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:
Dec. 28, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 27, 2001
Nobuhiro Ueno, Oyama, JP;
Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
To provide a mechanical optical switch including a movable optical fiber which can be elastically deformed and a fixed optical fiber, open ends of the movable optical fiber and the fixed optical fiber facing each other via an optical gap, which switches an optical path by moving the open end of the movable optical fiber relatively to the open end of the fixed optical fiber with an electromagnetic actuator. The fixed optical fiber is held by a fixed holder at a point close to its open end. The movable optical fiber is supported by another fixed holder at a point distant from its open end, and a movable holder holding the movable optical fiber at a point close to its open end reciprocates relatively to the fixed holder holding the fixed optical fiber. An electromagnetic actuator is located in an area on the movable optical fiber side from the open end of the movable optical fiber. Preferably, it is provided between the open end of the movable optical fiber and the latter fixed holder. Thus, downsizing of the optical switch can be realized.