Lightwave Link

Robert Straede

Chin L Chang

Michel K Smith

Keyth M Smith

Ricardo A Rosette

Chao Yung Yeh

A fiber optic switching apparatus includes a first fiber alignment head having a V-groove formed therein. A first optical fiber is mounted in the V-groove with an end of the first optical fiber being arranged to be spaced apart from an end of the V-groove. A second fiber alignment head is arranged to be adjacent the first fiber alignment head. The second fiber alignment head includes a switching member arranged to be pivotable between a first position and a second position. A second optical fiber is connected to the switching member with the second optical fiber being arranged to have an end extending into the V-groove such that the ends of the first and second optical fibers are in longitudinal alignment when the switching member is in its first position and being out of alignment when the switching member is in its second position. The second optical fiber preferably is arranged such that when the switching member is in the first position, a portion of the second optical fiber is bent so that elastic forces in the first optical fiber retain it in the first position in the V-groove.

Fiber optic switching apparatus and method

A method for coupling light from an input optical fiber into a selected one of a plurality of output optical fibers includes the steps of forming the input optical fiber to include a length of beam expanded fiber, arranging the plurality of output optical fibers in an array and moving an end of the input optical fiber into alignment with a selected one of the plurality of output optical fibers.

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Woodland Hills, CA, United States of America

Robert Straede