Optical communications apparatus and method

• US 9,641,917 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Feng, Zhiyong, Zhao, Han, Zong, Liangjia, Yan, Yunfei
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanderpuye, Ken N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alagheband, Abbas H
• Application Number:
  US15/331,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• Field of Search: 398 50, 398 88, 398 41, 398 83
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/266 the optical element being an attenuator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2713 cascade of polarisation selective or adjusting operations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2931 Diffractive element operating in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0062 Network aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0016 using wavelength multiplexing or demultiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0026 using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0037 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0052 Interconnection of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/009 Topology aspects

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical communications apparatus, where the apparatus includes: an input system, a first optical switch array, and an output system, where the input system includes N input ports that are one-dimensionally arranged on a first plane, a first beam expander, a demultiplexer, and a first optical path changer; the first optical switch array includes N×K first optical switch units that are two-dimensionally arranged on a second plane, and the first optical switch units can rotate in a first axial line direction and a second axial line direction; and the output system includes a second optical path changer, a second beam expander, a second optical switch array, and M output ports that are two-dimensionally arranged.

Claims

1. An optical communications apparatus comprising:

an input system, a first optical switch array, and an output system, wherein the input system comprises N input ports that are one-dimensionally arranged on a first plane, a first beam expander, a demultiplexer, and a first optical path changer;

the first optical switch array comprises N×

K first optical switch units that are two-dimensionally arranged on a second plane, wherein K is a quantity of sub-signal lights that are comprised in signal light, center wavelengths of the sub-signal lights are different from each other, the second plane is perpendicular to a main axis direction, the main axis direction is a transmission direction of signal light that is output from the input ports, the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the first optical switch units can rotate in a first axial line direction and a second axial line direction, the first axial line direction is a direction of an intersecting line between the first plane and the second plane, the second axial line direction is a direction of an intersecting line between a third plane and the second plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the first plane, one first optical switch unit is configured to receive only one beam of sub-signal light that is from one input port, and input ports and sub-signal lights corresponding to the first optical switch units are different from each other; and

the output system comprises a second optical path changer, a second beam expander, a second optical switch array, and M output ports that are two-dimensionally arranged, wherein the second switch array comprises M second optical switch units that are two-dimensionally arranged, one second optical switch unit is configured to receive, within a same period of time, only sub-signal lights that are from a same input port, the second optical switch units can rotate at least in the second axial line direction, and the second optical switch units correspond one-to-one to the output ports, wherein

a target input port of the N input ports is configured to;

when receiving target signal light, transmit the target signal light to the first beam expander, wherein a flare of the target signal light that is output by the target input port is a circle, and the target signal light comprises at least two beams of sub-target signal lights;

the first beam expander is configured to perform first beam expansion processing on the target signal light, to change the flare that is of the target signal light and in a direction of the second plane from the circle to an ellipse, and transmit the target signal light on which the first beam expansion processing has been performed to the demultiplexer, wherein a major axis direction of the ellipse is the second axial line direction, a minor axis direction of the ellipse is the first axial line direction, and a major axis length of the ellipse is determined based on the following parameters;

bandwidth of the target signal light, a spacing between adjacent sub-target signal lights of the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights, center wavelengths of the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights, and diffraction parameters of the demultiplexer;

the demultiplexer is configured to perform demultiplexing processing on the target signal light, to obtain the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights by splitting the target signal light, so that the sub-target signal lights disperse on the third plane, and transmit the sub-target signal lights to corresponding first optical switch units by using the first optical path changer;

the first optical path changer is configured to perform first optical path change processing on the sub-target signal lights, so that the sub-target signal lights are incident, parallel to each other, into the corresponding first optical switch units;

the first optical switch array is configured to;

based on output ports corresponding to the sub-target signal lights, control rotation of the first optical switch units corresponding to the sub-target signal lights, so as to transmit the sub-target signal lights to corresponding second optical switch units by using the second optical path changer and the second beam expander;

the second optical path changer is configured to perform second optical path change processing on the sub-target signal lights, wherein a projection that is of the sub-target signal light and on the third plane, on which the second optical path change processing has been performed, is parallel to a projection that is of the corresponding sub-target signal light and on the third plane before the first optical path change processing;

the second beam expander is configured to perform second beam expansion processing on the sub-target signal lights, so as to change flares that are of the sub-target signal lights and in the direction of the second plane from ellipses to circles, wherein diameters of the circles are determined based on a transmission requirement of the output ports; and

the second optical switch array is configured to control rotation of the second optical switch units corresponding to the sub-target signal lights, to transmit the sub-target signal lights to the corresponding output ports.

2. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output system further comprises:

a multiplexer, located between the second optical path changer and the second beam expander, and configured to;

when, for one output port, there are at least two beams of sub-target signal lights that need to be received, combine the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights that need to be received into one beam of signal light, and transmit the one beam of signal light to the second optical switch array by using the second beam expander; and

when, for one output port, there is only one beam of sub-target signal light that needs to be received, adjust optical power distribution within a bandwidth range of the sub-target signal light.

3. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the demultiplexer and the multiplexer comprise at least one grating.

4. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the multiplexer and the demultiplexer share the at least one grating.

5. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first beam expander is configured to perform first beam expansion processing on the target signal light, so that a beam waist position that is of the target signal light, on the third plane, and between the first beam expander and the first optical path changer is located on the demultiplexer.

6. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second beam expander is configured to perform second beam expansion processing on the sub-target signal lights, so that beam waist positions that are of the sub-target signal lights output from the second beam expander and on the third plane are located on the output ports.

7. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer comprise at least one lens.

8. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer share the at least one lens.

9. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer share one lens,

on the third plane, an incidence point that is of the target signal light and on the demultiplexer is located on an axial line is of the first optical path changer and in the main axis direction.

10. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer share one lens,

on the third plane, an incidence point that is of the target signal light and on the demultiplexer is not located on an axial line that is of the first optical path changer and in the main axis direction.

11. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer share one lens,

on the first plane, an incidence point that is of the target signal light and on the demultiplexer is located on an axial line that is of the first optical path changer and in the main axis direction.

12. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer share one lens,

on the first plane, an incidence point that is of the target signal light and on the demultiplexer is not located on an axial line that is of the first optical path changer and in the main axis direction.

13. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer comprise at least one concave mirror.

14. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first optical path changer and the second optical path changer share the at least one concave mirror.

15. The optical communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first optical path changer comprises:

at least one first cylindrical lens, configured to change propagation directions that are of the sub-target signal lights and on the third plane; and

the second optical path changer comprises;

at least one second cylindrical lens, configured to change propagation directions that are of the sub-target signal lights and on the first plane;

at least one third cylindrical lens, configured to adjust, to the first optical switch array, a beam waist position that is of the target signal light output from the first cylindrical lens module and on the first plane; and

at least one fourth cylindrical lens, configured to adjust beam waist positions that are of sub-target signal lights output from the first optical switch array and on the first plane, to correspond to a beam waist position that is of the target signal light that is output from the input port and on the first plane, between the output port and the demultiplexer.

16. An optical communications method, wherein the method is performed in an apparatus that comprises an input system, a first optical switch array, and an output system, wherein the input system comprises N input ports that are one-dimensionally arranged on a first plane, and a demultiplexer;

the first optical switch array comprises N×

K first optical switch units that are two-dimensionally arranged on a second plane, wherein K is a quantity of sub-signal lights that are comprised in signal light, center wavelengths of the sub-signal lights are different from each other, the second plane is perpendicular to a main axis direction, the main axis direction is a transmission direction of signal light that is output from the input ports, the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the first optical switch units can rotate in a first axial line direction and a second axial line direction, the first axial line direction is a direction of an intersecting line between the first plane and the second plane, the second axial line direction is a direction of an intersecting line between a third plane and the second plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the first plane, one first optical switch unit is configured to receive only one beam of sub-signal light that is from one input port, and input ports and sub-signal lights corresponding to the first optical switch units are different from each other; and

the output system comprises a second optical switch array, and M output ports that are two-dimensionally arranged, wherein the second switch array comprises M second optical switch units that are two-dimensionally arranged, one second optical switch unit is configured to receive, within a same period of time, only one piece of sub-signal light that is from a same input port, the second optical switch units can rotate at least in the second axial line direction, and the second optical switch units correspond one-to-one to the output ports, wherein the method comprises;

receiving target signal light by using a target input port, wherein a flare of the target signal light is a circle, and the target signal light comprises at least two beams of sub-target signal lights;

performing first beam expansion processing on the target signal light, so as to change the flare that is of the target signal light and in a direction of the second plane from the circle to an ellipse, wherein a major axis direction of the ellipse is the second axial line direction, a minor axis direction of the ellipse is the first axial line direction, and a major axis length of the ellipse is determined based on the following parameters;

bandwidth of the target signal light, a spacing between adjacent sub-target signal lights of the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights, center wavelengths of the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights, and diffraction parameters of the demultiplexer;

performing demultiplexing processing on the target signal light by using the demultiplexer, to obtain the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights by splitting the target signal light, so that the sub-target signal lights disperse on the third plane;

performing first optical path change processing on the sub-target signal lights, so that the sub-target signal lights are incident, parallel to each other, into the corresponding first optical switch units;

based on output ports corresponding to the sub-target signal lights, controlling rotation of the first optical switch units that correspond to the sub-target signal lights and that are in the first optical switch array, so as to transmit the sub-target signal lights to corresponding second optical switch units;

performing second optical path change processing on the sub-target signal lights, so that a projection that is of the sub-target signal light and on the third plane on which the second optical path change processing has been performed is parallel to a projection that is on the third plane and that is of the corresponding sub-target signal light before the first optical path change processing;

performing second beam expansion processing on the sub-target signal lights, so as to change flares that are in the direction of the second plane and that are of the sub-target signal lights from ellipses to circles, wherein diameters of the circles are determined based on a transmission requirement of the output ports; and

controlling rotation of the second optical switch units that correspond to the sub-target signal lights and that are in the second optical switch array, so as to transmit the sub-target signal lights to the corresponding output ports.

17. The optical communications method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

when, for one output port, there are at least two beams of sub-target signal lights that need to be received, combining the at least two beams of sub-target signal lights that need to be received into one beam of signal light, and transmitting the one beam of signal light to the second optical switch array; and

when, for one output port, there is only one beam of sub-target signal light that needs to be received, adjusting optical power distribution within a bandwidth range of the sub-target signal light.

18. The optical communications method according to claim 16, wherein the performing first beam expansion processing on the target signal light comprises:

performing first beam expansion processing on the target signal light, so that a beam waist position that is of the target signal light and on the third plane before the first optical path change processing is located on the demultiplexer.

19. The optical communications method according to claim 16, wherein the performing second beam expansion processing on the sub-target signal lights comprises:

performing second beam expansion processing on the sub-target signal lights, so that beam waist positions that are of the sub-target signal lights and on the third plane, on which the second beam expansion processing has been performed are located on the output ports.