Methods and apparatus for constructing large wavelength selective switches using parallelism
First Claim
1. An optical network node, comprising:
- at least two multi-degree reconfigurable optical add/drop modules (ROADMs), each ROADM including a wavelength-selective switch (WSS), the WSS including multiple parallel non-cascaded sub-WSSs; and
intra-network node paths configured to interconnect the at least two ROADMs to enable a given ROADM to direct optical signals received at the given ROADM to any other interconnected ROADM.
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Abstract
Optical networks are increasingly employing optical network nodes having multiple interfaces to allow a node to direct optical signals received at any interface to any other interface connected to the node. Constructing a larger wavelength selective switching (WSS) module used in such a node can be complex and expensive. A method an apparatus for constructing a large WSS using parallelism is provided. In example embodiments, a larger WSS may include multiple parallel non-cascaded smaller WSSs and an optical coupler configured to optically couple the multiple parallel, non-cascaded smaller WSSs. This technique may be used to construct both N×1 and 1×N WSSs. Because the technique employs multiple parallel, non-cascaded WSSs, all inputs of a larger N×1 WSS and all outputs of a larger 1×N WSS are available receive or transmit external signals rather than being rather than being unavailable due to, for example, cascading smaller WSS devices together.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical network node, comprising:
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at least two multi-degree reconfigurable optical add/drop modules (ROADMs), each ROADM including a wavelength-selective switch (WSS), the WSS including multiple parallel non-cascaded sub-WSSs; and intra-network node paths configured to interconnect the at least two ROADMs to enable a given ROADM to direct optical signals received at the given ROADM to any other interconnected ROADM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for processing optical signals in an optical network node having at least two multi-degree reconfigurable optical add/drop modules (ROADMs), the method comprising:
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performing parallel non-cascaded wavelength selective switching of optical signals having multiple wavelengths; directing wavelengths in a selective manner from a first ROADM to a second ROADM in the optical network node via the intra-network node network paths and to other optical network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A reconfigurable optical add/drop module (ROADM), comprising:
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at least two multi-degree wavelength filtering devices, each filtering device including; a light distributor configured to receive a first optical signal along a subtending input and to distribute the optical signal received along a plurality of subtending outputs; and a light combiner configured to receive second optical signals along a plurality of subtending inputs, to combine the second optical signals received into a combined signal, and to output the combined signal; and a parallel non-cascaded wavelength selective switch (WSS) coupled to at least one of the multi-degree wavelength filtering devices. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification