Fiber Switches – Description

Piezoelectric driven switches are especially designed for high switching speeds in the millisecond range. Piezoelectric actuators enable the optical switch to couple optical fibers with an accuracy of few micro.

The high accuracy positioning of the actuators guarantees a light transmission of >80%, with a typical switching time of <1 ms. Other fiber switches with optical components such as lenses or prisms will always result in a wavelength dependent limitation.

The small size of the switching box and the easy control make these fiber optic switches ideally suited for use as components of spectrometers or other metrology devices. Switches with many more output channels can be easily achieved by cascading fiber switch modules.

Fiber switches are now also available in special humidity resistant models. By applying a silicon coating to internal components, these unique fiber switches are shielded from high levels of moisture in the air. This greatly increases their ability to withstand relative humidity up to 98% before failure. These special humidity resistant fiber switches are ideal for humid industrial environments, and applications involving operation in non-climate-controlled spaces. This functionality is available in all fiber switch configurations, will not increase lead time, and adds minimal cost.