Wavelength switching device, optical switching method and related equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a wavelength switching device, an optical switching method and related equipment, which can effectively reduce the volume of the wavelength switching device and improve the integration level of the wavelength switching device. An input port of the wavelength switching device transmits an input light beam to a dispersion module of the wavelength switching device; the dispersion module disperses an input light beam to obtain multiple sub-light beams and transmits the sub-light beams to the redirection module of the wavelength exchange device; the redirection module splits the first sub-beam to obtain a service sub-beam and a detection sub-beam based on the light splitting function, and the first sub-beam is one of the multiple sub-beams; the redirection module is also used for transmitting a service sub-beam to an output port of the wavelength switching device and transmitting a detection sub-beam to a first detection module of the wavelength switching device based on a redirection function; the first detection module is used for detecting transmission of the first sub-beam according to the detection sub-beam.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a wavelength switching device, an optical switching method, and related equipment. Background Art

[0002] Reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) enable flexible scheduling of high-capacity services. Wavelength selective switches (WSSs) are key components in ROADM scheduling.

[0003] A WSS consists of liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), a splitter, a photoelectric diode (PD), and multiple output ports. To monitor the WSS, a splitter is connected between each output port and the LCOS. The splitter splits a beam from the LCOS into a service beam and a detection beam. The splitter transmits the service beam to the output port and also transmits a detection beam to the PD. The PD monitors the WSS's scheduling of the beam based on the detection beam.

[0004] Because each output port of the WSS needs to be connected to an optical splitter, configuring a large number of optical splitters in the WSS will increase the size of the WSS and reduce the integration of the WSS. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a wavelength switching device, an optical switching method, and related equipment, which can effectively reduce the volume of the wavelength switching device and improve the integration of the wavelength switching device.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a wavelength switching device, comprising an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first detection module, and an output port; the input port is configured to transmit an input light beam to the dispersion module; the dispersion module is configured to disperse the input light beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmit the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module; the redirection module, based on a splitting function, is configured to split a first sub-beam to obtain a service sub-beam and a detection sub-beam, wherein the first sub-beam is one of the multiple sub-beams; the redirection module, based on a redirection function, is configured to transmit the service sub-beam to the output port and transmit the detection sub-beam to the first detection module; the first detection module is configured to detect the transmission of the first sub-beam based on the detection sub-beam. The redirection module may be a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), a liquid crystal array chip, or a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS).

[0007] As shown in this aspect, the redirection module of the wavelength switching device has a redirection function and a splitting function. The splitting function splits each sub-beam into a detection sub-beam and a service sub-beam. The redirection function transmits each service sub-beam to the corresponding output port and transmits the detection sub-beam to the first detection sub-module, which can then detect whether the transmission of each sub-beam is normal. It can be understood that because the redirection module has a splitting function, the wavelength switching device does not need to be configured with a splitter connected to each output port and a high-dimensional optical switch, which effectively improves the integration of the wavelength switching device and reduces the volume occupied by a single wavelength switching device in the switching equipment.

[0008] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the redirection module includes multiple areas, the multiple areas include a first area, the first sub-beam is incident on the first area, the first area is used to emit the business sub-beam from the redirection module at a first exit angle, and emit the detection sub-beam from the redirection module at a second exit angle, and the first exit angle is different from the second exit angle.

[0009] With this implementation, since the business sub-beam is emitted from the redirection module at a first emission angle, and the detection sub-beam is emitted from the redirection module at a second emission angle, and the first emission angle is different from the second emission angle, it is effectively guaranteed that the business sub-beam can be successfully transmitted to the output port and that the detection sub-beam is successfully transmitted to the first detection module. It can be understood that without the need to configure a splitter connected to the output port of the wavelength switching device, one sub-beam can be split, and the split business sub-beam can be successfully transmitted to the output port and the split detection sub-beam can be successfully transmitted to the first detection module. Since there is no need to configure a splitter, the integration of the wavelength switching device is improved.

[0010] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device also includes a controller connected to the redirection module, the controller is used to apply a first voltage to a first area of ​​the redirection module, and the first area to which the first voltage is applied is loaded with a first phase grating, and the first phase grating is used to split the first sub-beam to obtain the business sub-beam and the detection sub-beam.

[0011] With this implementation, the controller applies a first voltage to the first region of the redirection module so that the first region can perform both the splitting and redirection functions, thereby ensuring that the wavelength switching device can perform the splitting function without configuring an optical splitter.

[0012] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the controller is used to apply the first voltage to the first area in a first time period, and to apply the second voltage to the second area in a second time period, the second area to which the second voltage is applied is loaded with a second phase grating, the multiple areas include the second area different from the first area, and on the time axis, the intersection of the first time period and the second time period is empty; the multiple sub-beams include a second sub-beam, the second sub-beam is incident on the second area, and the second phase grating is used to split the second sub-beam to obtain another business sub-beam and another detection sub-beam.

[0013] Using this implementation method, since the intersection of the first time period and the second time period is empty, the first detection module will not receive detection sub-beams from different detection sub-beams at the same time, that is, the first detection module can only receive one detection sub-beam at the same time, which effectively ensures the successful detection of the first detection module.

