guide mechanism is movable upwardly and downwardly by a ball thread which is rotated by a DC servo motor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |