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:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
May. 28, 1998
Chin L Chang, Walnut, CA (US);
Chao Yung Yeh, Rosemead, CA (US);
Michel K Smith, Cerritos, CA (US);
Keyth M Smith, Mission Hills, CA (US);
Ricardo A Rosette, Oxnard, CA (US);
Robert Straede, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Lightwave Link, Burbank, CA (US);
Abstract
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.