Optical crossconnect apparatus and optical transmission system

• US 20050025481A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hirohira Sano, Masahiro Takatori, Shigeki Kitajima, Shoichi Hanatani, Tatsuo Kanetake, Yasuyuki Fukashiro, Yukio Hayashi
• Original Assignee: Hirohira Sano, Masahiro Takatori, Shigeki Kitajima, Shoichi Hanatani, Tatsuo Kanetake, Yasuyuki Fukashiro, Yukio Hayashi
• Inventors: Hayashi, Yukio, Fukashiro, Yasuyuki, Kanetake, Tatsuo, Kitajima, Shigeki, Sano, Hirohira, Takatori, Masahiro, Hanatani, Shoichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/032 using working and protection systems H04J14/0287 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0001 using optical switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0062 Network aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0024 using space switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0043 Fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0058 Crossbar; Matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0081 Fault tolerance; Redundancy; Recovery; Reconfigurability

Abstract

An optical crossconnect apparatus which includes one terminal connected to a transmission path from one optical transmission terminal station and another terminal connected to a transmission path from another optical transmission terminal station, a first optical signal switch having “M1” ports and “N1” ports, through which the optical signal can pass, a second optical signal switch having “M2” ports and “N2” ports, through which the optical signal can pass, and “L” optical signal repeaters, one end connected to the “N1” ports of the first optical signal switch, and the other end connected to the “N2” ports of the second optical switch. The “N1” and the “N2” ports are equal to “L” optical signal repeaters. The “M1” ports of the first optical signal switch connected to the one terminal, and the “M2” ports of the second optical signal switch connected to the other terminal are larger than, or equal to 2.

Claims

1. An optical crossconnect apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of optical signal input units receiving an optical signal from an optical transmission path;

a plurality of optical signal output units transmitting the optical signal to said transmission path;

a first optical signal repeater applying a predetermined signal processing to the optical signal to be transmitted therefrom; and

an optical signal switching unit which includes;

a plurality of input ports, each of which receives the optical signal from one of said plurality of optical signal input units,

a second input port receiving the optical signal from said first optical signal repeater,

a plurality of first output ports, each of which outputs the optical signal to one of said plurality of optical output units, and

a second output port outputting the optical signal to said first optical signal repeater,

wherein said optical signal switching unit connects said first input port to one of said plurality of first output ports or said second output port, and connects said second input port to one of said plurality of first output ports.

2. The optical crossconnect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second optical signal repeater,

wherein said optical signal switching unit further includes;

a third input port receiving the optical signal from said second optical signal repeater, and

a third output port outputting the optical signal to said second optical signal repeater,

wherein said optical signal switching unit connects said first input port to one of said plurality of first output ports or said second output port or said third output port, and connects said second input port and third input port to one of said plurality of first output ports.

3. The optical crossconnect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit which commands said optical signal switching unit to connect said first input port, to be connected to said second output port, to said third output port and connect said first output port, to be connected to said second input port, to said third input port, when said first optical signal repeater fails to operate.

4. The optical crossconnect apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical signal repeater includes an optical amplifier and/or regenerative repeater.