A 1×N optical switch structure

Abstract

The present invention discloses a 1×N optical switch structure, which relates to the fields of optical communication technology and optical sensing technology, and includes a plurality of switch units; the output port of each switch unit in the Mth column is connected to a multi-stage isolation unit; the switch unit is a first 1×2 switch unit or a conventional 1×2 switch unit, and when the first 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the light splitting ratio of the output port is X% and Y%; the isolation unit is a first 1×1 isolation unit or a conventional 1×1 isolation unit, and when the first 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio of the output port is A%; when the optical switch is not controlled, light is input from the input port of the switch unit in the first column and output from the output port of the multi-stage isolation unit including the first 1×1 isolation unit. The optical switch structure of the present invention can directly use the optical power monitoring method to complete the coupling between the input port and the output port and the optical fiber or other optical elements when the optical switch is not controlled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical communication technology and optical sensing technology, and in particular to a 1×N optical switch structure. Background Art

[0002] In optical communication and optical sensing systems, optical switches are very important functional elements. A 1×N optical switch usually refers to an optical switch with 1 input port and N output ports. Under the configuration of the control unit, it can transmit the optical signal input from 1 port to any one of the N different output ports, thereby realizing the switching of the optical signal transmission path. A 1×N optical switch is usually composed of a cascade of 1×2 optical switch units. Each 1×2 switch unit has one input port and two output ports, one of which is the default output port and the other is a complementary output port. When the switch unit is not controlled, ideally 100% of the optical power is output from the default port, and there is no optical output from the complementary port. The default port can be the output port above the 1×2 switch unit or the output port below the 1×2 switch unit. Its working method is as follows: Figure 1 As shown. The 1×N optical switch includes M columns of 1×2 switch units, M=Log2(N), the number of 1×2 switch units in each column is twice that of the previous column, and the number of 1×2 switch units in the last column is N / 2. When the optical switch is not controlled, since light will be output from the default output port when passing through each 1×2 switch unit, the light input from the input port will be output from one of the output ports. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a conventional 1×N optical switch. The figure also includes the transmission path of light from the input port to output port 1 when the optical switch is not controlled (assuming that the upper port of each 1×2 switch unit is the default output port). In actual situations, when an optical signal is output from a port of a 1×2 switch unit, a small amount of optical signal will always leak to another output port. For example, when light is output from output port 1, a small amount of light will be output from output port 2, thereby causing crosstalk to the optical path connected to output port 2. In order to reduce crosstalk to unselected output ports, a 1×1 isolation unit is usually added to each output port, that is, 1 input port and 1 output port. Ideally, when the isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio of the isolation unit is 0%, and its working method is as follows Figure 3 In actual situations, one isolation unit cannot isolate 100% of the input light, so the isolation of the non-selected port to the output light of the selected port is improved by increasing the number of isolation units. Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a 1×N optical switch including multi-stage isolation units. The figure also includes the transmission path of light from the input port to the output port 1 when the optical switch is not controlled. At this time, the output port 1 has no light output because multiple isolation units are cascaded.

[0003] When the optical switch is not controlled, light is input from the input port. Figure 2 The output port 1 has light output, so the optical power monitoring method can be used to achieve the coupling between the input port and the output port and the optical fiber or other optical components. Figure 4 All output ports have no light output (large attenuation), and it is impossible to use optical power monitoring to achieve coupling between input and output ports and optical fibers or other optical components. In order to achieve coupling, one way is to control the optical switch unit, which requires adding a drive circuit and corresponding control software during coupling, and the coupling process is complicated. Another way is to add Figure 5 The reference input port and the reference output port shown have a fixed distance between the reference port and the input port and the output port. By completing the coupling of the reference port, the coupling of the optical switch input port and the output port with the optical fiber or other optical components is indirectly achieved.