[0014] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation method, the frequency distribution corresponding to the first phase grating has J peaks, where J is an integer not less than 2. The frequency distribution represents the correspondence between each frequency and intensity after the first phase grating undergoes Fourier transform, and the detection sub-beam and the business sub-beam respectively correspond to two peaks among the J peaks.

[0015] By adopting this implementation method, when the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area has J peaks, the first area of ​​the redirection module has both splitting and redirection functions, ensuring that the wavelength switching device can split each sub-beam without being configured with a splitter, thereby improving the integration of the wavelength switching device.

[0016] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area of ​​the redirection module has the same number of peaks as the number of sub-beams emitted from the first area.

[0017] With this implementation, since the number of peaks in the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area is the same as the number of sub-beams emitted from the first area, the number of paths of the first area splitting of the redirection module can be adjusted by adjusting the number of peaks in the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area.

[0018] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device also includes a spectrometer and a second detection module, wherein the spectrometer is used to receive the light beam from the input port, split the light beam to obtain the input light beam and the detection light beam, and transmit the input light beam to the dispersion module and transmit the detection light beam to the second detection module, and the second detection module is used to detect the transmission of the input light beam based on the detection light beam.

[0019] This implementation method can detect whether each wavelength switched by the wavelength switching device is normal based on the first detection module and the second detection module included in the wavelength switching device, thereby determining whether the wavelength switching device itself is in a normal working state.

[0020] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device also includes a controller; the controller is used to receive the optical power of the detection sub-beam from the first detection module, and receive the optical power of the detection beam from the second detection module; the controller is also used to detect the transmission of the input light beam based on the optical power of the detection sub-beam and the optical power of the detection beam.

[0021] With this implementation, the controller can detect whether each wavelength switched by the wavelength switching device is normal based on the optical power of the detection sub-beam and the optical power of the detection beam detected by the first detection module, thereby determining whether the wavelength switching device itself is in a normal working state.

[0022] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device further includes a detection port, wherein the detection port is configured to receive the detection sub-beam from the redirection module and transmit the detection sub-beam to the first detection module.

[0023] By adopting this implementation, the detection sub-beam is transmitted to the first detection module through the detection port, which can improve the success rate of the detection sub-beam being transmitted to the first detection module.

[0024] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the first detection module is configured to detect at least one of the following items for each detection sub-beam:

[0025] The optical power of each detection sub-beam, the code pattern of the detection sub-beam modulation, the modulation rate of the detection sub-beam, or the packet loss rate of the detection sub-beam transmission, etc.

[0026] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical switching method, which is applied to a wavelength switching device, wherein the wavelength switching device includes an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first detection module, and an output port, and the method includes: transmitting an input light beam to the dispersion module through the input port; dispersing the input light beam through the dispersion module to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmitting the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module; splitting the first sub-beam through the redirection module to obtain a business sub-beam and a detection sub-beam, wherein the first sub-beam is one of the multiple sub-beams; transmitting the business sub-beam to the output port through the redirection module, and transmitting the detection sub-beam to the first detection module; detecting the transmission of the first sub-beam through the first detection module and based on the detection sub-beam.

[0027] For the description of the wavelength switching device used in the method shown in this aspect and the beneficial effects, please refer to the first aspect and the details will not be repeated here.

[0028] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device also includes a controller, and before the redirection module splits the first sub-beam to obtain the business sub-beam and the detection sub-beam, the method also includes: applying a first voltage to a first area of ​​the redirection module through the controller, and loading a first phase grating on the first area to which the first voltage is applied, and the first phase grating is used to split the first sub-beam to obtain the business sub-beam and the detection sub-beam.

[0029] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation, applying a first voltage to the first area of ​​the redirection module by the controller includes: applying the first voltage to the first area in a first time period by the controller; the method also includes: applying a second voltage to the second area in a second time period by the controller, and loading a second phase grating on the second area to which the second voltage is applied, the multiple areas include a second area different from the first area, and on the time axis, the intersection of the first time period and the second time period is empty, the multiple sub-beams include a second sub-beam, the second sub-beam is incident on the second area, and the second phase grating is used to split the second sub-beam to obtain another business sub-beam and another detection sub-beam.

[0030] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation method, the frequency distribution corresponding to the first phase grating has J peaks, where J is an integer not less than 2. The frequency distribution represents the correspondence between each frequency and intensity after the first phase grating undergoes Fourier transform, and the detection sub-beam and the business sub-beam respectively correspond to two peaks among the J peaks.

[0031] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device also includes a spectrometer and a second detection module, and transmitting the input light beam to the dispersion module through the input port includes: receiving the light beam from the input port through the spectrometer, splitting the light beam to obtain the input light beam and a detection light beam, and transmitting the input light beam to the dispersion module; after receiving the light beam from the input port through the spectrometer, the method also includes: transmitting the detection light beam to the second detection module through the spectrometer; detecting the transmission of the input light beam through the second detection module and based on the detection light beam.

[0032] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation, the wavelength switching device further includes a controller, and after detecting the transmission of the input light beam through the second detection module and based on the detection light beam, the method further includes: receiving the optical power of the detection sub-beam from the first detection module and receiving the optical power of the detection beam from the second detection module through the controller; and detecting the transmission of the input light beam through the controller based on the optical power of the detection sub-beam and the optical power of the detection beam.

