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:
Jun. 06, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 06, 1991
Robert A Eno, Plymouth, MN (US);
ADC Telecommunications, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
An optical switch is disclosed for a system including signals carried over a plurality of optical fibers. The switch comprises a first and second plurality of optical fibers with each of the fibers terminating at a terminal end. A first switch body is provided for holding fibers of the first plurality in a closely packed array with terminal ends disposed circumferentially about a common first axis. A second switch body is provided for holding fibers of the second plurality in a second array. The first and second arrays are selected for at least a portion of terminal ends of the fibers of the first plurality to be optically coupled with terminal ends of at least one of the fibers of the second plurality when the first array is angularly displaced about the first axis in any one of a plurality of angularly displaced positions. The arrays are further selected for at least one of the fibers of the first array to be optically coupled with different fibers of the second array when the first array is disposed in any one of at least two of the angularly displaced positions. An alignment mechanism is provided for aligning the first array with the second array and with the first array moveable to any of the plurality of angularly displaced positions.