Monitoring and control of all-optical cross connect fabrics using multiple laser sources
First Claim
1. A feedback control system for monitoring and controlling optical components in a node of an optical network, comprising:
- an array of external light sources configured to emit light signals; and
a power-sharing coupler connected to the array of light sources for combining the light signals together to create a combined signal and subsequently splitting the combined signal into a plurality of supervisory signals for controlling said optical components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An active control system and method for controlling the position and/or properties of optical components in an optical switch of an optical communications network is provided. The active control system utilizes a power-sharing scheme to provide an array of supervisory signals, which are directed through the switch to monitor and control the optical components. The supervisory signals are produced by combining the light signals emitted by an array of external light sources, and subsequently splitting the combined signal equally to form the supervisory signals.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A feedback control system for monitoring and controlling optical components in a node of an optical network, comprising:
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an array of external light sources configured to emit light signals; and
a power-sharing coupler connected to the array of light sources for combining the light signals together to create a combined signal and subsequently splitting the combined signal into a plurality of supervisory signals for controlling said optical components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of monitoring optical connections in an all-optical switch, comprising:
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providing an array of light sources emitting light signals;
combining said light signals to form a combined signal;
separating said combined signal into a plurality of supervisory signals; and
directing at least one of said supervisory signals from an input port to an output port of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29)
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26. An optical switch, comprising:
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an input port;
an output port;
an optical component for directing a data signal from the input port to the output port;
an array of light sources emitting light signals; and
a power-sharing coupler for combining and splitting the light signals to provide a set of supervisory laser signals, at least one of said supervisory signals being transmitted from the input port to the output port to measure the accuracy of the optical component.
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30. A power-sharing coupler for directing supervisory signals through an optical switch in order to control optical components in the switch, comprising:
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an intake manifold for combining a plurality of input light signals from a plurality of light sources into a combined signal; and
a distribution manifold for splitting said combined signal into a plurality of supervisory signals for monitoring the alignment of said optical components.
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31. A feedback control system for monitoring and controlling optical components in a node of an optical network, wherein the node includes a first power-sharing subgroup and a second power-sharing subgroup of optical components, the feedback control system comprising:
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a first array of external light sources configured to emit a first set of light signals; and
a first power-sharing coupler connected to the first array of light sources for combining the first set of light signals together to create a first combined signal and subsequently splitting the first combined signal into a plurality of first supervisory signals for controlling said optical components in said first power-sharing subgroup;
a second array of external light sources configured to emit a first set of light signals; and
a second power-sharing coupler connected to the second array of light sources for combining the second set of light signals together to create a second combined signal and subsequently splitting the second combined signal into a plurality of second supervisory signals for controlling said optical components in said second power-sharing subgroup.
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Specification