[0004] Since the above two methods do not directly measure the performance of the optical switch itself during the coupling process, there is a risk of defective products flowing into the subsequent processes. On the other hand, the reference port method not only increases the material cost of the optical components used for reference port coupling, but also increases the complexity of the subsequent assembly process, which also leads to an increase in production costs. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a 1×N optical switch structure, which solves the problems of the risk of defective products flowing into subsequent processes and high production costs in the two existing methods because the performance of the optical switch itself is not directly measured during the coupling process.

[0006] The present invention provides a 1×N optical switch structure, comprising a plurality of switch units, wherein the plurality of switch units are cascaded to form an array, the array comprising M columns, the number of switch units in each column being twice that of the previous column; the output port of each switch unit in the Mth column is connected to a multi-stage isolation unit;

[0007] The switch unit is a first 1×2 switch unit or a conventional 1×2 switch unit. When the first 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the splitting ratios of the two output ports of the first 1×2 switch unit are X% and Y%, and X%+Y%=100%;

[0008] The isolation unit is a first 1×1 isolation unit or a conventional 1×1 isolation unit. When the first 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio of the output port of the first 1×1 isolation unit is A%, and A>0;

[0009] When the 1×N optical switch is not controlled, light is input from the input port of the switch unit in the first column and output from the output port of the multi-stage isolation unit including the first 1×1 isolation unit, and no light is output from the output port of the multi-stage isolation unit not including the first 1×1 isolation unit.

[0010] Preferably, the conventional 1×2 switch unit is a second 1×2 switch unit, a third 1×2 switch unit and a fourth 1×2 switch unit;

[0011] When the second 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the output port is at the top by default;

[0012] When the third 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the output port is at the bottom by default;

[0013] When the fourth 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the output port is at the upper or lower position by default;

[0014] The output optical power ratio of the default output port is 100%.

[0015] Preferably, when the conventional 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio is 0%.

[0016] Preferably, light is output from output port 1 and output port N, and no light is output from the other output ports;

[0017] The switch unit in the first column of the 1×N optical switch structure is a first 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of the output port 1 and the output port N is a first 1×1 isolation unit.

[0018] The first switch unit in the 2nd to Mth columns of the 1×N optical switch structure is the second 1×2 switch unit; the last switch unit in the 2nd to Mth columns is the third 1×2 switch unit; the remaining switch units are the fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are conventional 1×1 isolation units.

[0019] Preferably, light is output from output port 1 and output port N, and no light is output from the other output ports;

[0020] All the switch units of the 1×N optical switch structure are first 1×2 switch units;

[0021] The isolation unit in the output path of the output port 1 and the output port N is the first 1×1 isolation unit, and the remaining isolation units are all regular 1×1 isolation units.

[0022] Preferably, light is output from output ports 1-N;

[0023] All the switch units of the 1×N optical switch structure are first 1×2 switch units, and all the isolation units are first 1×1 isolation units.

[0024] Preferably, light is output from output port 1, and no light is output from the other output ports;

[0025] The first switch unit in each column of the 1×N optical switch structure is a second 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of the output port 1 is a first 1×1 isolation unit;

[0026] The remaining switch units are all fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units.

[0027] Preferably, light is output from output port N, and no light is output from the other output ports;

[0028] The last switch unit in each column of the 1×N optical switch structure is the third 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of the output port N is the first 1×1 isolation unit;

[0029] The remaining switch units are fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units.

[0030] Preferably, the value of X% and Y% is 50%.