[0033] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a switching device, comprising a beam splitter, a coupler, and a wavelength switching device as described in any one of the first aspects above; the wavelength switching device is used to receive a first light beam from the beam splitter and a second light beam from the coupler; the wavelength switching device is used to switch the first light beam and the second light beam to the output port for output.

[0034] For the description of the beneficial effects of this aspect, please refer to the first aspect and the details will not be repeated here.

[0035] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a waveform shaper, comprising an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first output port, and a second output port; the input port is used to transmit an input light beam to the dispersion module; the dispersion module is used to disperse the input light beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmit the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module; the redirection module is used to split the sub-beams to obtain a first optical signal and a second optical signal, the sub-beam being one of the multiple sub-beams, and shaping the first optical signal and the second optical signal to obtain a shaped first optical signal and a shaped second optical signal; the redirection module is also used to transmit the shaped first optical signal to the first output port, and transmit the shaped second optical signal to the second output port.

[0036] For the description of the beneficial effects of this aspect, please refer to the first aspect and the details will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1a It is a switching principle architecture diagram of a switching device;

[0038] Figure 1b This is an example diagram of the existing WSS structure;

[0039] Figure 2 This is an example diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the wavelength switching device provided by the present application along the dispersion direction;

[0040] Figure 3 This is an example diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the wavelength switching device provided by the present application along the port direction;

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the dispersion module provided in this application dispersing a light beam;

[0042] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the dispersion module provided in this application;

[0043] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an arrangement of light spots on a redirection module provided in this application;

[0044] Figure 7 This is an example diagram of the phase grating structure after voltage is applied to an existing LCOS;

[0045] Figure 8 This is an example diagram of the frequency distribution of existing LCOS;

[0046] Figure 9 This is an example diagram of the phase grating structure after voltage is applied to the LCOS provided by this application;

[0047] Figure 10 An example diagram of the frequency distribution of LCOS provided in this application;

[0048] Figure 11 This is an example diagram of another embodiment of the structure of the wavelength switching device provided by the present application along the port direction;

[0049] Figure 12 This is an example diagram of the timing of the controller provided in this application loading voltage on the redirection module;

[0050] Figure 13 A flowchart of the first embodiment of the optical switching method provided in this application;

[0051] Figure 14 A flowchart of the second embodiment of the optical switching method provided by this application;

[0052] Figure 15This is a flowchart of the steps of the third embodiment of the optical switching method provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0054] Embodiments of the present application provide a wavelength switching device for switching different wavelengths. The wavelength switching device is applied to a switching device, which may be a switch, a ROADM, or an optical cross-connect (OXC) device.

[0055] Figure 1a It is a switching principle architecture diagram of switching equipment. Figure 1a The diagram shows a switching device with three switching directions: east, west, and north. Each switching direction includes a beam splitter, a coupler, and a wavelength switching device. Figure 1a The WSS is used as an example of a medium-wavelength switching device. In reality, other devices with wavelength switching capabilities can also be used. The beam splitter can be a fiber optic splitter. The coupler can also be replaced with other devices with corresponding functions. Each switching direction can correspond to a different destination, such as a different city. Tx represents the signal transmitter, and Rx represents the signal receiver.

[0056] The beam splitter splits the received light beam into three beams: one for local reception and the other two for transmission to two other WSSs. The WSS selects the wavelengths. For example, if the beams transmitted from the east and west directions need to be switched to the north direction for further transmission, the east-bound multi-wavelength beam enters the east-bound beam splitter, which transmits a multi-wavelength beam to the input port of the north-bound WSS. The west-bound multi-wavelength beam enters the west-bound beam splitter, which transmits a multi-wavelength beam to the input port of the north-bound WSS. The north-bound WSS selects the wavelengths received at the input port that need to be switched to the north direction and outputs them from its output port. In other words, the WSS selectively outputs the different wavelengths received at the input port from the corresponding output port, thus completing the switching process in different directions. The selection process for the beams in the other two directions can be understood by referring to the north-bound switching process.

[0057] Figure 1bFigure 1 shows an example of an existing WSS structure. Existing WSS 100 includes an input port 101, an optical splitter 102, a switching module 103, an input-side detection module 104, an optical splitter 105, an optical splitter 106, an optical splitter 107, output ports 110, 111, and 112, an optical switch 108, and an output-side detection module 109. Input port 101 is connected to optical splitter 102, which is also connected to switching module 103. Switching module 103 can be an LCOS. Optical splitter 102 is also connected to input-side detection module 104. Switching module 103 is connected to optical splitter 105, optical splitter 106, and optical splitter 107, respectively. Optical splitter 105, optical splitter 106, and optical splitter 107 are also connected to output ports 110, 111, and 112, respectively. The optical splitters 105, 106, and 107 are further connected to an optical switch 108, and the optical switch 108 is connected to an output-side detection module 109. The input-side detection module 104 and the output-side detection module 109 can both be PDs.

