Wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus and wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing method

• US 9,154,254 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sakauchi, Masahiro, Nakamura, Shigeru, Hino, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ismail, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US13/825,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 398/48, 398/79
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0208 Interleaved arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0212 using optical switches or wavelength selective switches [WSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0213 Groups of channels or wave bands arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0284 WDM mesh architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0052 Interconnection of switches

Abstract

In order to connect a path and a transponder with low loss, reduce an apparatus cost, reduce an apparatus size, and improve a reliability of an apparatus, a wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus comprises multiplexing/demultiplexing unit having a multiplexing port through which a wavelength multiplexed light is inputted and outputted and a demultiplexing port in which the wavelength multiplexed light is demultiplexed into the lights included in the wavelength multiplexed light based on the wavelength and through which the light is inputted and outputted and first switch unit which have a first port to which the demultiplexing port is connected and a second port and connect the second port to one of the first ports; and the demultiplexing port is connected to the first port of each of the first switch unit and the first port is connected to the demultiplexing port of each of the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit.

Claims

1. A wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus comprising:

a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit that has a multiplexing port through which a wavelength multiplexed light is inputted and outputted, and a demultiplexing port in which said wavelength multiplexed light is demultiplexed into the lights included said wavelength multiplexed light based on the wavelength and through which the light is inputted and outputted; and

a first switch that has a first port to which said demultiplexing port is connected and a second port and in which said second port is connected to one of said first ports;

wherein said demultiplexing port is connected to said first port of each of said first switch unit and said first port is connected to said demultiplexing port of each of said multiplexing/demultiplexing unit;

wherein said multiplexing/demultiplexing unit comprises;

a first wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing unit that comprises a multiplexing port through which the wavelength multiplexed light is inputted and outputted and a demultiplexing port through which the lights included in said wavelength multiplexed light are inputted and outputted while corresponding to the wavelength; and

a second switch unit that has a third port and a fourth port and in which a connection relationship between said third port and said fourth port can be changed in said second switch unit,

wherein said demultiplexing port is connected to said third port and said fourth port is connected to said first port;

wherein when the number of said multiplexing/demultiplexing unit is N, the total number of the wavelengths used in said multiplexing/demultiplexing unit is M, and a value of log₂ (M/N) is an integer; and

wherein said first switch unit and said second switch unit include a single M×

N optical matrix switch in which N stages of said 2×

2 optical switching element is connected to log₂ (M/N) stages of said 2×

1 optical switching element.

2. A wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus comprising:

a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit that has a multiplexing port through which a wavelength multiplexed light is inputted and outputted, and a demultiplexing port in which said wavelength multiplexed light is demultiplexed into the lights included said wavelength multiplexed light based on the wavelength and through which the light is inputted and outputted; and

a first switch that has a first port to which said demultiplexing port is connected and a second port and in which said second port is connected to one of said first ports;

wherein said demultiplexing port is connected to said first port of each of said first switch unit and said first port is connected to said demultiplexing port of each of said multiplexing/demultiplexing unit;

wherein said multiplexing/demultiplexing unit comprises;

a first wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing unit that comprises a multiplexing port through which the wavelength multiplexed light is inputted and outputted and a demultiplexing port through which the lights included in said wavelength multiplexed light are inputted and outputted while corresponding to the wavelength; and

a second switch unit that has a third port and a fourth port and in which a connection relationship between said third port and said fourth port can be changed in said second switch unit,

wherein said demultiplexing port is connected to said third port and said fourth port is connected to said first port;

wherein said wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus further includes second wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing unit and third switch unit comprising a fifth port and a sixth port, and in which a connection relationship between said fifth port and said sixth port can be changed in said third switch unit; and

wherein said first wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing unit is cyclic AWG of which a wavelength of the light inputted and outputted through said demultiplexing port shows a periodicity,

said second wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing unit is disposed between said second port and said fifth port,

said second wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing unit transmits/receives the light inputted and outputted through said second port to/from said fifth ports that are different for each wavelength, and

said third switch unit connects one of said fifth ports to one of said sixth ports.

3. The wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when a maximum value of the number of the wavelengths of the light inputted and outputted through said demultiplexing port is K (K is a positive integer), and a maximum value of the number of the wavelengths of said wavelength multiplexed light is M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and a multiple of K), the number m of the ports of said cyclic AWG is represented by a formula m=(M/K)+1.

4. The wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said second wavelength-multiplexing/demultiplexing units are connected to said fifth port.