[0031] Preferably, the value of A% is 50%.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0033] The present invention uses a first 1×2 switch unit with X%-Y% splitting to replace all or part of the conventional 1×2 switch units, and uses a first 1×1 isolation unit with A% output to replace all or part of the conventional 1×1 isolation units, to form a new optical switch structure. The structure of the present invention can directly use optical power monitoring to complete the coupling between the input port and the output port with the optical fiber or other optical components when the optical switch is not controlled, without using a drive circuit or a reference port. On the one hand, it reduces the risk of defective products flowing into subsequent processes, and on the other hand, it reduces material and production costs, and has obvious commercial prospects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the working mode of a conventional 1×2 switch unit;

[0036] Wherein: (a): second 1×2 switch unit, (b): third 1×2 switch unit;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a diagram of the conventional 1×N optical switch structure and the light transmission path when the optical switch is not controlled;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the working mode of a conventional 1×1 isolation unit;

[0039] Figure 4 A conventional 1×N optical switch structure including a multi-stage isolation unit and a light transmission path diagram when the optical switch is not controlled;

[0040] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a conventional 1×N optical switch structure including a reference port and a multi-stage isolation unit;

[0041] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the first 1×2 switch unit of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the first 1×1 isolation unit of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a 1×N optical switch structure and a light transmission path when the optical switch is not controlled according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0044] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of a 1×N optical switch structure according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention and a light transmission path when the optical switch is not controlled;

[0045] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of a 1×N optical switch structure according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention and a light transmission path when the optical switch is not controlled;

[0046] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of a 1×N optical switch structure according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention and a light transmission path when the optical switch is not controlled;

[0047] Fig.12 Schematic diagram of a 1×N optical switch structure according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention and a light transmission path when the optical switch is not controlled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0049] The present invention provides a 1×N optical switch structure, including a plurality of switch units, wherein the plurality of switch units are cascaded to form an array, the array including M columns, the number of switch units in each column being twice that of the previous column; the output port of each switch unit in the Mth column is connected to a multi-stage isolation unit. When the optical switch is not controlled, it is possible to directly use an optical power monitoring method without using a driving circuit or a reference port to complete the coupling between the input port and the output port and the optical fiber or other optical components, thereby reducing material and production costs.

[0050] The switch unit is a first 1×2 switch unit and a conventional 1×2 switch unit, refer to Figure 6 The first 1×2 switch unit includes an input port and two output ports, the input port is used to input optical signals, and the two output ports are used to output optical signals. When the first 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the splitting ratio of the two output ports is X% and Y%, X%+Y%=100%, and the values ​​of X% and Y% are preferably 50%.

[0051] The conventional 1×2 switch units are the second 1×2 switch unit, the third 1×2 switch unit, and the fourth 1×2 switch unit. When the second 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the default output port is at the top. When the third 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the default output port is at the bottom. When the fourth 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the default output port is at the top or bottom. The output optical power ratio of the default output port is 100%.

[0052] The isolation unit includes a first 1×1 isolation unit and a conventional 1×1 isolation unit, referring to Figure 7 When the first 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio is A%, A>0, and the value of A% is preferably 50%. When the conventional 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio is 0%.

[0053] A plurality of 1×2 switch units, conventional 1×2 switch units, 1×1 isolation units and conventional 1×1 isolation units are arranged. When the optical switch is not controlled, light is input from the input port and output from the port including the first 1×1 isolation unit, and no light is output from the output port not including the first 1×1 isolation unit.

[0054] Example 1

[0055] Reference Figure 8 , the switch unit in the first column of the 1×N optical switch structure is the first 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of output port 1 and output port N is the first 1×1 isolation unit. The first switch unit in the 2nd to Mth columns of the 1×N optical switch structure is the second 1×2 switch unit, the last switch unit in the 2nd to Mth columns is the third 1×2 switch unit, the remaining switch units are the fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units. Figure 8 When the optical switch in is not controlled, the light input from the input port is output from the output port 1 and the output port N, and no light is output from the other output ports.

