A novel revolving multi-channel electro-mechanical optical switch

In this paper, we described a kind of structures and the principle about a multi-channel optical switch. we designed a novel revolving single mode optical switch, which based on electronically controlled fiber collimators directing the light to desired output fibers, and the movement of fiber collimator is implemented by the rotation of stepping micro-electromotor. The main parts of the optical switch are two cylinders being carrier of fiber collimators, one of which can revolve driven by stepping micro-electromotor which is controlled by micro-computer. With flexibility of structure,it is easy to design the series of 1 X N optical switches. Furthermore, by using two or more revolving axes, we can design reasonably the position of the optical collimators, and get no-blocking 2 X 2 or 4 X 4 optical switch matrix. We fabricated a 1 X 8 single 1 mode optical switch, and the experiment results indicate that the technical performance of the optical switch can satisfy requires for changing light channel.