Optical switch device and lighting system

Abstract

An optical switch device and lighting system belong to the technical field of optical switches. The device includes a spring switch, a reflector, a transmission optical fiber, an evanescent wave module, an optical fiber connector ferrule, and upper and lower optical fiber fixing plates; the transmission optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber connector ferrule through the evanescent wave module, and the optical fiber connector ferrule is accommodated between the upper and lower optical fiber fixing plates, and the front ends of the upper and lower optical fiber fixing plates are not closed but have openings; the optical fiber connector ferrule is directly opposite to the opening and is arranged at a certain distance, and when the spring switch is not pressed, the light is emitted to the opening through the optical fiber connector ferrule; the reflector is arranged at the bottom of the spring switch and at a position close to the opening of the upper optical fiber fixing plate; when the spring switch is pressed, the reflector closes the opening, and the light returns to the transmission optical fiber through the enclosed space formed by the upper and lower optical fiber fixing plates and the reflector. The present invention realizes the power outage of the storage space of flammable and explosive materials, saves materials more, and has a simpler structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical switches, and in particular to an optical switch device and a lighting system. Background Art

[0002] The existing optical circuit switch structure is based on the electric switch, but due to the different application environments of the switch, the above optical circuit switch will have many difficulties and requirements when applied. For example, in warehouses where flammable and explosive materials are stored, electric sparks can easily cause explosions. Dust and moisture can cause short circuits on the switch. In this environment, a highly airtight switch device should be selected. In addition, the switch cover must take into account the explosion-proof strength, as well as the waterproof, moisture-proof and explosion-proof properties of the wire lead-out.

[0003] Specifically, the existing optical circuit switch structure is divided into direct optical fiber switch, indirect optical fiber switch and ordinary transmission switch. Direct optical fiber switch: two sections of aligned and connected optical fiber. When the hand presses the switch button, the barrier blocks the optical path, the optical circuit is blocked, the optical path is blocked, and the output end control power is disconnected; when the hand leaves the button, the optical path is connected again, so that the output end can detect the change of the signal and send out a control signal. Indirect optical fiber switch: a continuous optical fiber. When the switch is pressed, the optical fiber is deformed, the total reflection condition is destroyed, and the optical fiber output light energy is reduced, so that the detection device can send out a control signal and the power is disconnected. In short, the existing optical switch needs to be connected to the light source end, the optical fiber length needs to be longer, the material loss is large, and the installation is more complicated. In the ordinary reflection switch, when the button is not pressed, the receiving optical fiber can receive the optical signal emitted by the transmitting optical fiber, and the optical path between the transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber is in a connected state. When the button is pressed, the reflective sheet on the button causes the transmitted light to be transmitted back to the transmitting optical fiber, so that the receiving optical fiber will not be able to receive the optical signal, causing the receiving diode outside the venue to not receive the optical signal and the optical path is disconnected.

[0004] Utility model patent CN201820067352.2 discloses a small fiber optic sensing system based on evanescent waves, and specifically discloses that the system includes a power module, a light source module, a fiber coupler, a fiber probe, an optical coupling system, a photoelectric conversion module, and a sampling module; the excitation light emitted by the light source module excites the fluorescent material modified on the fiber probe to obtain a fluorescent signal, and the signal light received by the fiber coupler and the optical coupling system is converted into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion module, and then the data is sampled and processed by the sampling module. The system uses evanescent waves to achieve accurate measurement of the concentration of various substances (such as pH value, metal ion concentration), but it cannot solve the problem of optical circuit switches. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention proposes an optical switch device and a lighting system, which can cut off the power supply of the storage space of inflammable and explosive materials, save materials and have a simpler structure.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] The present invention provides an optical switch device, comprising a spring switch, a reflector, a transmission optical fiber, an evanescent wave module, an optical fiber connector ferrule, an optical fiber upper fixing plate and an optical fiber lower fixing plate; the transmission optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber connector ferrule via the evanescent wave module, the optical fiber connector ferrule is arranged between the optical fiber upper fixing plate and the optical fiber lower fixing plate, the front end of the optical fiber upper fixing plate and the front end of the optical fiber lower fixing plate are not closed and an opening is formed; the optical fiber connector ferrule is arranged opposite to the opening and has a certain distance from the opening, when the spring switch is not pressed, light is emitted to the opening through the optical fiber connector ferrule; the reflector is arranged at the bottom of the spring switch and at a position of the optical fiber upper fixing plate close to the opening; when the spring switch is pressed, the reflector closes the opening, the optical fiber upper fixing plate, the optical fiber lower fixing plate and the reflector form a closed space, and the light returns to the transmission optical fiber from the closed space.

