The Fiber Optical Switch can be a mechanical, opto-mechanical, or electronic device that opens or closes an optical circuit.The switch can be used for complete or break an optical path.Passive fiber optic switches will route an optical signal without electro-optical or optometrists conversion.However, a passive optical switch can use an electromechanical device to physically position the switch.An optical switch can get one or more input ports and two or more output ports.
As with any other type of switch, the optical switch has many uses, being dependent on the complexity of the design.In essence, the switch is the control for making, breaking, or modifying the connections within an optical circuit.This definition can be extended to incorporate the concept of the switch as the control that interconnects or transfers connections from one optical circuit to another.
It is important to note of the basic switch parameters for an optical switch.Some of the performance parameters to consider are the number of input and output ports(required size of the switch) ,optical fiber type,connector type,center wavelength,bandwidth,losses,crosstalk,switching speed ,durability (number of switching cycles),power handing ,and repeatability (the amount of change in output power each time the switch changes stage).
An Opto-mechanical Switch redirects an optical signal by moving Bulk Fiber Optic Cable elements by means of mechanical devices.These types of switches are normally stepper motor driven.The stepper will move a mirror that guides the light from the input to the desired output.Although photomechanical switches are inherently slow due to the actual physical movement of the optical elements, their reliability, moderate insertion losses, and minimal crosstalk make them a widely deployed type of switch.
The opto-mechanical switch works on the premise that the input and output light beams are collated and “matched” within the switching device–the beams are moved within the device to make sure the switched connection from the input to the output.The optomechanical switch can be physically larger than alternative switches.But many micromechanical fiber-optic switches are available.
