Optical switch and optical switch system

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an optical switch that does not require power supply.　Provided is an optical switch comprising an optically-driven part and an optical switching part. The optically-driven part includes: an optically-expandable body which expands by light irradiation and contracts by light blocking; a knock rod which converts the expansion / contraction of the optically-expandable body into linear movement that goes back and forth by a given distance; and a rotational movement body which has a rotor and which converts the expansion / contraction into rotational movement for rotating by a given angle about an axis of the rotor in accordance with the linear movement that goes back and forth by the given distance of the knock rod. The optical switching part includes: a first optical connection body to which one to-be-switched optical fiber is secured; a second optical connection body to which optical fibers of a to-be-switched optical fiber group are secured; and a connection rotational body which is secured to the rotor of the rotational movement body and rotates about the axis of the rotor, and which switchably connects the one to-be-switched optical fiber secured to the first optical connection body that is in contact with one end surface to one optical fiber of the to-be-switched optical fiber group secured to the second optical connection body that is in contact with the other end surface.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical switch and an optical switch system used for switching an optical path. [Background technology]

[0002] Various methods have been proposed for all-optical switches that switch paths while keeping light as it is (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). Of these, optical fiber-type mechanical optical switches, which control the butting of optical fibers or optical connectors with a robot arm or motor, are inferior to other methods in terms of slow switching speed, but have many advantages over other methods, such as low loss, low wavelength dependency, multi-port capability, and a self-holding function that maintains the switching state when power is lost.

[0003] Representative structures include, for example, a method of translating a stage using an optical fiber V-groove, a method of translating or changing the angle of a mirror or prism to selectively couple an input optical fiber to multiple output optical fibers, and a method of connecting a jumper cable with an optical connector using a robot arm. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] M. Ctepanovsky, “A Comparative Review of MEMS-Based Optical Cross-Connects for All-Optical Networks From the Past to the Present Day,” IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials,vоl.21,nо.3,pp.2928-2946,2019. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there is a problem that it is difficult to further reduce power consumption, size, and cost efficiency in the conventional technology described in the above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1. Specifically, in the method of translating the above-mentioned optical fiber V-groove stage or prism, a motor is generally used as a drive source, but since it is a mechanism for linearly moving a heavy object such as a stage, a certain level of torque is required for the motor, and power consumption is required to obtain an appropriate output to maintain the required torque.

[0006] In addition, since optical axis alignment using single mode optical fibers requires a precision of about 1 μm or less, if a mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into linear motion, such as a ball screw, is used, it is necessary to convert it into linear motion in sub-μm steps.The optical fiber pitch of the optical fiber array on the output side that is typically used is about 125 μm for the cladding outer diameter of the optical fiber or 250 μm for the coating outer diameter of the optical fiber.

[0007] If the number of optical fibers installed is increased while maintaining this optical fiber pitch, the optical fiber array on the output side will become larger. As a result, the distance of the linear motion is extended, and the actual driving time of the motor must be lengthened, resulting in an issue of increased power consumption. For this reason, such optical fiber-type mechanical optical switches require a power of several hundred milliwatts or more. In addition, the robot arm method using optical connectors has the issue that the robot arm itself that controls the insertion and removal of the optical connector or ferrule requires a large amount of power of several tens of watts or more. In environments where it is difficult to supply power, such as outdoor aerial optical connection points, it is difficult to secure sufficient power to operate these optical switches.

[0008] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical switch that does not require a power supply, and an optical switch system that uses the optical switch and operates with low power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the optical switch disclosed herein utilizes an optical expansion body that expands and contracts when light is applied or blocked, to generate rotational motion from linear motion, and the rotational motion is used to switch and connect optical fibers.

[0010] Specifically, the present disclosure relates to A photoexpandable body that expands when irradiated with light and contracts when the light is blocked; A knock rod that converts the expansion and contraction of the optical expansion body into a linear motion that reciprocates for a certain distance; and a rotor, which converts the linear motion of the knock bar, which reciprocates a certain distance, into a rotational motion that rotates a certain angle around the axis of the rotor. A light driving unit having a first optical connection body to which one optical fiber to be switched is fixed; a second optical connection body to which the optical fibers of the optical fiber group to be switched are respectively fixed; and a connecting rotor that is fixed to the rotor of the rotating body, rotates around the axis of the rotor, and switches and connects one optical fiber to be switched that is fixed to the first optical connecting body that is in contact with one end face of the optical fiber to be switched and that is fixed to the second optical connecting body that is in contact with the other end face of the optical fiber to be switched. an optical switching unit having An optical switch comprising: It is.

[0011] By adopting such a structure, the optical switch of the present disclosure can be configured so as to eliminate the need for a power supply.

