Patent ID: 6296397
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An apparatus for making connections between a first plurality of optical channels and a second plurality of optical channels, comprising:a. at least one fiber channel rotator, comprising:i. a rotatable member, having a peripheral edge, disposed along a rotational plane and being rotatable about an axis;ii. a first optical connector that is optically coupled to a first optical channel, the first optical connector in sliding engagement with the rotatable member adjacent to the peripheral edge; andiii. a rotational driver coupled to the rotatable member so as to selectively cause the rotatable member to rotate about the axis and thereby direct the first optical connector to a selected angular position;b. at least one tower, comprising:i. a track, disposed adjacent to the rotatable member and transverse to the rotational plane of the rotatable member;ii. a second optical connector, complementary to the first optical connector, that is optically coupled to a second optical channel and that is slidably engaged with the track so as to be able to move along the track; andiii. a linear driver that drives the second optical connector along the track so as to cause the second optical connector to be moved to a selected linear position along the track;c. a controller, in control communication with the rotational driver and the linear driver, that causes the rotational driver to rotate the first optical connector to the selected angular position and that causes the linear driver to move the second optical connector to the selected linear position, so that the first optical connector is adjacent the second optical connector; andd. an actuator that selectively causes the first optical connector and the second optical connector to engage, so that the first optical channel becomes optically coupled to the second optical channel.