[0008] The present invention makes full use of the advantages of light as an illumination medium and optical fiber transmission, realizes power outage of the storage space of flammable and explosive materials, saves more materials and has a simpler structure; by using evanescent wave coupling and detecting the reflected fluorescence, the receiving optical fiber is shorter and saves more materials.

[0009] Preferably, the transmission optical fiber includes a transmitting optical fiber for transmitting laser light, and a receiving optical fiber for receiving return light.

[0010] Preferably, the evanescent wave module comprises a coating layer and two evanescent wave units arranged in parallel in the optical fiber cladding; the evanescent wave unit comprises an inner layer of optically dense medium and an outer layer of optically sparse medium; the two evanescent wave units are respectively connected to the transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber.

[0011] Preferably, the spring switch comprises a direct-down type or a rotary type spring switch.

[0012] Preferably, the reflector comprises a flat or curved reflector; a reflective film or a fluorescent coating is provided on the surface of the reflector.

[0013] A lighting system comprises the above-mentioned optical switch device, a laser coupling device, a detector, a control module, and a terminal device; the laser coupling device transmits laser light to the optical switch device via a transmitting optical fiber; the detector is used to detect the light returned by the optical switch device via a receiving optical fiber; when the detector detects the return light, the detector sends a detection signal to the control module, and the control module controls the working state of the terminal device.

[0014] Preferably, the laser coupling device comprises a laser and a fiber coupler; the laser emitted by the laser is coupled into the emitting fiber through the fiber coupler.

[0015] Preferably, the laser comprises a pulse laser or a continuous laser.

[0016] Preferably, the detector comprises an illumination sensor or a wavelength sensor.

[0017] Preferably, the terminal device is a light-guiding device or an optical fiber device using optical fiber as a working medium.

[0018] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] The present invention provides an optical switch device and a lighting system:

[0020] 1. It gets rid of the constraints of electricity and highlights the high safety feature. It mainly solves the problem that wires may leak electricity in high-voltage environments and that rooms where flammable and explosive materials are stored are not easily electrified;

[0021] 2. Using evanescent wave coupling technology, the design is simple, the sensitivity is high, the receiving optical fiber length is shorter than the optical fiber length of the existing technology, and materials are saved.

[0022] 3. Laser irradiation of phosphor-coated reflector technology has a simpler structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an optical switch device of the present invention (a state when the spring switch is not pressed);

[0024] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of an evanescent wave module in an optical switch device of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 The system block diagram of a lighting system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings to further describe the technical solution of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0027] like Figure 1The optical switch device of the present invention comprises a spring switch, a reflector 44, a transmission optical fiber (not shown in the figure), an evanescent wave module 3, an optical fiber connector ferrule 45, an optical fiber upper fixing plate 481 and an optical fiber lower fixing plate 482. The transmission optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber connector ferrule 45 via the evanescent wave module 3. The optical fiber connector ferrule 45 is accommodated in the space between the optical fiber upper fixing plate 481 and the optical fiber lower fixing plate 481. The front end of the optical fiber upper fixing plate 481 and the front end of the optical fiber lower fixing plate 482 are not closed and an opening 483 is formed. The optical fiber connector ferrule 45 is arranged opposite to the opening 483 and has a certain distance from the opening 483. The reflector 44 is arranged at the bottom of the spring switch and at a position of the optical fiber upper fixing plate 481 close to the opening 483. When the spring switch is not pressed, light is emitted to the opening through the optical fiber connector ferrule 45. When the spring switch is pressed, the reflector 44 closes the opening, and the optical fiber upper fixing plate 481, the optical fiber lower fixing plate 483 and the reflector 44 form a closed space, and the return light returns to the transmission optical fiber from the closed space.

