An optical switch is a device with one or more selectable transmission windows for inter-conversion or logical operation of optical signals in an optical transmission line or integrated optical circuit.

Mechanical 1x1, 1x2 and 2x2 optical switches are optical switches that use mechanical means to switch between input light and output light for channel selection, and are characterized by low insertion loss; high isolation; unaffected by polarization and wavelength; long switching time (ms) and poor repeatability.

The main application areas of optical switches are

1）Optical network protection and switching

2）Optical network monitoring

3）OADM

4）Testing of optical devices

Optical network protection and switching: Optical switches are usually used for network fault recovery. When a fiber break or other transmission failure occurs, optical switches are used to enable detour routing of signals from the primary route to the backup route. This protection usually requires only the simplest 1X2 optical switch.

Optical network monitoring: Multiple fibers are connected to an optical time domain reflectometer via 1xN optical switches at the remote fiber test point, and monitoring of all fibers is achieved by optical switch reversal. In addition, the optical switch can also be used to insert a network analyzer in the fiber optic line to achieve online network analysis. This optical switch can also be used for fiber optic device testing.

Applications for OADM and optical cross-connections: Optical up and down multiplexers are mainly used in ring-shaped metro networks to realize single wavelengths and multiple wavelengths freely up and down from the optical path without electrolytic multiplexing or multiplexing processes. OADM implemented with optical switches can be dynamically up and down any wavelength through software control, which greatly increases the flexibility of network configuration.

Testing of optical devices: Multiple optical devices to be tested can be connected via optical fibers, and with 1xN optical switches, the devices can be tested by monitoring the signal of each channel of the optical switch.

Application solutions for 1×1, 1×2 and 2×2 mechanical optical switches

1）1×1 optical switch has the function of making the optical path on and off, and is usually used to block the light transmission in the optical path.

(2) 1×2 optical switch has the function of protection reversal and is usually used for fault recovery of the network. When a fiber break or other transmission failure occurs, the optical switch is used to achieve signal detour routing, switching from the primary route to the backup route.

(3) 2×2 optical switch is the most commonly used one in the optical switch series, which is widely used in FDDI, optical node bypass, loop test sensing system, etc. It can also be used in combination with other types of optical switches to make the switching system more complete and flexible.

Production of optical switches

Share some production pictures of optical switches. All optical switches have to go through all assembly flow and test flow. Ready to ship after pass testing.

HTF can provide optical Switch based on your requirement. Welcome to contact Judy for more information. 

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