[0012] In addition, the optical switch of the present disclosure is The rotary motion body is a vane fixed to an end surface of the rotor on the knock rod side, the vane having a tip on the knock rod side that is a flat inclined surface; a cylindrical cam fixed inside the housing, the cam having a sawtooth groove formed in an annular shape on the end surface of the blade, the sawtooth groove having a slope in the same direction as the blade, the cam receiving the blade slope; and an elastic body fixed to the housing and pushing the rotor back toward the cam. having the knock bar reciprocates within the cylindrical interior of the cam, and has an annular groove on an end surface on the side of the blade, the groove having a sawtooth groove shifted by half a pitch at the same period as the sawtooth groove of the cam, the slope of the slope being inclined in the same direction as the slope of the blade, When the optical expansion body is contracted, the inclined surface of the wing is pressed against the inclined surface of the sawtooth groove of the cam by the elastic body, When the optical expansion body expands, the knock rod advances toward the rotor, and the slope of the sawtooth groove of the knock rod is pressed against the slope of the wing, and the pressed slope of the wing slides along the slope of the sawtooth tooth of the knock rod, thereby rotating the rotor, When the optical expansion body changes from expansion to contraction, the knock bar retracts from the rotor, the rotor pushed back by the elastic body moves toward the cam, the slope of the wing is pressed against the slope of the sawtooth groove of the cam, and the pressed slope of the wing slides along the slope of the sawtooth tooth of the cam, causing the rotor to rotate. It is characterized by:

[0013] In addition, the optical switch of the present disclosure is The optical expansion body is made of a black material or a material containing air bubbles therein. It is characterized by:

[0014] In addition, the optical switch of the present disclosure is the connection rotor has a connection optical path that connects a center of rotation of one end face perpendicular to the axis and a connection point that is arranged on a circumference having a radius of a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the other end face perpendicular to the axis, the first optical connection body is in contact with one end surface of the connection rotating body, and the one optical fiber to be switched is fixed at a position facing the center of rotation of the connection rotating body; the second optical connection body is in contact with the other end face of the connection rotating body, and the optical fibers of the switching target optical fiber group are fixed on a circumference having a radius of a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the connection rotating body, When the connection rotating body rotates, the connection optical path switches between the one optical fiber to be switched of the first optical connection body and one optical fiber in the group of optical fibers to be switched of the second optical connection body. It is characterized by:

[0015] In addition, the optical switch of the present disclosure is the connecting rotator further includes a plurality of monitoring optical paths connecting one end surface and the other end surface, the monitoring optical paths having different connection / disconnection patterns depending on an angle of rotation; the second optical connection body further includes a plurality of monitoring transmission optical fibers fixed thereto for transmitting monitoring light from the other end face of the connection rotating body toward the monitoring optical path; the first optical connection body further includes a plurality of monitoring reception optical fibers fixed thereto for receiving monitoring light from the monitoring optical path toward one end face of the connection rotating body; The rotation of the connection rotor causes a unique change in the pattern of connection and interruption of the light from the plurality of monitoring transmission optical fibers to the plurality of monitoring reception optical fibers. It is characterized by:

[0016] In addition, the optical switch of the present disclosure is the connecting rotor further has a reflector on one end surface, the reflector having a different reflection / blocking pattern depending on the angle of rotation; the second optical connection body further includes a plurality of monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers fixed thereto, the monitoring optical fibers transmitting monitoring light from the other end face of the connection rotating body toward the reflector and receiving the monitoring light reflected from the reflector toward the other end face of the connection rotating body; The rotation of the connecting rotor causes a unique change in the reflection / non-reflection pattern of each of the plurality of monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers. It is characterized by:

[0017] In order to solve the above problems, the optical switch system disclosed herein utilizes an optical expansion body that expands or contracts when light is irradiated or blocked from a control device, to generate rotational motion from linear motion, and the rotational motion is used to switch and connect optical fibers.

[0018] Specifically, the present disclosure relates to Any one of the optical switches described above; a control device including a driving light source that supplies light for causing the optical expansion body to expand and a control unit that instructs the driving light source to emit or block light; An optical switch system comprising: It is.

[0019] Specifically, the present disclosure relates to The optical switch described above; a driving light source that supplies light that causes the optical expansion body to expand; a monitoring light source for transmitting monitoring light toward the optical switching unit; a monitoring optical receiver for receiving monitoring light from the optical switching unit; a control unit that instructs the driving light source to irradiate or cut off, instructs the monitoring light source to supply or cut off, and monitors which optical fiber of the switching target optical fiber group is connected or cut off with the signal from the monitoring optical receiver; a control device having An optical switch system comprising: It is.

[0020] With such a structure, the optical switch system of the present disclosure uses optical switches that do not require a power supply, and therefore can operate with low power consumption.

[0021] The above disclosed inventions can be combined to the greatest extent possible. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an optical switch that does not require a power supply and operates with low power consumption, and an optical switch system that uses the optical switch. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical switch system according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an optical switch according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a light driving unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a photoexpansion body according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a knock rod according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a knock rod according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6A] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a cam according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6B] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a cam according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7A] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a housing according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7B] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a housing according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a rotary moving body according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a rotary moving body according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a light driving unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a light driving unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a light driving unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 12A] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an optical switching unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 12B] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an optical switching unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 13A] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring function of the present disclosure. [Figure 13B] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring function of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical switch system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an optical switch according to the present disclosure. [Figure 16A]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring function of the present disclosure. [Figure 16B] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring function of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below. These implementation examples are merely illustrative, and the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Note that components with the same reference numerals in this specification and drawings are assumed to indicate the same components.

