Two-dimensional optoelectronic tune-switch
First Claim
1. A communications switch comprising:
- a first two-dimensional array of lasers repeating signals from an array of n horizontal rows by m vertical columns of input electrical signals;
a first two-dimensional array of n horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of photodetectors receiving light from said first lasers;
first controllable means for spatially directing said light from each member of each horizontal row of said first array of lasers onto a member of the corresponding horizontal row of said first array of photodetectors, said light being switched only horizontally between columns in same rows;
a second two-dimensional array of n horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of lasers repeating signals from said first photodetectors;
a second two-dimensional array of n'"'"' horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of photodetectors receiving light from said second lasers;
second controllable means for spatially directing said light from each member of each vertical column of said second array of lasers onto a member of the corresponding vertical column of said second array of photodetectors, said light being switched only vertically between rows in same columns;
a third two-dimensional array of n'"'"' horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of lasers repeating signals from said second photodetectors;
a third two-dimensional array of n'"'"' horizontal rows by m" vertical columns of photodetectors receiving light from said third lasers and generating output electrical signals;
third controllable means for spatially directing said light from each member of each horizontal row of said third array of lasers onto a member of each corresponding horizontal row of said third array of photodetectors, said light being switched only horizontally between columns in same rows; and
switch control means connected to said first, second and third controllable means for establishing a switching path through said switch connecting said input signals to selected ones of said third array of photodetectors, whereby n by m input signals can be switched to n'"'"' by m" output signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications switch for switching telecommunications signals from input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical fibers to output WDM optical fibers is disclosed. A two-dimensional optoelectronic switch is also described which uses tunable lasers and optical diffractive elements to switch a matrix of input/output gigabaud channels without blocking. As the channels proceed through the switch they are spatially switched among one another first within rows, then within columns, and then again within rows in the matrix. The two-dimensional optoelectronic tune-switch (2DOTS) can realize the functionality of the nonblocking three-stage Clos switch for input/output ports carrying several gigabit/s data streams.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A communications switch comprising:
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a first two-dimensional array of lasers repeating signals from an array of n horizontal rows by m vertical columns of input electrical signals; a first two-dimensional array of n horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of photodetectors receiving light from said first lasers; first controllable means for spatially directing said light from each member of each horizontal row of said first array of lasers onto a member of the corresponding horizontal row of said first array of photodetectors, said light being switched only horizontally between columns in same rows; a second two-dimensional array of n horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of lasers repeating signals from said first photodetectors; a second two-dimensional array of n'"'"' horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of photodetectors receiving light from said second lasers; second controllable means for spatially directing said light from each member of each vertical column of said second array of lasers onto a member of the corresponding vertical column of said second array of photodetectors, said light being switched only vertically between rows in same columns; a third two-dimensional array of n'"'"' horizontal rows by m'"'"' vertical columns of lasers repeating signals from said second photodetectors; a third two-dimensional array of n'"'"' horizontal rows by m" vertical columns of photodetectors receiving light from said third lasers and generating output electrical signals; third controllable means for spatially directing said light from each member of each horizontal row of said third array of lasers onto a member of each corresponding horizontal row of said third array of photodetectors, said light being switched only horizontally between columns in same rows; and switch control means connected to said first, second and third controllable means for establishing a switching path through said switch connecting said input signals to selected ones of said third array of photodetectors, whereby n by m input signals can be switched to n'"'"' by m" output signals. - 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 communications switch for switching telecommunications signals from input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical fibers to output WDM optical fibers, the switch comprising:
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an input array of n horizontal rows by m vertical columns of photodetectors generating switch input electrical signals; an input wavelength sensitive directing means for directing light from an n- dimensioned linear array of input multi-wavelength optical fibers each carrying m channels to said input array of photodetectors; switching means for controllably switching said input signals to selected ones of an array of o horizontal rows by p vertical columns of electrical outputs; an output array of o horizontal rows by p vertical columns of lasers each repeating one of said electrical outputs, said lasers comprising rows of o lasers each operating at one of p different optical frequencies; and an output wavelength sensitive directing means for directing light from said output array of lasers to an o- dimensioned linear array of output multi-wavelength optical fibers each carrying p channels, whereby any WDM communications signal on any input fiber can be switched to any optical frequency channel on any output fiber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification