Patent ID: 6671428
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical cross switch device for selectively switching light beams between a plurality of fiber optic elements, comprising:an input fiber mounting assembly for securing at least one input fiber terminating in a fiber end for radiating an associated input light beam; collimating means for collimating said at least one input light beam; an output fiber mounting assembly for securing at least one output fiber terminating in an output fiber end for receiving an associated light beam; focusing means for focusing said collimated input light beams onto associated ones of the output fiber ends, said focusing means including focusing optics and an auto-focusing and tracking mechanism, said focusing optics being responsive to a servo signal and operative to move in response to said servo signal to focus said collimated input light beams onto said associated fiber ends, said mechanism being responsive to optical beams reflected from said output fiber ends and operative to generate said servo signal; and at least one mirror unit having at least one reflective element for selectively redirecting an associated one of the collimated input light beams toward an associated selected one of said output fiber ends via said focusing means.