[0025] The configuration of the optical switch system of the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, 10 is an optical switch, 112 is an optical fiber for driving the optical switch, 20 is a control device, 21 is a control unit, 22 is a driving light source, 23 is a monitoring light source, 24 is a monitoring optical receiver, 206 is an optical fiber to be switched, 207 is a group of optical fibers to be switched, 306 is a monitoring transmitting optical fiber, and 307 is a monitoring receiving optical fiber.

[0026] The optical switch system includes an optical switch 10 and a control device 20. The control device 20 includes a control unit 21 and a driving light source 22. The control device 20 may further include a monitoring light source 23 and a monitoring optical receiver 24 as a monitoring function.

[0027] The control unit 21 instructs the drive light source 22 to emit or block drive light. The drive light source 22 supplies drive light to the optical switch 10 through the optical-switch drive optical fiber 112. By emitting or blocking the light from the drive light source 22, the optical switch 10 switches and connects the switching target optical fiber 206 and one optical fiber in the switching target optical fiber group 207. The optical switch 10 does not use a power source, and is controlled by light sent through the optical-switch drive optical fiber 112 from the control device 20 which can use a power source.

[0028] When the control unit 21 exercises the monitoring function, it causes the monitoring light source 23 to transmit monitoring light. The monitoring light source 23 supplies monitoring light to the optical switch 10 through a monitoring transmission optical fiber 306. The monitoring optical receiver 24 receives monitoring light from the optical switch 10 through a monitoring reception optical fiber 307. The control unit 21 receives the reception signal from the monitoring optical receiver 24, and monitors whether the optical switch 10 is operating as instructed.

[0029] The configuration of the optical switch of the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, 10 is an optical switch, 100 is an optical driver, 110 is an optical expansion body, 112 is an optical fiber for driving the optical switch, 115 is a knock rod, 120 is a rotary body, 200 is an optical switching unit, 201 is a first optical connection body, 202 is a second optical connection body, 203 is a connecting rotor, 206 is an optical fiber to be switched, 207 is a group of optical fibers to be switched, 306 is a transmitting optical fiber for monitoring, and 307 is a receiving optical fiber for monitoring. The optical switch 10 includes an optical driver 100 and an optical switching unit 200. Note that in Fig. 2, only the area enclosed by a dotted line in the optical driver 100 is shown as a perspective view of the inside of the housing.

[0030] Driving light is irradiated to the optical expansion body 110 of the optical driver 100 via the optical switch driving optical fiber 112. When the driving light is subsequently interrupted, the optical expansion body 110 expands or contracts in response to the irradiation or interruption. The knock rod 115 converts the expansion or contraction of the optical expansion body 110 into linear motion that reciprocates a fixed distance. The rotary motion body 120 in the optical driver 100 converts the linear motion of the knock rod 115 into rotational motion that rotates a fixed angle. In accordance with this rotation, the connection rotary body 203 in the optical switching unit 200 rotates, whereby one of the optical fibers to be switched 207 fixed to the second optical connecting body 202 and the optical fiber to be switched 206 fixed to the first optical connecting body 201 are switched and connected.

[0031] In the case where the optical switch has a monitoring function, when the rotary motion body 120 of the optical driver 100 is converted into a rotary motion that rotates by a fixed angle, the connection rotator 203 in the optical switching unit 200 rotates by a fixed angle in accordance with the rotation. Light is input from the monitoring transmitting optical fiber 306 to the connection rotator 203, and the rotation angle of the connection rotator 203 in the optical switching unit 200 can be detected based on how the light is connected / blocked and input to the monitoring receiving optical fiber 307. Therefore, the control device 20 can monitor whether the optical switch 10 is switching and connecting the switching target optical fiber 206 to which optical fiber in the switching target optical fiber group 207 is switched as instructed.

[0032] The configuration of the optical driver of the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 3. The configurations of the optical expansion body, knock rod, cam, housing, and rotary body of the optical driver of the present disclosure are shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 8B. In Fig. 3 to Fig. 8B, 100 is the optical driver, 110 is the optical expansion body, 110-1 is the optical expansion member, 111 is the lever, 112 is the optical fiber for driving the optical switch, 115 is the knock rod, 115-1 is the groove of the knock rod, 115-2 is the pressing portion, 120 is the rotary body, 121 is the rotor, 122 is the rotor gear, 123 is the blade, 124 is the cam, 124-1 is the groove of the cam, 124-2 is the knock hole of the cam, 125 is the convex portion, 126 is the elastic body, 127 is the shaft hole, 140 is the housing, 141 is the rotor hole, 142 is the recess, and 143 is the knock hole of the housing. 3, only the area within the dotted line of the optical driver 100 is shown as a see-through view of the inside of the housing 140. As shown in FIG.

