The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 23, 1991
Carl F Buhrer, Framingham, MA (US);
GTE Laboratores Incorporated, Waltham, MA (US);
Abstract
A multiple port electromechanical optical fiber switch provides for the exchange redirection of one common optical path with one of several other optical paths through the switch. It is particularly useful when one standby laser transmitter must be quickly substituted for any single failed transmitter among a group of several actively operating transmitters. A single prism for exchanging the optical paths of two initially parallel beams by means of four refractions at their entry and exit points and at least two internal reflections per beam within the prism is set forth in modified rhombic form with two additional parallel facets that transmit undeflected in the deactivated position one of two beams so as to minimize required shift distance to the prism activated position where it exchanges the optical paths of both parallel beams.