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Optical switch and optical crossconnect apparatus

  • US 7,877,011 B2
  • Filed: 11/29/2007
  • Issued: 01/25/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A path switching apparatus of optical signals using optical circulators for outputting the optical signals inputted from a first port to a second port, from said second port to a third port, and from said third port to said first port, respectively, comprising:

  • 2k first optical switches each of which has a fourth port, a fifth port, and a sixth port and can set a path of the optical signal between said fourth port and an arbitrary one of said fifth port and said sixth port;

    a second optical switch and a third optical switch each of which has k seventh ports and k eighth ports and arbitrarily connects said seventh port and said eighth port in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner;

    a fourth optical switch which has a ninth port having k ports and a tenth port having k ports and arbitrarily connects said ninth port and said tenth port in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner;

    k first optical circulators in each of which said second port is connected to the seventh port of said second optical switch in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner and said third port is connected to the eighth port of said second optical switch in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner;

    k second optical circulators in each of which said second port is connected to the seventh port of said third optical switch in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner and said third port is connected to the eighth port of said third optical switch in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner,wherein with respect to k of said first optical switches, said fifth port and a first port of said first optical circulator are connected in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner and said sixth port is connected to one of said ninth ports of said fourth optical switch in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner, andwith respect to remaining k of said first optical switches, said fifth port and a first port of said second optical circulator are connected in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner and said sixth port is connected to one of said tenth ports of said fourth optical switch in a one-to-one corresponding relational manner.

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