[0033] In FIG. 3, the optical expansion body 110 expands when irradiated with driving light supplied from the optical fiber 112 for driving the optical switch, and contracts when the light is blocked. The material of the optical expansion body 110 is a member that expands when irradiated with light, and contracts when the light is blocked. For example, polymer molecules are an example of a material that expands easily. It is desirable that a black material, for example, charcoal, is kneaded into an easily expandable material such as polymer molecules. When the black material is irradiated with light, it becomes easy to convert the light into heat. The heat is transferred to the polymer of the black material, which causes the polymer to thermally expand. Alternatively, the thermal expansion of air may be utilized by using a foamable polymer containing air bubbles inside.

[0034] An example of the configuration of the optical expansion body is shown in Fig. 4. In order to cause a large change by thermal expansion, as shown in Fig. 4, a lever 111 may be used to amplify the expansion and contraction of the optical expansion member 110-1.

[0035] An example of the configuration of the knock bar is shown in Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B. Fig. 5A is a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of the knock bar, and Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the knock bar. In Fig. 3, Fig. 5A, and Fig. 5B, the pressing portion 115-2 of the knock bar 115 converts the expansion and contraction of the light expansion body 110 into a linear motion that reciprocates a certain distance inside the knock hole 124-2 of the cam. Specifically, the knock bar 115 has an annular knock bar groove 115-1 on the end face on the side of the vane 123. The knock bar groove 115-1 has a sawtooth shape. The period of the knock bar groove 115-1 is the same as that of the cam groove 124-1 of the cam 124, and is shifted by half a pitch. The inclined surface of the knock bar groove 115-1 receives the vane 123 when pushing up the rotor 121, so that it is inclined in the same direction as the inclined surface of the vane 123.

[0036] The rotary motion body 120 converts the linear motion of the knock bar 115, which reciprocates a certain distance, into rotary motion that rotates by a certain angle.

[0037] An example of the cam configuration is shown in Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B. Fig. 6A is a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of the cam, and Fig. 6B is a perspective view of the cam. In Fig. 3, Fig. 6A, and Fig. 6B, the cam 124 is cylindrical in shape with the knock bar 115 reciprocating through the knock hole 124-2 of the cam inside, and is fixed inside the housing 140. The end face on the side of the vane 123 has an annular cam groove 124-1. The cam groove 124-1 has a sawtooth shape. The period of the cam groove 124-1 is the same as that of the knock bar groove 115-1, and is shifted by half a pitch. The inclined surface of the cam groove 124-1 receives the vane 123 of the rotor 121, so it has an inclination in the same direction as the inclined surface of the vane 123.

[0038] An example of the configuration of the housing is shown in Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B. Fig. 7A is a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of the housing, and Fig. 7B is a perspective view of the housing. In Fig. 3, Fig. 7A, and Fig. 7B, the housing 140 has a rotor hole 141, a recess 142, and a knock hole 143 of the housing. The housing 140 supports the rotor 121 at the rotor hole 141 and stabilizes the rotational motion. The housing 140 has a cam 124 fixed therein. The housing 140 supports the internal knock pin 115 at the knock hole 143 of the housing and stabilizes the linear motion. An elastic body 126 is fixed to a part of the housing 140, and the elastic body 126 pushes the rotor 121 back toward the cam 124.

[0039] An example of a part of the configuration of the rotary motion body is shown in Fig. 8A and Fig. 8B. Fig. 8A is a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of the rotary motion body, and Fig. 8B is a perspective view of the rotary motion body. In Fig. 3, Fig. 8A, and Fig. 8B, the rotor 121 rotates around the shaft hole 127 inside the housing 140. The vane 123 is fixed to the end face of the rotor 121 on the knock bar 115 side, and the tip on the knock bar 115 side is a flat inclined surface. The inclined surface of the vane 123 has an inclination in the same direction as the inclined surface of the groove 115-1 of the sawtooth knock bar and the inclined surface of the groove 124-1 of the sawtooth cam. It is desirable that the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the vane 123 is approximately the same as the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the groove 115-1 of the sawtooth knock bar and the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the groove 124-1 of the sawtooth cam. The protruding portion 125 of the rotor has a degree of freedom in the same direction as the linear motion of the knock bar 115 within the range of the internal width of the recessed portion 142 .

[0040] The operation of the optical driver 100 will be described with reference to Figures 9, 10, and 11. In Figures 9, 10, and 11, 100 is an optical driver, 110 is an optical expansion body, 112 is an optical fiber for driving an optical switch, 115 is a knock bar, 120 is a rotary body, 121 is a rotor, 123 is a blade, 124 is a cam, 125 is a convex portion, 126 is an elastic body, and 140 is a housing. Note that in Figures 9, 10, and 11, only the area enclosed by dotted lines in the optical driver 100 is shown as a see-through view of the inside of the housing 140.

[0041] 9, when light is not irradiated to the optically expanding body 110, the optically expanding body 110 contracts. When the optically expanding body 110 contracts, the knock bar 115 is separated from the feather 123. As the elastic body 126 pushes the rotor 121, the inclined surface of the feather 123 is pressed against the inclined surface of the cam groove 124-1.