[0056] Its working principle is as follows: the light entering the input port is divided into two parts, X% and Y%, by the first 1×2 switch unit, and transmitted to the two switch units in the second column respectively. The default output port of the first switch unit in the second column is at the top, and the X% optical power output by the first 1×2 switch unit is transmitted to the first switch unit in the third column without loss, and so on, until it is transmitted to the input end of the first isolation unit of port 1. Each isolation unit in the path of output port 1 has an optical power output of A%, so the light is finally output from output port 1. The default output port of the last switch unit in the second column is at the bottom, and the Y% optical power output by the first 1×2 switch unit is transmitted to the last switch unit in the third column without loss, and so on, until it is transmitted to the input end of the first isolation unit of port N. Each isolation unit in the path of output port N has an optical power output of A%, so the light is finally output from output port N. Therefore, when the optical switch is not controlled, after light is input from the input port, there is light output from output port 1 and output port N, and the optical power monitoring method can be used to achieve the coupling of the input port and the output port with the optical fiber or other optical components.

[0057] Example 2

[0058] Reference Fig. 9 , all switch units are first 1×2 switch units, all isolation units in the paths of output port 1 and output port N are first 1×1 isolation units, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units.

[0059] Its working principle is: the light entering the input port is divided into two parts, X% and Y%, when passing through each 1×2 switch unit and transmitted to the next level 1×2 switch unit, so the light will be transmitted to the input end of the first isolation unit of each output port. Each isolation unit in the path of output port 1 and output port N will have an optical power output of A%, and finally the light is output from output port 1 and output port N. The proportion of light output by the isolation unit in the remaining port paths is close to 0%, so there is no light output. Therefore, when the optical switch is not controlled, after light is input from the input port, there is light output from output port 1 and output port N, and optical power monitoring can be used to achieve coupling of the input port and output port with optical fiber or other optical components. In this embodiment, during the transmission of light from the input port to output port 1 and output port N, its optical power will be attenuated by X% or Y% each time it passes through a 1×2 switch unit. Figure 8 The optical structure in the embodiment improves the isolation of port 1 and port N to the input light when the optical switch is not controlled.

[0060] Example 3

[0061] Reference Fig.10 All switch units of the 1×N optical switch structure are first 1×2 switch units, and all isolation units are first 1×1 isolation units. Fig.10 When the optical switch in is not controlled, light input from the input port is output from the output ports 1-N.

[0062] Its working principle is as follows: the light entering the input port is divided into two parts, X% and Y%, when passing through each 1×2 switch unit and transmitted to the next switch unit, so the light will be transmitted to the input end of the first isolation unit of each output port. Because all isolation units in the path of each output port have A% optical power output, the light will eventually be output from all output ports. Therefore, when the optical switch is not controlled, after the light is input from the input port, all N output ports have light output, and the optical power monitoring method can be used to achieve the coupling of the input port and the output port with the optical fiber or other optical components. Compared with the previous two embodiments, because the light will be output from all output ports when the optical switch is not controlled, the performance of all channels of the optical switch can be measured during coupling, so as to achieve more effective screening of the optical switch.

[0063] Example 4

[0064] Reference Fig.11 , the first switch unit of the M columns of the 1×N optical switch structure is the second 1×2 switch unit, and the remaining switch units are the fourth 1×2 switch units. The isolation unit in the output path of output port 1 is the first 1×1 isolation unit, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units. Fig.11When the optical switch in is not controlled, light input from the input port is output from output port 1.

[0065] Its working principle is as follows: the light entering the input port enters the second 1×2 switch unit in the first column, and its default output port is at the top, so the optical power will be transmitted to the first switch unit in the second column without loss. The default output port of the first switch unit in the second column is at the top, so the optical signal will be transmitted to the first switch unit in the third column without loss, and so on, until it is transmitted to the input end of the first isolation unit of port 1. Each isolation unit in the path of output port 1 will output A% of the optical power, so light will eventually be output from output port 1. Therefore, when the optical switch is not controlled, after light is input from the input port, only output port 1 has light output, and optical power monitoring can be used to achieve coupling between the input port and the output port and optical fiber or other optical components.

[0066] Example 5

[0067] Reference Fig.12 The last switch unit of the M columns of the 1×N optical switch structure is the third 1×2 switch unit, and the remaining switch units are the fourth 1×2 switch units. The isolation unit in the output path of the output port N is the first 1×1 isolation unit, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units. Fig.12 When the optical switch in is not controlled, the light input from the input port is output from the output port N.

