Patent ID: 6961486
Filing Date: 2005-11-01
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A non-blocking mechanical fiberoptic matrix switch, comprising: N input optical fibers; M output optical fibers; a first plurality of stages each supporting a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of the N optical fibers; a second plurality of stages each supporting a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of the M optical fibers; means for translating the stages along a plurality of orthogonal X and Y axes to align a facet of a selected one of the N input optical fibers with a facet of a selected one of the M output optical fibers; a central panel having a plurality of holes, each hole being sized for having the ferrule surrounding a selected one of the N input optical fibers inserted into a first end of a selected hole in order to mate the facet of the selected one of the N input optical fibers with the facet of the selected one of the M output optical fibers having the ferrule surrounding its end portion inserted into a second end of the selected hole; and means for moving the ferrules relative to the stages along a plurality of Z axes generally perpendicular to the X and Y axes to mate and un-mate the facets of the selected input and output optical fibers.