Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer and Optical Network Element
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer comprising:
- an optical signal input arranged to receive optical signals at a first plurality, K, of different wavelengths;
an optical signal output arranged to output optical signals for transmission;
a second plurality, M, of optical drop outputs each arranged to output a said optical signal to be dropped;
a said second plurality of optical add inputs each arranged to receive an optical signal to be added;
a demultiplexer coupled to the optical signal input and comprising an output for each of said first plurality of different wavelengths;
a cross-connect element comprising a said first plurality of cross-connect outputs, a by-pass output, and a third plurality of optical switches connected together as a first switch array, each said optical switch being arranged to receive a respective first control signal arranged to cause the first switch array to connect a selected one of the demultiplexer outputs to a selected one of the cross-connect outputs and the by-pass output;
a drop element comprising a fourth plurality of optical switches connected together as a second switch array, each said optical switch being arranged to receive a respective second control signal arranged to cause the second switch array to connect a selected one of the cross-connect outputs to a selected one of the drop outputs; and
an add element comprising a fifth plurality of optical switches connected together as a third switch array, each said optical switch being arranged to receive a respective third control signal arranged to cause the third switch array to connect a selected one of the by-pass output and the optical add inputs to the optical signal output,wherein each optical switch comprises a first input, a second input, a first output and a second output and each optical switch is arranged to deliver a first optical signal received at the first input to the first output and each control signal is arranged to cause the respective optical switch to route a second optical signal received at the second input to a selected one of the first output and the second output.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (10) comprising an input (20), an output (22), drop outputs (30), add inputs (22), a demultiplexer (18), a cross-connect element (12), a drop element (34) and an add element (26). The cross-connect element (12) comprises cross-connect outputs (36), a by-pass output (38), and optical switches (14) connected together as a first switch array. The drop element (34) comprises optical switches (14) connected together as a second switch array. The add element (26) comprises optical switches (14) connected together as a third switch array. Each optical switch (14) comprises a first input (13), a second input (15), a first output (17) and a second output (19). Each optical switch is arranged to deliver a first optical signal received at the first input to the first output. Each optical switch (14) is arranged to receive a respective control signal arranged to cause the optical switch to route a second optical signal received at its second input to a selected one of its first output and its second output.
5 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer comprising:
-
an optical signal input arranged to receive optical signals at a first plurality, K, of different wavelengths; an optical signal output arranged to output optical signals for transmission; a second plurality, M, of optical drop outputs each arranged to output a said optical signal to be dropped; a said second plurality of optical add inputs each arranged to receive an optical signal to be added; a demultiplexer coupled to the optical signal input and comprising an output for each of said first plurality of different wavelengths; a cross-connect element comprising a said first plurality of cross-connect outputs, a by-pass output, and a third plurality of optical switches connected together as a first switch array, each said optical switch being arranged to receive a respective first control signal arranged to cause the first switch array to connect a selected one of the demultiplexer outputs to a selected one of the cross-connect outputs and the by-pass output; a drop element comprising a fourth plurality of optical switches connected together as a second switch array, each said optical switch being arranged to receive a respective second control signal arranged to cause the second switch array to connect a selected one of the cross-connect outputs to a selected one of the drop outputs; and an add element comprising a fifth plurality of optical switches connected together as a third switch array, each said optical switch being arranged to receive a respective third control signal arranged to cause the third switch array to connect a selected one of the by-pass output and the optical add inputs to the optical signal output, wherein each optical switch comprises a first input, a second input, a first output and a second output and each optical switch is arranged to deliver a first optical signal received at the first input to the first output and each control signal is arranged to cause the respective optical switch to route a second optical signal received at the second input to a selected one of the first output and the second output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An optical network element comprising:
-
an input arranged to receive optical signals at a first plurality, K, of different wavelengths; an output arranged to output optical signals for transmission; a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer; and a controller arranged control a configuration of each switch array of the reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer, the controller being arranged to; select a first path across the first switch array to connect a selected one of the demultiplexer outputs to a selected one of the cross-connect outputs and the by-pass output; select a second path across the second switch array to connect a selected one of the cross-connect outputs to a selected one of the drop outputs; select a third path across the third switch array to connect a selected one of the by-pass output and the optical add inputs to the optical signal output; generate and transmit a respective first control signal for each optical switch of the first path required to route a said second optical signal received at its second input to its first output; generate and transmit a respective second control signal for each optical switch of the second path required to route a said second optical signal received at its second input to its first output; and generate and transmit a respective third control signal for each optical switch of the third path required to route a said second optical signal received at its second input to its first output. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
Specification