Patent ID: 6266461
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber switch member comprising:an alignment member main body having a plurality of first and second V-shaped grooves, said first and second grooves being arranged opposing each other to form pairs of said grooves extending parallel to a Z-direction and aligned in a Y-direction substantially perpendicular to said Z-direction, said main body having a slit traversing said V-shaped grooves in an X-direction substantially perpendicular to said Z and Y directions;a 2N number of fixed optical fibers, including N first fixed optical fibers and N second fixed optical fibers, located in said alignment member main body on a first side of said slit, where N is a number equal to or greater than one, said first fixed optical fibers being positioned in said first grooves and said second fixed optical fibers being positioned in said second pairs of grooves, one first fixed optical fiber and one second fixed optical fiber being positioned in each of said first and second opposing grooves, respectively;an N number of movable optical fibers located in said alignment member main body on a second side of said slit opposite the first side thereof, one of said movable optical fibers being positioned in each pair of first and second opposing grooves so that a distal end thereof is adjacent a fixed optical fiber and in contact with one of said first and second grooves;a resilient pin; anda movable drive member inserted in said slit for engaging said movable optical fibers, said drive member being driven by said resilient pin to move said movable optical fibers to a first position for optical coupling to said first fixed optical fibers and contacting said first grooves, and to a second position for optical coupling to said second fixed optical fibers and contacting said second grooves, said optical fiber switch member comprising N 1.times.2 optical fiber switches.