[0068] Its working principle is as follows: the light entering the input port enters the third 1×2 switch unit in the first column, and its default output port is at the top. The optical power will be transmitted to the last switch unit in the second column without loss. The default output port of the last switch unit in the second column is at the bottom, so the optical power will be transmitted to the last switch unit in the third column without loss, and so on, until it is transmitted to the input end of the first isolation unit of port N. Each isolation unit in the path of output port N will output A% of the optical power, so light will eventually be output from output port N. Therefore, when the optical switch is not controlled, after light is input from the input port, only output port N has light output, and optical power monitoring can be used to achieve coupling of the input port and output port with optical fiber or other optical components.

[0069] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art may make other changes and modifications to these embodiments once they have learned the basic creative concept. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0070] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A 1×N optical switch structure, characterized in that: It comprises a plurality of switch units, wherein the plurality of switch units are cascaded to form an array, the array comprises M columns, the number of switch units in each column is twice that of the previous column; the output port of each switch unit in the Mth column is connected to a multi-stage isolation unit; The switch unit is a first 1×2 switch unit or a conventional 1×2 switch unit. When the first 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the splitting ratios of the two output ports of the first 1×2 switch unit are X% and Y%, and X%+Y%=100%; The isolation unit is a first 1×1 isolation unit or a conventional 1×1 isolation unit. When the first 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio of the output port of the first 1×1 isolation unit is A%, and A>0; When the 1×N optical switch is not controlled, light is input from the input port of the switch unit in the first column and output from the output port of the multi-stage isolation unit including the first 1×1 isolation unit, and no light is output from the output port of the multi-stage isolation unit not including the first 1×1 isolation unit; The conventional 1×2 switch units are a second 1×2 switch unit, a third 1×2 switch unit and a fourth 1×2 switch unit; When the second 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the output port is at the top by default; When the third 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the output port is at the bottom by default; When the fourth 1×2 switch unit is not controlled, the output port is at the upper or lower position by default; The output optical power ratio of the default output port is 100%; When the conventional 1×1 isolation unit is not controlled, the output optical power ratio is 0%.

2. A 1×N optical switch structure as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: Light is output from output port 1 and output port N, and no light is output from the other output ports; The switch unit in the first column of the 1×N optical switch structure is a first 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of the output port 1 and the output port N is a first 1×1 isolation unit. The first switch unit in the 2nd to Mth columns of the 1×N optical switch structure is the second 1×2 switch unit; the last switch unit in the 2nd to Mth columns is the third 1×2 switch unit; the remaining switch units are the fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are conventional 1×1 isolation units.

3. A 1×N optical switch structure as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: Light is output from output port 1 and output port N, and no light is output from the other output ports; All the switch units of the 1×N optical switch structure are first 1×2 switch units; The isolation unit in the output path of the output port 1 and the output port N is the first 1×1 isolation unit, and the remaining isolation units are all regular 1×1 isolation units.

4. A 1×N optical switch structure as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: Light is output from output ports 1-N; All the switch units of the 1×N optical switch structure are first 1×2 switch units, and all the isolation units are first 1×1 isolation units.

5. The 1×N optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Light is output from output port 1, and no light is output from other output ports; The first switch unit in each column of the 1×N optical switch structure is a second 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of the output port 1 is a first 1×1 isolation unit; The remaining switch units are all fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units.

6. The 1×N optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Light is output from output port N, and no light is output from other output ports; The last switch unit in each column of the 1×N optical switch structure is the third 1×2 switch unit, and the isolation unit in the output path of the output port N is the first 1×1 isolation unit; The remaining switch units are fourth 1×2 switch units, and the remaining isolation units are regular 1×1 isolation units.

7. The 1×N optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The value of X% and Y% is 50%.

8. The 1×N optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The value of A% is 50%.

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