[0058] The input port 101 inputs a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) beam 121. The beam 121 includes multiple wavelengths. The optical splitter 102 splits the beam 121 from the input port 101 to output a service beam 122 and a detection beam 123. The optical splitter 102 transmits the detection beam 123 to the input-side detection module 104, which detects the optical power of the detection beam 123. The switching module 103 can switch different wavelengths in the service beam 122 to corresponding output ports. For example, the switching module 103 transmits the first sub-beam 124, the second sub-beam 125, and the third sub-beam 126 in the service beam 122 to the optical splitter 105, the optical splitter 106, and the optical splitter 107, respectively. The optical splitter 105 splits the first sub-beam 124 into a first output beam 131 and a first detection sub-beam 141, and transmits the first output beam 131 to the output port 110, and transmits the first detection sub-beam 141 to the optical switch 108. The optical splitter 106 splits the second sub-beam 125 into a second output beam 132 and a second detection sub-beam 142, and transmits the second output beam 132 to the output port 111, and transmits the second detection sub-beam 142 to the optical switch 108. Similarly, the optical splitter 107 splits the third sub-beam 126 into a third output beam 133 and a third detection sub-beam 143, and transmits the third output beam 133 to the output port 112, and transmits the third detection sub-beam 143 to the optical switch 108. The optical switch 108 transmits the first detection sub-beam 141, the second detection sub-beam 142, and the third detection sub-beam 143 to the output-side detection module 109 in a time-division manner. The output side detection module 109 detects the optical power of the first detection sub-beam 141, the second detection sub-beam 142, and the third detection sub-beam 143 respectively. The input side detection module 104 and the output side detection module 109 determine whether the WSS is working properly based on the detected optical power. It can be understood that the existing WSS can detect the transmission of each wavelength input to the WSS, so as to determine whether the WSS is normally exchanging each wavelength so that each wavelength can be transmitted to the corresponding direction (for example, Figure 1a North direction shown).

[0059] Since the wavelengths included in the light beam 121 are completely random, and the output port to which each wavelength is switched by the switching module 103 is also dynamically adjusted according to the actual business transmission, it cannot be determined in advance. Therefore, each output port may have a light beam that needs to be output. In order to ensure comprehensive monitoring, each output port of the WSS needs to be configured with a splitter. The current typical number of output ports of a WSS is 32, so the WSS needs to be configured with 32 splitters connected to the 32 output ports. At the same time, the WSS also needs to be configured with an optical switch that receives the detection sub-beams from the 32 splitters. Therefore, the optical switch also needs to have at least 32 dimensions. The WSS is configured with a relatively large number of splitters and high-dimensional optical switches, which will result in a very high cost of the WSS. Moreover, the space occupied by the WSS in the switching equipment is limited. The existing WSS includes a relatively large number of splitters and high-dimensional optical switches, which will reduce the number of WSSs included in the switching equipment and reduce the transmission capacity of the switching equipment.

[0060] The WSS provided by this application does not need to be configured with a large number of optical splitters and high-dimensional optical switches, which effectively reduces the size of the WSS and improves the integration of the WSS. Figure 2 This is an example diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the wavelength switching device provided by this application along the dispersion direction. Figure 3 This is an example diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the wavelength switching device provided in this application along the port direction.

[0061] This embodiment uses a wavelength switching device as an example, WSS, which includes an input port, a dispersion module 203, a redirection module 205, a first detection module 206, and an output port. This embodiment does not limit the number of input ports and output ports included in the WSS.

[0062] The following first describes the port direction X and dispersion direction Y shown in this embodiment. The port direction X shown in this embodiment can also be referred to as the exchange direction, and the dispersion direction Y can also be referred to as the wavelength direction. Depending on the different components included in the WSS, the definitions of the port direction X and the dispersion direction Y vary. The specific definitions are as follows:

[0063] Definition 1

[0064] Taking the dispersion module 203 as a reference, combined with Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the dispersion module provided in this application dispersing a light beam. The dispersion module 203 is used to disperse the light beam 401 irradiated on the dispersion module 203 to form a plurality of sub-beams with different wavelengths, such as forming a sub-beam with a wavelength λ1, a sub-beam with a wavelength λ2, and so on, to form a sub-beam with a wavelength λ NThe specific value of N is not limited in this example, as long as λ1, λ2 to λ N The dispersion module 203 can make the sub-beam with wavelength λ1, the sub-beam with wavelength λ2 and the sub-beam with wavelength λ N The sub-beams are emitted from the dispersion module 203 at different emission angles for transmission, wherein the dispersion direction Y is the direction in which the emitted sub-beams are dispersed, that is, the direction in which the dispersion module 203 causes the multiple sub-beams to generate angular dispersion. The transmission direction of the light beam 401 is Figure 4 The direction Z shown is the direction of the optical beam 401, and the port direction X is a direction perpendicular to both the dispersion direction Y and the transmission direction Z of the optical beam 401.

[0065] Definition 2

[0066] Continuing with the dispersion module 203 as a reference, combined with Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the dispersion module provided in this application. This example uses the dispersion module 203 as a volume grating as an example for illustrative explanation: In this example, the port direction X is a direction parallel to the grating lines 501, and the dispersion direction Y is a direction perpendicular to the grating lines 501. It can be seen that the port direction X is perpendicular to the dispersion direction Y.

