 Fault management in a multichannel transmission system |
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| Maintenance of optical networks |
| FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention in which an identifier tone is added to an ... |
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| Dual rate, burst mode, radiation hardened, optical transceiver |
| In accordance with this invention, a transceiver for recovering one (1) MBit and twenty (20) MBit ... |
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| Fault detection for all-optical add-drop multiplexer |
| The present invention is generally directed to all-optical networks, in which networks nodes are ... |
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| M input port by N output port optical switching system |
| In accordance with the present invention, such drawbacks of conventional optical switching systems ... |
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| Signal detection circuit using a plurality of delay stages with edge detection logic |
| What is claimed is: 1. A circuit for detecting a digital signal, comprising: a plurality of delay ... |
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| Power regulation in optical networks |
| The invention is a circuit for controlling optical power levels. The circuit includes at least one ... |
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| Free-space optical signal switch arrangement |
| In the following description, each item or block of each figure has a reference designation ... |
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| Method of identifying faults in WDM optical networks |
| In accordance with the present invention, the aforementioned deficiencies are overcome and an ... |
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| Differential detector with error correcting function |
| In the light of the state of the art described above, it is an object of the present invention to ... |
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Optical switch
| Details |
Inventors: ten Berge, Eduardus F. A.; van Alst, Gerardus M.;
Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg, PA)
Primary Examiner: Gonzalez; Frank
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wolstoncroft; Bruce J., Groen; Eric J.
A switch for optical fibers includes two identical housing halves for retaining the optical fibers in a substantially fixed position. The fibers are retained within the housing halves forming two pairs of opposed optical fibers. An intermediate fiber is provided between the opposed fibers, and each end of the intermediate fiber is moveable into alignment with one of two fibers to form four switching positions. The intermediate optical fiber is externally plated with a metallic coating which provides a resiliency to the fiber, allowing the fiber to provide its own spring retention within an associated alignment groove. A switching plate is also provided for each free end of the intermediate fiber for switching movement of the free ends into optical alignment with the free ends of the optical fibers. Transverse movement also axially moves the optically aligned fiber out of an abutting relationship with the free end of the intermediate fiber to maintain the surface finish on the ends of the optical fibers. The switch can also be made in the form of an electromagnetic switch where end portions of optical fibers having ferromagnetic metal coatings of constant thickness are secured together in pairs in an alignment channel adjacent a solenoid. The pair of fiber end portions are fixed adjacent one channel sidewall and the pair are movable by activation of the solenoid from a position in which they are inherently spring-biased against the opposite sidewall with only fibers and in optical alignment to a position in which they abut sidewall bringing fibers and, respectively, into alignment. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical switch in which the armature comprises a metal coating electroplated on the end portion of the first fiber which is mounted for the switching movement.
The metal coating provides a resilient characteristic to the optical fiber which maintains the fiber in a resiliently biased position, enhancing the optical alignment of the switched optical fibers.
A suitable procedure for coating the fiber is described in our European Patent Application No.
83303028.
1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
As the coating can be readily deposited to constant thickness of the fiber ensuring concentricity, the fiber end portion can be more easily mounted for switching movement into and out of optical alignment with the stationary fiber.
In a second aspect of the invention, the switch includes alignment means for aligning the first and second, and first and third optical fibers where the alignment means includes two channels for receiving the second and third fibers with end faces of the fibers facing in substantially the same direction.
The first fiber is movable between the two channels into and out of alignment with either the second or third optical fiber.
An actuator means is included which comprises an actuator plate guided relative to the two channels and which includes means for retaining said first fiber in a location distant from the free end of said first fiber, allowing a length of said first fiber to be freely movable within the said channels into and out of alignment with the second and third said fibers upon transverse movement of the actuator plate relative to the lengths of the optical fibers.
In a further aspect of the invention, the alignment means includes means to move the second or third optical fibers along an axial direction out of an abutting relationship with the first optical fiber prior to the transverse movement of the opposed end faces, and the second or third optical fibers into an abutting relationship when respective opposed end faces are aligned
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Fault Detection 
