Patent ID: 6870984
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical switching device of m×n type, comprising: an air-tight housing; a plurality of mechanical optical switching structures installed in the housing; a refractive index matching oil filled up in the housing to immerse the plurality of mechanical optical switching structures; and each of the mechanical optical switching structures comprising one to eight fixed optical fibers having open ends, one to four movable optical fibers having open ends movable relatively to the open ends of the fixed optical fibers and an electromagnetic actuator which reciprocates the open ends of the movable optical fibers relatively to the open ends of the fixed optical fibers to connect/disconnect optical paths; wherein ends opposite to the open ends of the movable optical fibers and the fixed optical fibers are drawn out though ports located on the housing to constitute “m” input and “n” output paths; and wherein the plurality of the mechanical optical switching structures are arranged in parallel to each other in the housing and each of the mechanical optical switching structures is in antiparallel to a neighboring mechanical optical switching structure.