[0067] Definition 3

[0068] This definition takes an input beam input from one input port of the WSS as an example, and takes the redirection module 205 as a reference. Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6A schematic diagram of an arrangement of light spots on a redirection module provided in the present application. The redirection module 205 is formed with multiple regions, for example, a first region 601, a second region 602, a third region 603, a fourth region 604, a fifth region 605, and a sixth region 606. The input light beam input from the input port is irradiated on the redirection module 205 to generate multiple light spots. The dispersion direction Y is the arrangement direction of the multiple regions included in the redirection module 205, and different light spots formed by the input light beam irradiating the redirection module 205 are located in different regions. For example, in the input light beam, the light spot 611 formed by the sub-beam of wavelength λ1 is located in the first region 601, the light spot 612 formed by the sub-beam of wavelength λ2 is located in the second region 602, and so on. The light spot 616 formed by the sub-beam of wavelength λ6 is located in the sixth region 606. Optionally, if the redirection module 205 is an LCOS, the port direction X is the direction in which the phase grating loaded on the redirection module 205 generates diffracted light. If the redirection module 205 is a liquid crystal array chip or a micro electromechanical system (MEMS), the port direction X is the transmission direction of the deflected light beam.

[0069] Definition 4

[0070] by Figure 3 The input ports and output ports shown are for reference only. Specifically, the WSS includes two input ports, namely input port 301 and input port 302. The WSS includes two output ports, namely output ports 303 and 304. It should be noted that Figure 3 The description of the number of input ports and output ports shown is an optional example and is not limiting. Figure 3 In FIG, the port direction X is the arrangement direction of the multiple input ports and the multiple output ports. It can be seen that along the port direction X, the multiple input ports and the multiple output ports are separated. Figure 2 As shown along the dispersion direction Y, the multiple input ports and the multiple output ports may completely overlap or partially overlap. The dispersion direction Y is perpendicular to the port direction X, and both the port direction X and the dispersion direction Y are perpendicular to the propagation direction Z of the first input light beam and the propagation direction Z of the second input light beam.

[0071] The description of the port direction X and the dispersion direction Y in this embodiment is provided as an optional example and is not intended to be limiting. In other examples, when the input light beam is transmitted along the Z axis in an XYZ coordinate system, the port direction and the dispersion direction may be any direction in the XY plane. For example, the port direction and the dispersion direction may also be directions in the XY plane that have a certain angle with the X axis or the Y axis.

[0072] The following describes the various components of the WSS:

[0073] This embodiment uses the example of the WSS being used to perform optical switching on the first input light beam 311 and the second input light beam 312 as an example for illustrative explanation: in other examples, the optical switching device may also perform optical switching on more than two input light beams, and this embodiment does not limit the number of input light beams that are specifically optically switched. This embodiment does not limit the wavelength range of the first input light beam 311 and the wavelength range of the second input light beam 312. Specifically, the WSS shown in this embodiment includes an optical fiber array, and the optical fiber array includes multiple sections of optical fibers. The WSS includes an input port 301 for inputting the first input light beam 311, and an input port 302 for inputting the second input light beam 312. The input port 301 and the input port 302 are two sections of optical fibers included in the optical fiber array. The positions of the input port 301 and the input port 302 are described below: Figure 2 As shown, in the dispersion direction Y, the positions of the input port 301 and the input port 302 along the dispersion direction Y at least partially overlap. Figure 3 As shown, in the port direction X, the input port 301 and the input port 302 are separated and arranged in parallel along the port direction X. This embodiment does not limit the spacing between the positions of the input port 301 and the input port 302 along the dispersion direction Y. The fiber array shown in this embodiment can be a fiber array unit (FAU) for inputting and outputting light beams to and from the WSS. For the description of the output port positions shown in this embodiment, please refer to the description of the input port positions, and the details are not repeated here.

[0074] The optical fiber array shown in this embodiment and the dispersion module 203 include a first lens group. This embodiment does not limit the number of lenses included in the first lens group. Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 In the example shown, the first lens group includes lens 201 and lens 202. The first lens group is used to collimate a first input beam 311 input from the first input port 301 and a second input beam 312 input from the second input port 302.

[0075] The first input light beam 311 and the second input light beam 312 collimated by the first lens group are transmitted to the dispersion module 203. Figure 2Taking the first input beam 311 as an example, the dispersion module 203 is used to disperse the first input beam 311 to form a first sub-beam 211 and a second sub-beam 212. This embodiment does not limit the number of sub-beams formed by the dispersion of the first input beam 311; the multiple sub-beams have different wavelengths. For the description of the dispersion module 203 dispersing the second input beam 312, refer to the description of the dispersion module 203 dispersing the first input beam 311, and the details are not repeated here.

[0076] A second lens group is provided between the dispersion module 203 and the redirection module 205. This embodiment does not limit the number of lenses included in the second lens group. For example, the second lens group shown in this embodiment includes lens 204. Lens 204 is used to focus the multiple sub-beams onto the redirection module 205. For an explanation of the light spots generated by the multiple sub-beams focused onto the redirection module 205, please refer to Figure 6 For example, the multiple sub-beams include the first sub-beam 211, the second sub-beam 212 to the sixth sub-beam, Figure 2 Taking the first sub-beam 211 and the second sub-beam 212 in the multiple sub-beams as an example, the first sub-beam 211 is incident on the first area 601 of the redirection module 205 to generate a first light spot 611. The second sub-beam 212 is incident on the second area 602 of the redirection module 205 to generate a second light spot 612, and so on.

