Patent ID: 6108467
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch wherein a plurality of fiber accommodating grooves are formed so as to be aligned parallel to one another on a surface of a grooved board and stationary side optical fibers are inserted in the fiber accommodating grooves partway with their end surfaces trued up to form a fiber array unit, wherein directly above a fiber accommodating groove line formed surface where said stationary side optical fibers are not accommodated, one or more master fibers are disposed in a direction for their connection end surfaces to be opposed to the end surfaces of the stationary side optical fibers, and are secured to a master fiber supporter, wherein the master fiber supporter is linked to fiber movement control means for controlling movement of the master fibers only in a direction in which the fiber accommodating grooves are aligned, wherein the master fiber supporter has a fiber pushing member for, when the master fibers are moved to positions above the fiber accommodating grooves accommodating the stationary side optical fibers to be connected to the master fibers, pushing end sides of the master fibers into the grooves and holding them to thereby perform optical connection between the master fibers and the stationary side optical fibers to be connected to the master fibers, and wherein a plurality of stages of switch mechanisms are provided which comprise a pair of the fiber array unit on a stationary side and the master fibers on a moving side.