[0028] The spring switch includes a straight-down type or a rotary type spring switch. Specifically, the spring switch includes a button 41, a spring fixing plate 42, and a spring 43. The spring fixing plate 42 and the spring 43 are both placed in the lower space of the button 41. One end of the spring 43 is connected to the bottom of the spring fixing plate 42, and the other end is connected to the top of the reflector 44. At the same time, the top of the reflector 44 is limited by the lower part of the button 41, that is, the lower part of the button is provided with a button guide groove that allows the reflector to move in the vertical direction under the action of the spring pressure. The bottom of the reflector 44 is connected to the optical fiber upper fixing plate 481. The optical fiber upper fixing plate 481 is provided with a fixing plate guide groove that allows the reflector 44 to move in the vertical direction under the action of the spring pressure. When the top of the button 41 is pressed, the reflector 44 moves downward to the optical fiber lower fixing plate 482. At this time, the opening 483 is closed.

[0029] The reflector includes a flat or curved reflector. When a reflective film or a fluorescent coating is provided on the surface of the reflector, the laser irradiates the reflector coated with fluorescent powder, excites the fluorescent powder to generate fluorescence, and reflects and returns along the optical fiber.

[0030] The transmission optical fiber includes a transmitting optical fiber for transmitting laser light and a receiving optical fiber for receiving return light. The light output end of the transmitting optical fiber and the light input end of the receiving optical fiber are connected to the same side of the evanescent wave module 3.

[0031] like Figure 2The evanescent wave module includes a coating layer 33 and two evanescent wave units arranged in parallel in the coating layer optical fiber cladding 33. The evanescent wave unit includes an inner optically dense medium 32 and an outer optically sparse medium 31. The two evanescent wave units are respectively connected to the transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber. Evanescent wave coupling refers to the coupling between two evanescent waves that are physically superimposed on each other. Specifically, a sparse optical medium 31 is sandwiched between two optically dense media 32. Through the coupling of the evanescent waves in the optically sparse medium 31, the light wave energy in one optically dense medium can be coupled to another optically dense medium. The reflected light undergoes evanescent wave coupling, and the light energy is weakened.

[0032] The optical fiber connector ferrule is a connector ferrule composed of an FC connector and a UPC ferrule, or a connector ferrule composed of an FC connector and an APC ferrule, or a connector ferrule composed of an LC connector and a UPC ferrule, or a connector ferrule composed of an LC connector and an APC ferrule.

[0033] The transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber are both multimode optical fibers; or, the transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber are both single-mode optical fibers; or, one of the transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber is a multimode optical fiber and the other is a single-mode optical fiber.

[0034] like Figure 3 A lighting system includes the above-mentioned optical switch device (including the evanescent wave module 3 and the reflected light switch 4), a laser coupling device, a detector 6, a control module 7, and a terminal device. The laser coupling device transmits laser light to the optical switch device via the transmitting optical fiber 8. The detector 6 is used to detect the light returned by the optical switch device via the receiving optical fiber 9. When the detector 6 detects the returned light, the detector 6 sends a detection signal to the control module 7, and the control module 7 controls the working state of the terminal device. Among them, the reflected light switch 4 includes a spring switch and a reflector in the optical switch device.

[0035] The laser coupling device comprises a laser 1 and a fiber coupler 2. The laser emits laser light which is coupled into the emission fiber through the fiber coupler. The laser comprises a pulse laser or a continuous laser, and the laser light emitted by the laser is one of red light, green light, blue light and white light. The detector comprises an illumination sensor or a wavelength sensor. The terminal device is one of a light guide device and a fiber optic device using an optical fiber as a working medium, and is preferably a laser light guide lighting device.

[0036] When the detector is a fluorescence detector, the system of the present invention further comprises a fluorescence filter 5 disposed between the fluorescence detector and the receiving optical fiber, wherein the fluorescence filter is used to remove the emitted or diffused laser so that a large amount of fluorescence can pass through without being affected by the laser.

