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:
Feb. 08, 2005
Filed:
May. 11, 2001
Noel Heiks, Blacksburg, VA (US);
David W. Sherrer, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Noel Heiks, Blacksburg, VA (US);
David W. Sherrer, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Shipley Company, L.L.C., Marlborough, MA (US);
Abstract
An assembly and a method for accurately aligning optical fibers in an optical switch are described. An optical switch assembly is described having a pair of optical arrays mounted on a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus may include a base structure with either integral rails or affixed fibers. Alternatively, the mounting apparatus may include a base structure with grooves and a plurality of spheres in the grooves. An alternative arrangement includes a base structure with some grooves extending transverse to other grooves and mounting structures in each groove. One of the optical arrays is rendered immobile while the other array is freely movable on the mounting apparatus. Switching is provided by moving the movable fiber array relative to the fixed fiber array.