[0077] Taking the first region 601 of the redirection module 205 as an example, the first region 601 splits the first sub-beam 211 to obtain a service sub-beam 321 and a detection sub-beam 322. The first region 601 of the redirection module 205 is configured to emit the service sub-beam 321 from the redirection module 205 at a first exit angle and emit the detection sub-beam 322 from the redirection module 205 at a second exit angle, where the first exit angle is different from the second exit angle. Therefore, the service sub-beam 321 emitted at the first exit angle can be transmitted to an output port included in the WSS, and the detection sub-beam 322 emitted at the second exit angle can be transmitted to the first detection module 206 included in the WSS. Specifically, the first exit angle refers to the angle between the service sub-beam 321 emitted from the first region 601 and the normal to the redirection module 205 in the XZ plane. The second exit angle refers to the angle between the detection sub-beam 322 emitted from the first region 601 and the normal to the redirection module 205. Moreover, as shown in this embodiment, the sub-beam emitted from the first area 601 can be defined, and the deflection in the clockwise direction relative to the normal of the redirection module 205 is defined as a positive angle, and the deflection in the counterclockwise direction is defined as a negative angle. For example, the XZ plane includes the port direction X and the direction Z. For detailed description, please refer to the above description and the details are not repeated here. In this embodiment, the optical power of the detection sub-beam 322 is less than the optical power of the business sub-beam 321 to ensure that the business sub-beam 321 has sufficient optical power for transmission. For example, the optical power of the detection sub-beam 322 is 5% of the optical power of the first sub-beam 211, and the optical power of the business sub-beam 321 is 95% of the optical power of the first sub-beam 211.

[0078] It can be understood that the redirection module shown in this embodiment has two functions: function 1, the light splitting function; function 2, the redirection function.

[0079] Function 1 means that the redirection module 205 splits the first sub-beam 211 to emit a service sub-beam 321 and a detection sub-beam 322. Specifically, in this embodiment, the redirection module 205 is an LCOS as an example. The WSS shown in this embodiment also includes a controller 207 connected to the LCOS. The controller 207 applies different voltages to different regions of the LCOS. Due to the birefringence effect of the LCOS liquid crystal, different voltages will correspond to different phase delays, so that different regions of the LCOS form different structures similar to blazed gratings or sawtooth waves. Blazed gratings can also be called phase gratings. For example, the controller 207 applies a first voltage to the first region 601 of the LCOS, and the first region 601 to which the first voltage is applied is loaded with a first phase grating. The controller 207 also applies a second voltage to the second region 602 of the LCOS, and the second region 602 to which the second voltage is applied is loaded with a second phase grating. The first region 601 to which the first voltage is applied can realize a light splitting function. Specifically, the first region 601 to which the first voltage is applied is used to split the first sub-beam 211 to emit a business sub-beam 321 and a detection sub-beam 322. The controller 207 shown in this embodiment can be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the controller 207 can be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), central processor units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors.

[0080] Function 2 means that the redirection module 205 causes the service sub-beam 321 to be emitted from the redirection module 205 at a first emission angle, and causes the detection sub-beam 322 to be emitted from the redirection module 205 at a second emission angle. Specifically, the surface of the redirection module 205 is a 2-dimensional optical pixel matrix (e.g. Figure 6As shown, redirection module 205 has multiple columns of pixels along the Y direction and multiple rows of pixels along the X direction. By controlling the voltage of each pixel in redirection module 205, pixels in different regions undergo periodic phase changes, resulting in a sawtooth phase grating. The blazed grating equation can be used to determine the diffraction angles at different periods, diffracting the outgoing service sub-beam 321 and detection sub-beam 322 to different exit angles.

[0081] From the above description, it can be understood that the LCOS shown in this embodiment has two functions, while the existing LCOS only has one function of redirection. For a better understanding, the LCOS shown in the embodiment of this application is compared with the existing LCOS:

[0082] Figure 7 This is an example diagram of the phase grating structure after voltage is applied to an existing LCOS. Figure 7 The horizontal axis is the number of columns of pixels in the LCOS along the dispersion direction Y. The vertical axis is the voltage or phase applied to the corresponding area. For example, the existing LCOS has M columns of pixels along the dispersion direction Y. A beam of light is irradiated on the area 701 of the existing LCOS. The area 701 has the first N columns of pixels in the M columns of pixels along the dispersion direction Y, where M and N are both positive integers and N is less than M. After the controller applies a voltage to the area 701 of the LCOS, the area 701 forms a phase grating 702, that is, the phase grating 702 is Figure 7 As shown in the dotted box marked with reference numeral 702 . Figure 7 For the description of any area used for redirection, please refer to the description of area 701, and the details are not repeated here.

[0083] First, the light field expression at the region 701 of the LCOS is obtained. The light field expression at the region 701 is shown in Formula 1:

[0084] Formula 1: E = A*exp(i*phase). E is the complex amplitude of the light field in phase grating 702 after voltage is applied to region 701 (describing the basic information of light, including intensity and phase). A represents the light intensity in region 701 (default is 1). phase represents phase grating 702, i is a preset constant, and exp is an exponential function with the natural constant e as its base.