[0037] The pulse laser 1 generates a pulse signal, which is coupled to the transmitting optical fiber 8 through the optical fiber coupler 2. The other end of the transmitting optical fiber 8 is coupled to the receiving optical fiber 9 through the evanescent wave coupling module 3. The optical fiber transmits the laser to the optical fiber connector ferrule. When the spring switch of the optical switch device 4 is not pressed, the light is directly emitted. When the spring switch of the optical switch device 4 is pressed, the reflector and the optical fiber fixing plate form a closed optical space, and the laser irradiates the reflector coated with phosphor, excites the phosphor to generate fluorescence and reflects back along the optical fiber, and evanescent wave coupling occurs through the evanescent wave coupling module 3. There is weakened light energy in both the transmitting optical fiber 8 and the receiving optical fiber 9. The light energy passes through the fluorescent filter 5, which can remove the emitted or diffused laser and allow the fluorescence to pass through. The fluorescence detector 6 detects the reflected fluorescence and transmits the signal to the photoelectric box 7. The photoelectric box receives the signal and controls the light source to cut off the power, thereby achieving the effect of cutting off the power circuit. Release the switch button. Because of the presence of the spring fixing plate and the spring 43, the reflector 44 coated with phosphor is pulled upward by the spring 43 and returns to its original position.

[0038] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are only examples and do not limit the present invention. The purpose of the present invention has been fully and effectively achieved. The functional and structural principles of the present invention have been demonstrated and explained in the embodiments, and the embodiments of the present invention may be deformed or modified in any way without departing from the principles.

Claims

1. An optical switch device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a spring switch, a reflector, a transmission optical fiber, an evanescent wave module, an optical fiber connector ferrule, an optical fiber upper fixing plate and an optical fiber lower fixing plate; the transmission optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber connector ferrule through the evanescent wave module, the optical fiber connector ferrule is placed between the optical fiber upper fixing plate and the optical fiber lower fixing plate, the front end of the optical fiber upper fixing plate and the front end of the optical fiber lower fixing plate are not closed and an opening is formed; the optical fiber connector ferrule is arranged opposite to the opening and has a certain distance from the opening, and when the spring switch is not pressed, light is emitted to the opening through the optical fiber connector ferrule; the reflector is arranged between the spring switch and the optical fiber lower fixing plate The reed switch is arranged at the bottom of the optical fiber upper fixing plate and is located near the opening; when the spring switch is pressed, the reflector closes the opening, and the optical fiber upper fixing plate, the optical fiber lower fixing plate and the reflector form a closed space, and the light returns to the transmission optical fiber from the closed space; the transmission optical fiber includes a transmitting optical fiber for transmitting laser and a receiving optical fiber for receiving return light; the evanescent wave module includes a coating layer and two evanescent wave units arranged in parallel in the optical fiber cladding; the evanescent wave unit includes an inner layer of optically dense medium and an outer layer of optically sparse medium; the two evanescent wave units are respectively connected to the transmitting optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber.

2. An optical switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spring switch includes a direct-down type or a rotary type spring switch.

3. An optical switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reflector includes a flat or curved reflector; a reflective film or a fluorescent coating is provided on the surface of the reflector.

4. A lighting system, characterized in that: The optical switch device comprises the optical switch device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, a laser coupling device, a detector, a control module, and a terminal device; the laser coupling device transmits laser light to the optical switch device via a transmitting optical fiber; The detector is used to detect the light returned by the optical switch device through the receiving optical fiber; when the detector detects the returned light, the detector sends a detection signal to the control module, and the control module controls the working state of the terminal device.

5. A lighting system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The laser coupling device comprises a laser and an optical fiber coupler; the laser emitted by the laser is coupled into the emitting optical fiber through the optical fiber coupler.

6. A lighting system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The laser includes a pulse laser or a continuous laser.

7. A lighting system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The detector comprises an illumination sensor or a wavelength sensor.

8. The lighting system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The terminal device is a light-guiding device or an optical fiber device using optical fiber as a working medium.

Images