M Chi N Chi K optical switch array suitable to whole optical network and its method

Abstract

The optical switch array is composed of multiple 1X(N+L) optical switch arrays, which is corresponding to each optical channel in each input optical waveguide. Optical switches based on array waveguide interferometer or wave selector are adopted in the first stage of switch array. The said optical switch is capable of separating a light wave in a certain wavelength from input waveguide singly without effecting on other light wave in another wavelength, and sends the separated light wave to any one piece of waveguide among N pieces of output waveguides or L pieces of buffered waveguides stage by stage. Buffered waveguides are in loop type. Output optical waveguides with identical serial number in 1X(N+L) optical switch arrays are connected to output port with serial number in devices. The invention realizes whole optical routes features optical buffering and optical gain, high integrity and available for mass manufacturing.

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of integrated optics, in particular to a wavelength-selective optical switch array suitable for all-optical networks, which is suitable for optical cross interconnection, optical switching, and optical routing devices in optical communication networks. Background technique

[0002] The optical switch is mainly used to turn on and off the optical channel in the optical fiber communication. The optical switch array can realize the direct exchange of light waves between the optical channels, and is the core device to realize the all-optical network. Optical switches can be divided into two categories: mechanical and non-mechanical. Among them, the mechanical optical switch relies on the movement of optical fibers or optical components to change the optical path and realize the opening and closing of the optical path. Common mechanical optical switches include moving optical fibers, moving sleeves, moving collimators, mo...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0028] In Fig. 1, In1 to In4 are input optical waveguides, where In2 and In3 are not shown, Out1 to Out4 are the total output optical waveguides of the device, and each input optical waveguide of In1 to In4 has λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4 four optical channels of different wavelengths. U11 is a 1×(4+1) optical switch array corresponding to the light wave with a wavelength of λ1 in the first input optical waveguide In1, which is composed of five-stage optical switches S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5. S1 uses an optical switch based on a wavelength selector, which takes out the light wave with a wavelength of λ1 from the first input optical waveguide In1, and the subsequent four stages of U11, namely S2 to S5, use an optical switch based on a directional coupler. The optical switches at all levels in U11 are connected in series, that is, the output optical waveguide of the optical switch Sj with the serial number j is directly connected to the input optical waveguide of the optical switch Sj+1 wit...

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of integrated optics, in particular to a wavelength-selective optical switch array suitable for all-optical networks, which is suitable for optical cross interconnection, optical switching, and optical routing devices in optical communication networks. Background technique

[0002] The optical switch is mainly used to turn on and off the optical channel in the optical fiber communication. The optical switch array can realize the direct exchange of light waves between the optical channels, and is the core device to realize the all-optical network. Optical switches can be divided into two categories: mechanical and non-mechanical. Among them, the mechanical optical switch relies on the movement of optical fibers or optical components to change the optical path and realize the opening and closing of the optical path. Common mechanical optical switches include moving optical fibers, moving sleeves, moving collimators, mo...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0028] In Fig. 1, In1 to In4 are input optical waveguides, where In2 and In3 are not shown, Out1 to Out4 are the total output optical waveguides of the device, and each input optical waveguide of In1 to In4 has λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4 four optical channels of different wavelengths. U11 is a 1×(4+1) optical switch array corresponding to the light wave with a wavelength of λ1 in the first input optical waveguide In1, which is composed of five-stage optical switches S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5. S1 uses an optical switch based on a wavelength selector, which takes out the light wave with a wavelength of λ1 from the first input optical waveguide In1, and the subsequent four stages of U11, namely S2 to S5, use an optical switch based on a directional coupler. The optical switches at all levels in U11 are connected in series, that is, the output optical waveguide of the optical switch Sj with the serial number j is directly connected to the input optical waveguide of the optical switch Sj+1 wit...

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