G - Physics – 02 – F
Patent
G - Physics
02
F
26/197, 88/97.4
G02F 1/295 (2006.01) G02B 6/35 (2006.01) G02B 26/08 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 1298115
Abstract A fiber optic switch of the moving fiber type and a method of making such switches. The switch has at least one stationary fiber and a mobile fiber carried by an actuator, preferably a bimorph, the end of the movable fiber being movable between a transmitting position in which the core of the mobile fiber is aligned with the core of the one stationary fiber and a position in which there is no alignment of the core of the mobile fiber with the core of the same stationary fiber. The stationary fiber is affixed to a smooth substrate surface with a slight flex downwardly between the point at which it is affixed to substrate surface and the end of the fiber which engages the substrate surface. The actuator is mounted to move in a plane substantial- ly parallel to and above the substrate surface, and the mobile fiber is affixed to the actuator and with a downward flex between the point at which it is affixed to the actuator and the very end thereof which engages the substrate surface. The mobile fiber thus slides over the substrate on movement of the actuator. The flexed engagement of both fibers with the smooth substrate accomplishes accurate alignment of the cores of the fibers in the vertical direction, and the production of the switch with the fibers flexed as described above does not require the provision of any highly machined components. Moreover, accurate lateral alignment can be achieved by providing a lateral stop of the substrate surface, which may be in the form of short piece of fiber which has an accurately cleaved end. The piece of fiber may be moved into a position and adhered to the substrate surface, such as by epoxy, so that as the mobile fiber swings to the aligned position, its engagement with the end of the fiber accurately locates it laterally. In locating the piece, a drive wave form may be supplied to the bimorph to overdrive the mobile fiber, and the fiber is moved inwardly while the coupled light wave form output is monitored. The fiber is adhered when the monitored coupled wave form is at an optimum form. This proced- ure is also capable of providing accurate alignment of the cores of the mobile and stationary fibers without the requirement of highly machined components.
586587
Anderson John Cameron
Goodwin John Charles
Borden Ladner Gervais Llp
Nortel Networks Limited
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