Method of aligning opposing optical transmission paths in a mechanical

Abstract

A mechanical optical switch having opposing first and second optical transmission paths, such as optical fibers, forming an optical interface and rotating about respective independent and offset first and second rotational axes for positioning the fibers on respective first and second offset and intersecting closed curves operates to rotate the input or first optical fiber on its closed curve to one of the two intersecting points on its closed curve in response to the angular coordinate representative of the position of fiber at the intersecting point matching the intersecting point of the second optical fiber. The output or second optical fiber is rotated on its closed curve to the intersecting point corresponding to the intersecting point of the first fiber in response to the angular coordinate representative of the position of the second fiber at the intersecting point. These rotational movements may be performed sequentially, but in the preferred embodiment they are performed simultaneously. Since the offset closed curves intersect at two unique points, the speed of the switch may be increased by selecting the intersecting points closest to the input and output fibers prior to rotating the fibers. A plurality of optical fibers can rotate about one or both of the independent and offset rotational axes for establishing intersecting points on their respective closed curves.