[0085] Then, the light field expression E at the region 701 is obtained by Fourier transform as follows: Figure 8 The frequency distribution of the phase grating 702 is shown. Figure 8 This is an example diagram of the frequency distribution of existing LCOS. Figure 8In the frequency distribution 800 shown, the horizontal axis X represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents the intensity corresponding to each frequency. It can be understood that frequency distribution 800 represents the Fourier transform of the light field expression E at region 701, resulting in the corresponding relationship between the intensity at different frequencies. The frequency distribution 800 of the existing LCOS phase grating 702 has only one peak 801. Therefore, region 701 of the LCOS only has a redirection function. That is, if region 701 receives a sub-beam, after the phase grating 702 is loaded into region 701, the phase grating 702 can redirect the sub-beam to the corresponding output port for output from the WSS.

[0086] Figure 9 This is an example diagram of the phase grating structure after voltage is applied to the LCOS provided in this application. Figure 9 The horizontal axis is the number of pixel columns of the LCOS along the dispersion direction Y. The vertical axis is the voltage or phase applied to the corresponding area. Figure 9 For a description of the coordinate system shown, see Figure 8 It is understood that after the controller applies the first voltage to the first region 601 of the LCOS, the first region 601 forms a first phase grating 901 (the first phase grating 901 is Figure 9 After the controller applies a second voltage to the second region 602 of the LCOS, the second region 602 forms a second phase grating 902 (the second phase grating 902 is Figure 9 The dotted box marked with reference number 902 is shown in the figure), and so on, which will not be described in detail.

[0087] First, the light field expression at the first area 601 of the LCOS is obtained. For details, please refer to the above formula 1 and will not be repeated here. Then, the light field expression E at the first area 601 is Fourier transformed to obtain the following: Figure 10 The frequency distribution of the first phase grating 901 is shown. Figure 10 This is an example diagram of the frequency distribution of LCOS provided in this application. Figure 10 For the description of the horizontal and vertical axes in the frequency distribution 1000 shown, please refer to Figure 8As shown, the details are not described in detail. It can be understood that the frequency distribution 1000 represents the correspondence between the light field expression E at the first region 601 and the intensity at different frequencies obtained by Fourier transform. The frequency distribution 1000 of the first phase grating 901 of the LCOS shown in this embodiment has two peaks, namely peak 1001 and peak 1002. The number of peaks in the frequency distribution 1000 is the same as the number of sub-beams emitted from the LCOS. It can be understood that in the frequency distribution, each peak corresponds to a redirection direction. Therefore, when the frequency distribution 1000 provided in this application includes two peaks, the number of sub-beams emitted from the LCOS is two. Specifically, the first phase grating 901 can redirect the detection sub-beam based on one peak to ensure that the detection sub-beam emerges from the first region 601 of the LCOS. The first phase grating 901 can redirect the service sub-beam based on the other peak to ensure that the service sub-beam emerges from the first region 601 of the LCOS. For the description of the frequency distribution corresponding to the second area of ​​LCOS provided in the embodiment of the present application, please refer to the description of the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0088] In this embodiment, the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area 601 has two peaks as an example. In other examples, the frequency distribution corresponding to the first area 601 may correspond to J peaks, where J is any positive integer not less than 2, so that the first area 601 can redirect at least one business sub-beam and, at the same time, the first area 601 can redirect at least one detection sub-beam.

[0089] Continue to see Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, the service sub-beam 321 emitted from the redirection module 206 at a first output angle passes through the second lens group, the dispersion module 203, and the first lens group in sequence, and is focused onto the corresponding output port 303. For the description of the second lens group, the dispersion module 203, and the first lens group transmitting the light beam, refer to the description of the second lens group, the dispersion module 203, and the first lens group transmitting the input light beam, and the details are not repeated here. The output port 303 shown in this embodiment is a section of optical fiber in the optical fiber array included in the WSS for outputting light beams. The detection sub-beam 322 emitted from the redirection module 206 at a second output angle passes through the second lens group, the dispersion module 203, and the first lens group in sequence, and is focused onto the detection port 305, where the detection port 305 is a section of optical fiber in the optical fiber array included in the WSS for outputting detection sub-beams. For the description of the arrangement of the output port 303 and the detection port 305 in the optical fiber array, refer to the description of the arrangement of the input ports in the optical fiber array, and the details are not repeated here.

[0090] The detection port 305 shown in this embodiment is also connected to the first detection module 206, which is used to detect the transmission of each sub-beam. For example, the first detection module 206 detects the transmission of each sub-beam based on at least one of the optical power of the detection sub-beam, the code pattern modulated by the detection sub-beam, the modulation rate of the detection sub-beam, or the packet loss rate of the detection sub-beam transmission. In this embodiment, transmitting the detection sub-beam to the first detection module 206 via the detection port 305 can improve the success rate of the detection sub-beam transmission to the first detection module 206.