[0042] 10, when driving light is irradiated onto optical expansion body 110 through optical switch driving optical fiber 112, optical expansion body 110 expands. When optical expansion body 110 expands, knock rod 115 advances toward rotor 121. The slope of groove 115-1 of the knock rod is pressed against the slope of wing 123, and the pressed slope of wing 123 slides along the slope of groove 115-1 of the knock rod, causing rotor 121 to rotate.

[0043] In FIG. 11, when the light for driving the optical expansion body 110 is blocked, the optical expansion body 110 contracts. When the optical expansion body 110 contracts, the knock bar 115 retracts from the rotor 121. The elastic body 126 presses the rotor 121, so that the slope of the feather 123 is pressed against the slope of the cam groove 124-1. The pressed slope of the feather 123 slides along the slope of the cam groove 124-1, causing the rotor 121 to rotate further. The feather 123 of the rotor 121 fits into the adjacent groove. Through the series of operations from FIG. 9, the rotor 121 rotates by one groove of the cam groove 124-1. By repeating the series of operations, the rotor 121 rotates at a constant angle at a time, and rotation at a desired angle can be achieved.

[0044] The configuration of the optical switching unit is shown in Figures 12A and 12B. Figure 12A is a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of the optical switching unit, and Figure 12B is a perspective view of the optical switching unit. In Figures 12A and 12B, 200 is the optical switching unit, 201 is a first optical connecting body, 202 is a second optical connecting body, 203 is a connecting rotator, 204 is a connecting optical path, 206 is an optical fiber to be switched, and 207 is a group of optical fibers to be switched.

[0045] 12A and 12B, the optical switching unit 200 has a first optical connection body 201, a second optical connection body 202, and a connection rotator 203. One optical fiber 206 to be switched is fixed to the first optical connection body 201. The black circle of the first optical connection body 201 in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B is the connection point of the optical fiber 206 to be switched. A plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber group 207 to be switched are fixed to the second optical connection body 202. The black circle of the second optical connection body 202 in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B is the connection point of the optical fiber group 207 to be switched. The connection rotator 203 rotates around the axis of the rotor 121 of the rotary motion body 120, and switches and connects one optical fiber 206 to be switched that is fixed to the first optical connection body 201 that is in contact with one end face and one optical fiber in the optical fiber group 207 to be switched that is fixed to the second optical connection body 202 that is in contact with the other end face.

[0046] Specifically, the connection rotator 203 has a connection optical path 204. The connection optical path 204 optically connects a connection point at the center of rotation of one end face perpendicular to the axis of the connection rotator 203 to a connection point on a circumference having a radius a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the other end face perpendicular to the axis.

[0047] The first optical connecting body 201 contacts one end face of the connecting rotator 203 and fixes one optical fiber 206 to be switched at a position facing the center of rotation of the connecting rotator 203. The second optical connecting body 202 contacts the other end face of the connecting rotator 203 and fixes a plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber group 207 to be switched on a circumference having a radius of a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the connecting rotator 203. By rotating the connecting rotator 203, the connecting optical path 204 of the connecting rotator 203 switches and connects one optical fiber 206 to be switched of the first optical connecting body 201 and one optical fiber of the optical fiber group 207 to be switched of the second optical connecting body 202.

[0048] A collimating lens may be provided at each of the end points of one optical fiber 206 to be switched and the connection optical path 204 of the connection rotator 203, and connection may be made with collimated light. Also, a collimating lens may be provided at each of the end points of the connection optical path 204 of the connection rotator 203 and the multiple optical fibers of the group of optical fibers 207 to be switched and the group 207, and connection may be made with collimated light. Connection with collimated light can reduce connection loss.

[0049] As described above, the optical switch of the present disclosure can eliminate the need for a power supply, and an optical switch system using the optical switch can operate with low power consumption.

[0050] Part of the configuration of the monitoring function is shown in Figures 13A and 13B. Figure 13A is a front view, a top view, and a monitoring passing pattern of the optical switching unit, and Figure 13B is a perspective view of the optical switching unit. In Figures 13A and 13B, 200 is the optical switching unit, 201 is a first optical connecting body, 202 is a second optical connecting body, 203 is a connecting rotator, 306 is a monitoring transmitting optical fiber, and 307 is a monitoring receiving optical fiber.

[0051] The optical switching unit 200 also has a part of a monitoring function. Specifically, the connection rotator 203 has a plurality of monitoring optical paths (not shown) that connect one end face perpendicular to the rotation axis of the connection rotator 203 and the other end face perpendicular to the rotation axis of the connection rotator 203. The pattern of connection and disconnection of the monitoring optical paths varies depending on the angle of rotation of the connection rotator 203. The second optical connection body 202 fixes a plurality of monitoring transmission optical fibers 306 that transmit monitoring light from the other end face of the connection rotator 203 toward the monitoring optical paths (not shown). The first optical connection body 201 fixes a plurality of monitoring reception optical fibers 307 that receive monitoring light from the monitoring optical paths (not shown) toward one end face of the connection rotator 203.

