Patent ID: 8385694

Claim:
An automated optical switch comprising: a mating plate made of thermally stable material having a plurality of circular precision alignment holes formed therethrough sized and configured for receiving and aligning mating optical fibers free of connector housings; a connecting element moveable relative to the mating plate for switching an optical fiber between the plurality of precision alignment holes in the line of movement of the connecting element; a guiding element moveable with the connecting element for guiding the optical fiber secured within the connecting element; and search pins of the connecting and guiding elements configured to locate in neighboring ones of the precision alignment holes in use for connecting optical fibers; wherein the optical fiber of the connecting element passes through the connecting element, makes a clockwise loop through a pathway in the guiding element, reenters the connecting element through a curved slit, and terminates for being received within only one of the plurality of precision alignment holes at a time.