Optical communications systems, devices, and methods

• US 6,922,529 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optic153 LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Corvita Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bortz, Michael L., Brown, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SEDIGHIAN, REZA
• Application Number:
  US10/216,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20040028406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 398 2- 5, 398/12, 398/13, 398/19, 398/20, 398/49, 398/82, 398/85, 398/87, 398/6, 398/25, 398/33
• US Class Current: 398/5
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2932 comprising a directional router, e.g. directional coupler, circulator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0015 using splitting combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0024 using space switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0026 using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/003 using switches based on microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0035 using miscellaneous components, e.g. circulator, polarisation, acousto/thermo optical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0039 Electrical control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0043 Fault tolerance

Abstract

Devices, such as node and network elements for use in communications systems, which include a plurality of ports, each having an input and an output, a plurality of splitters corresponding to the port inputs, a plurality of combiners corresponding to the port outputs, a plurality of signal paths between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the signal paths includes a signal varying device, and a plurality of protection devices connected between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the plurality of protection devices includes a signal varying device and provides a protection path corresponding to a plurality of the signal paths, and wherein at least one splitter has at least one unused output after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected, and wherein at least one combiner has at least one unused input after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected.

Claims

1. An all-optical device for use in a communications system, comprising:

a plurality of ports, each having an input and an output;

a plurality of splitters corresponding to the port inputs;

a plurality of combiners corresponding to the port outputs;

a plurality of signal paths between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the signal paths includes a signal varying device; and

a plurality of protection devices connected between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the plurality of protection devices includes a signal varying device and provides a protection path corresponding to a plurality of the signal paths, and wherein at least one splitter has at least one unused output after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected, and wherein at least one combiner has at least one unused input after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the protection device includes at least one unused connection after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes at least three ports.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the signal paths from each of the splitters are connected to less than all of the combiners.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the signal paths from each of the splitters are connected to each of the combiners.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the splitters is connected to a plurality of protection devices.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of protection devices connected to each of the splitters forms part of a protection path for at least one corresponding signal path, and wherein each of the signal paths has a corresponding protection path connected to only one protection device at each port output.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the splitters include multiple splitter stages.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the combiners include multiple combiner stages.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the device includes loop back functionality.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the protection devices includes a plurality of inputs connected to a plurality of the splitters, and an output connected to a corresponding one of the combiners.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the inputs of the protection devices are connected to less than all of the splitters.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the inputs of each of the protection devices are connected to each of the splitters.

14. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the protection devices includes an input connected to a corresponding one of the splitters, and includes a plurality of outputs connected to the combiners.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein a signal path to a port output has a plurality of corresponding protection paths to a same port output.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of corresponding protection paths includes a separate protection device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the splitters include a first stage splitter having an input and a plurality of outputs, and a second stage splitter having an input connected to one of the outputs of the first stage splitters, and having a plurality of outputs.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the combiners include a first stage combiner having a plurality of inputs and an output, and a second stage combiner having a plurality of inputs, one of which being connected to the output of the first stage combiner, and having an output.

19. An all-optical device for use in a communications system, comprising:

a plurality of ports, each having an input and an output;

a plurality of splitters corresponding to the port inputs, wherein the splitters include a first stage and a second stage;

a plurality of combiners corresponding to the port outputs, wherein the combiners include a first stage and a second stage;

a plurality of signal paths between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the signal paths includes a signal varying device;

a plurality of protection devices connected between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the plurality of protection devices provides a protection path for a plurality of the signal paths;

a plurality of optical receivers connected to outputs of the first stage splitters; and

a plurality of optical transmitters connected to inputs of the second stage combiners.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the optical receivers receive split optical signals and produce electrical signals corresponding to optical signals which are dropped at the device.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the optical transmitters receive electrical signals and produce corresponding optical signals which are added at the device.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the signal varying devices selectively block optical signals to allow for wavelength reuse.