[0052] A collimating lens may be provided at each end of the monitoring optical path of the monitoring transmitting optical fiber 306 and the connecting rotator 203, and a connection may be made with collimated light. Also, a collimating lens may be provided at each end of the monitoring optical path of the monitoring receiving optical fiber 307 and the connecting rotator 203, and a connection may be made with collimated light. By connecting with collimated light, the connection loss can be reduced.

[0053] By the rotation of the connection rotator 203, the connection and cut-off patterns of the light from the multiple monitoring transmission optical fibers 306 to the multiple monitoring reception optical fibers 307 change uniquely. For example, in the monitoring passing pattern diagram of FIG. 13A, the connection rotator 203 is divided into 8 in units of 45 degrees in the rotation direction of the axis. In the case of 45 degree units, the eight divisions are 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 315 degrees. Three optical fibers are used for the monitoring transmission optical fibers 306, and the three monitoring transmission optical fibers 306 are fixed at the 0 degree position of the end face of the second optical connection body 202. Similarly, three optical fibers are used for the monitoring reception optical fibers 307, and the three monitoring reception optical fibers 307 are fixed at the 0 degree position of the end face of the first optical connection body 201. In the connection rotator 203, the connection and cut-off patterns of the three monitoring transmission optical fibers 306 and the three monitoring reception optical fibers 307 are uniquely different depending on the rotation angle.

[0054] When the connection rotator 203 rotates in 45-degree increments, the connection and cut-off patterns from the three monitoring transmitting optical fibers 306 to the three monitoring receiving optical fibers 307 change uniquely. If connection is 1 and cut-off is 0, and black circles are "1" and white circles are "0" in the monitoring passing pattern diagram of Fig. 13A, eight patterns (=3 bits) of 111, 011, 101, 001, 110, 010, 100, and 000 can be detected from the center to the periphery according to angles of 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 315 degrees, respectively.

[0055] For example, if the connection rotator 203 rotates in 10-degree increments, then in order to monitor 36 different states, it is necessary to divide the connection rotator 203 into 36 parts every 10 degrees, arrange six monitoring optical paths on the connection rotator 203, and also to provide six monitoring transmitting optical fibers 306 and six monitoring receiving optical fibers 307. The number of monitoring optical paths on the connection rotator 203 and the numbers of monitoring transmitting optical fibers 306 and monitoring receiving optical fibers 307 can be determined according to the rotation angle unit to be detected.

[0056] The rotation angle of the connection rotator 203 can be known from the rotation angle detected by the optical switching unit 200, and as a result, it is possible to monitor which optical fiber the optical switching unit 200 is connecting to the optical fiber 206 to be switched and which optical fiber in the group of optical fibers 207 to be switched.

[0057] Here, the monitoring transmitting optical fiber 306 is fixed to the second optical connection body 202, and the monitoring receiving optical fiber 307 is fixed to the first optical connection body 201, but the monitoring transmitting optical fiber 306 may be fixed to the first optical connection body 201, and the monitoring receiving optical fiber 307 may be fixed to the second optical connection body 202, thereby connecting / blocking the monitoring light.

[0058] As described above, the optical switch having a monitoring function according to the present disclosure does not require a power supply, and an optical switch system using the optical switch can operate with low power consumption.

[0059] Another configuration of the optical switch system of the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 14. In Fig. 14, 10 denotes an optical switch, 112 denotes an optical fiber for driving the optical switch, 20 denotes a control device, 21 denotes a control unit, 22 denotes a driving light source, 23 denotes a monitoring light source, 24 denotes a monitoring optical receiver, 25 denotes a circulator, 206 denotes an optical fiber to be switched, 207 denotes a group of optical fibers to be switched, and 308 denotes a monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber.

[0060] The optical switch system includes an optical switch 10 and a control device 20. The control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a driving light source 22, a monitoring light source 23, a monitoring optical receiver 24, and a circulator 25. The difference from the optical switch system in FIG. 1 is that the control device 20 further includes a circulator 25, and uses a monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308 for monitoring the optical switch 10.

[0061] The control unit 21 causes the monitoring light source 23 to transmit monitoring light. The monitoring light source 23 supplies monitoring light to the optical switch 10 through the circulator 25 and the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308. The monitoring optical receiver 24 receives monitoring light from the optical switch 10 via the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308 and the circulator 25. The control unit 21 receives a reception signal from the monitoring optical receiver 24, and monitors whether the optical switch 10 is operating as instructed.

[0062] Another configuration of the optical switch of the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 15. In Fig. 15, 10 is an optical switch, 100 is an optical driver, 110 is an optical expansion body, 112 is an optical fiber for driving the optical switch, 115 is a knock bar, 120 is a rotary body, 200 is an optical switching unit, 201 is a first optical connection body, 202 is a second optical connection body, 203 is a connecting rotor, 206 is an optical fiber to be switched, 207 is a group of optical fibers to be switched, and 308 is a monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber. The optical driver 100 has the same configuration as the optical switch of Fig. 2. The optical switching unit 200 has a different configuration from the optical switch of Fig. 2. Note that Fig. 15 shows only the inside of the housing 140 within the dotted line of the optical driver 100 as a perspective view.

[0063] The second connection rotator 203 of the optical switching unit 200 rotates at a fixed angle, and light is input from the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308 to the second optical connection body 202, and the rotation angle of the connection rotator 203 in the optical switching unit 200 can be detected based on how the light is reflected or blocked and re-injected into the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308. Therefore, the control device 20 can monitor whether the optical switch 10 is connecting or disconnecting the switching target optical fiber 206 and which optical fiber in the switching target optical fiber group 207 is being connected or disconnected as instructed.

[0064] Part of the configuration of the monitoring function is shown in Figures 16A and 16B. Figure 16A is a front view, a top view, and a monitoring reflection pattern view of the optical switching unit, and Figure 16B is a perspective view of the optical switching unit. In Figures 16A and 16B, 200 is the optical switching unit, 201 is a first optical connecting body, 202 is a second optical connecting body, 203 is a connecting rotator, and 308 is a monitoring transmitting and receiving optical fiber.

[0065] The optical switching unit 200 also has a part of a monitoring function. Specifically, the connection rotator 203 has a reflector (not shown) having a plurality of reflecting / blocking portions on the other end face perpendicular to the rotation axis of the connection rotator 203. The reflection / blocking pattern differs depending on the angle of rotation of the connection rotator 203. The second optical connection body 202 transmits monitoring light from the other end face of the connection rotator 203 toward the reflector, and fixes a plurality of monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers 308 that receive the monitoring light reflected from the reflector toward the other end face of the connection rotator 203.

[0066] A collimating lens may be provided at the end of the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308 to reflect or block collimated light. By connecting using collimated light, connection loss can be reduced.

[0067] The rotation of the connection rotator 203 causes a unique change in the reflection and blocking patterns of light from the multiple monitoring transmitting and receiving optical fibers 308. For example, in the monitoring reflection pattern diagram of FIG. 16A, the connection rotator 203 is divided into eight sections in units of 45 degrees in the rotation direction of the axis. In the case of 45 degree units, the eight sections are 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 315 degrees. Three optical fibers are used for the monitoring transmitting and receiving optical fibers 308, and the three monitoring transmitting and receiving optical fibers 308 are fixed at the 0 degree position on the end face of the second optical connection body 202. The connection rotator 203 causes unique reflection and blocking patterns for each of the three monitoring transmitting and receiving optical fibers 308 depending on the rotation angle.

[0068] When the connection rotator 203 rotates in 45-degree increments, the reflection and blocking patterns change uniquely for the three monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers 308. If reflection is 1 and blocking is 0, and black circles are "1" and white circles are "0" in the monitoring reflection pattern diagram of Fig. 16A, eight patterns (=3 bits) of 111, 011, 101, 001, 110, 010, 100, and 000 can be detected from the center to the periphery according to angles of 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 315 degrees, respectively.

[0069] When reflecting the three monitoring transmission / reception optical fibers 308, the connecting rotator 203 may reflect the monitoring light from the monitoring transmission / reception optical fiber 308 with a mirror, returning the monitoring light to the monitoring transmission / reception optical fiber 308. When blocking the three monitoring transmission / reception optical fibers 308, the connecting rotator 203 may make the monitoring light from the monitoring transmission / reception optical fiber 308 non-reflective, absorb it, or reflect it in a direction different from the monitoring transmission / reception optical fiber 308, so that the monitoring light is not returned to the monitoring transmission / reception optical fiber 308.

[0070] As in FIG. 13A, the number of reflecting / blocking parts of the connecting rotator 203 and the number of monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers 308 are determined according to the rotation angle unit to be detected.

[0071] The rotation angle of the connection rotator 203 can be known from the rotation angle detected by the optical switching unit 200, and as a result, it is possible to monitor which optical fiber the optical switching unit 200 is connecting to the optical fiber 206 to be switched and which optical fiber in the group of optical fibers 207 to be switched.

[0072] Here, the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308 is fixed to the second optical connection body 202, but the monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fiber 308 may be fixed to the first optical connection body 201 to reflect / block the monitoring light.

[0073] As described above, the optical switch of the present disclosure that is equipped with a monitoring rotor can eliminate the need for a power supply, and an optical switch system that uses this optical switch can operate with low power consumption. [Industrial Applicability]

[0074] The present disclosure is applicable to the communications industry. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10: Optical switch 20: Control device 21: Control unit 22: Driving light source 23: Monitoring light source 24: Monitoring optical receiver 25: Circulator 100: Optical drive unit 110: Optical expansion body 110-1: Optical expansion material 111: Lever 112: Optical fiber for driving optical switch 115: Knock stick 115-1: Knock rod groove 115-2: Pressing part 120: Rotating body 121: Rotor 123: Feather 124: Cam 124-1: Cam groove 124-2: Cam knock hole 125: Convex 126: Elastic body 127: Shaft hole 140: Cabinet 141: Rotor hole 142: Recess 143: Knock hole on the housing 200: Optical switching section 201: First optical connector 202: Second optical connector 203: Connecting rotor 204: Connection optical path 206: Optical fiber to be switched 207: Optical fiber group to be switched 306: Optical fiber for monitoring 307: Optical fiber for monitoring 308: Optical fiber for monitoring

Claims

1. A photoexpandable body that expands when irradiated with light and contracts when the light is blocked; a knock rod that converts the expansion and contraction of the optical expansion body into a linear motion that reciprocates a certain distance; and a rotor, which converts the linear motion of the knock bar, which reciprocates a certain distance, into a rotational motion that rotates a certain angle around the axis of the rotor. A light driving unit having a first optical connection body to which one optical fiber to be switched is fixed; a second optical connection body to which the optical fibers of the switching target optical fiber group are respectively fixed; and a connecting rotor that is fixed to the rotor of the rotating body, rotates around the axis of the rotor, and switches and connects one optical fiber to be switched that is fixed to the first optical connecting body that is in contact with one end face of the optical fiber, and one optical fiber in the group of optical fibers to be switched that is fixed to the second optical connecting body that is in contact with the other end face of the optical fiber. an optical switching unit having An optical switch comprising:

2. The rotary motion body is a vane fixed to an end surface of the rotor on the knock rod side, the vane having a tip on the knock rod side that is a flat inclined surface; a cylindrical cam fixed inside the housing, the cam having a sawtooth groove formed in an annular shape on the end surface of the blade, the sawtooth groove having a slope in the same direction as the blade, the cam receiving the blade slope; and an elastic body fixed to the housing and pushing the rotor back toward the cam. having the knock bar reciprocates within the cylindrical interior of the cam, and has an annular groove on an end surface on the side of the blade, the groove having a sawtooth groove shifted by half a pitch at the same period as the sawtooth groove of the cam, the slope of the slope being inclined in the same direction as the slope of the blade, When the optical expansion body is contracted, the inclined surface of the wing is pressed against the inclined surface of the sawtooth groove of the cam by the elastic body, When the optical expansion body expands, the knock rod advances toward the rotor, and the slope of the sawtooth groove of the knock rod is pressed against the slope of the wing, and the pressed slope of the wing slides along the slope of the sawtooth tooth of the knock rod, thereby rotating the rotor, When the optical expansion body changes from expansion to contraction, the knock bar retracts from the rotor, the rotor pushed back by the elastic body moves toward the cam, the slope of the wing is pressed against the slope of the sawtooth groove of the cam, and the pressed slope of the wing slides along the slope of the sawtooth tooth of the cam, causing the rotor to rotate.

2. The optical switch according to claim 1 .

3. 3. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the optical expansion body is made of a black material or a material containing air bubbles therein.

4. the connection rotor has a connection optical path that connects a center of rotation of one end face perpendicular to the axis and a connection point that is arranged on a circumference having a radius of a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the other end face perpendicular to the axis, the first optical connection body is in contact with one end surface of the connection rotating body, and the one optical fiber to be switched is fixed at a position facing the center of rotation of the connection rotating body; the second optical connection body is in contact with the other end surface of the connection rotating body, and the optical fibers of the switching target optical fiber group are fixed on a circumference having a radius of a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the connection rotating body, When the connection rotating body rotates, the connection optical path switches between the one optical fiber to be switched of the first optical connection body and one optical fiber in the group of optical fibers to be switched of the second optical connection body.

4. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

5. the connecting rotator further includes a plurality of monitoring optical paths connecting one end surface and the other end surface, the monitoring optical paths having different connection / disconnection patterns depending on an angle of rotation; the second optical connection body further includes a plurality of monitoring transmission optical fibers fixed thereto for transmitting monitoring light from the other end face of the connection rotating body toward the monitoring optical path; the first optical connection body further includes a plurality of monitoring reception optical fibers fixed thereto for receiving monitoring light from the monitoring optical path toward one end face of the connection rotating body; The rotation of the connection rotor changes a unique pattern of connection and interruption of the light from the plurality of monitoring transmission optical fibers to the plurality of monitoring reception optical fibers.

5. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

6. the connecting rotor further has a reflector on one end surface, the reflecting / blocking pattern of which varies depending on the angle of rotation; the second optical connection body further includes a plurality of monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers fixed thereto, the monitoring optical fibers transmitting monitoring light from the other end face of the connection rotating body toward the reflector and receiving the monitoring light reflected from the reflector toward the other end face of the connection rotating body; The rotation of the connecting rotor causes a unique change in the reflection / non-reflection pattern of light in each of the plurality of monitoring transmitting / receiving optical fibers.

5. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

7. An optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6; a control device including a driving light source that supplies light for causing the optical expansion body to expand and a control unit that instructs the driving light source to emit or block light; An optical switch system comprising:

8. An optical switch according to claim 5 or 6; a driving light source that supplies light that causes the optical expansion body to expand; a monitoring light source for transmitting monitoring light toward the optical switching unit; a monitoring optical receiver for receiving monitoring light from the optical switching unit; a control unit that instructs the driving light source to irradiate or cut off, instructs the monitoring light source to supply or cut off, and monitors which optical fiber of the switching target optical fiber group is connected or cut off with the signal from the monitoring optical receiver; a control device having An optical switch system comprising:

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