[0091] This embodiment does not limit the detection method used by the first detection module 206; as long as the first detection module 206 can detect whether the WSS successfully switches each wavelength, it is sufficient. This embodiment uses the detection port 305 as an example for transmitting the detection sub-beam to the first detection module 206. In other examples, the WSS may not include the detection port 305. The detection sub-beam emitted from the redirection module 205 can be directly transmitted to the first detection module 206 through the second lens group, the redirection module 203, and the first lens group in sequence, although this is not limited in this embodiment.

[0092] The WSS shown in this embodiment includes a redirection module having both redirection and splitting functions. The redirection module is capable of splitting each sub-beam into a detection sub-beam and a service sub-beam, transmitting each service sub-beam to a corresponding output port, and transmitting the detection sub-beam to a first detection sub-module, which can then detect whether the transmission of each sub-beam is normal. It is understandable that because the redirection module shown in this embodiment has a splitting function, the WSS does not need to be configured with a splitter connected to each output port and a high-dimensional optical switch, effectively improving the integration of the WSS, reducing the volume occupied by a single WSS in the switching device, and increasing the number of WSSs included in the switching device, thereby increasing the transmission capacity of the switching device.

[0093] Combine Figure 11 The figure shows how WSS detects the transmission of each wavelength. Figure 11 This is an example diagram of the structure of another embodiment of the wavelength switching device provided by the present application along the port direction.

[0094] The WSS shown in this embodiment further includes an optical splitter 1101 and a second detection module 1103 connected in sequence to the input port 301 . The WSS further includes an optical splitter 1102 and a second detection module 1104 connected in sequence to the input port 302 .

[0095] Taking the optical splitter 1101 as an example, the optical splitter 1101 receives the light beam from the input port 301 and splits the light beam from the input port 301 to obtain the input light beam 311 and the detection light beam 1105. For an explanation of the process of WSS transmitting and exchanging the input light beam 311, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The corresponding description is not repeated in detail. The spectrometer 1101 transmits the detection beam 1105 to the second detection module 1103, and the second detection module 1103 is used to detect the transmission of the input beam 311 based on the detection beam 1105. For the description of the input port 302 transmitting the detection beam to the second detection module 1104 through the spectrometer 1102 and transmitting the input beam to the first lens group, please refer to the description of the input port 301 transmitting the detection beam to the second detection module 1103 through the spectrometer 1101 and transmitting the input beam to the first lens group, which is not repeated in detail. The optical power of the input beam 311 shown in this embodiment is greater than the optical power of the detection beam 1105 to ensure the successful transmission of the input beam 311.

[0096] The second detection module 1103 and the first detection module 206 can be a photoelectric diode (PD) or an optical power monitoring (OPM). The second detection module 1103 is used to detect the optical power of the detection beam 1105. The first detection module 206 is used to detect the optical power of the detection sub-beam 322. The controller 207 shown in this embodiment is connected to the second detection module 1103 and the first detection module 206 respectively. The controller 207 receives the optical power of the detection beam from the second detection module 1103 and the optical power of the detection sub-beam from the first detection module 206. The controller 207 calculates the insertion loss of the light beam input by the input port 301 after being exchanged by the WSS and output by the detection port 305 based on the optical power of the detection beam 1105 and the optical power of the detection sub-beam 322. If the controller 207 determines that the insertion loss is not less than the preset threshold, the controller 207 determines that the WSS exchange input beam 311 is abnormal. If the controller 207 determines that the insertion loss is greater than the preset threshold, the controller 207 determines that the WSS switching input beam 311 is normal.

[0097] In this embodiment, the redirection module 205 receives multiple sub-beams from the dispersion module 203. In order to realize the purpose of the first detection module 206 to detect whether each sub-beam is transmitted normally, the first detection module 206 detects whether each sub-beam is transmitted normally. Figure 12 As shown, Figure 12 This is an example diagram of the timing of the controller provided in this application loading voltage on the redirection module. The controller creates a loading voltage timing correspondence table as shown in Table 1:

[0098] Table 1

[0099] Voltage applied area Loading voltage time period Loaded voltage First Area The first time period First voltage Second area The second time period Second voltage … … … Sixth Area The sixth period Sixth voltage

[0100] As shown in Table 1, in the first time period, the controller only applies the first voltage to the first area of ​​the redirection module 205. The start time of the first time period is t0 and the end time is t1. For the description of each area of ​​the redirection module 205 and the description of the applied voltage, please refer to Figure 6 as well as Figure 9 It is understood that in the first time period, the controller only applies the first voltage to the first area of ​​the redirection module 205, so that in the first time period, the redirection module 205 only performs light splitting and redirecting on the sub-beams irradiated on the first area. For the description of light splitting and redirection, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The corresponding description will not be elaborated in detail. Then, the first detection module 206 will only receive the detection sub-beam emitted from the first area of ​​the redirection module 205, and will not receive the other detection sub-beam emitted from other areas of the redirection module 205. In the second time period, the controller only loads the second voltage on the second area of ​​the redirection module 205. The starting time of the second time period is t1, and the ending time is t2. In other examples, there may be a certain time slot interval between the first time period and the second time period. This embodiment does not limit the duration of the first time period and the second time period, and the time slot between the first time period and the second time period, as long as the intersection of the first time period and the second time period on the time axis is empty. Because the intersection of the first time period and the second time period on the time axis is empty, the first detection module 206 will not receive the detection sub-beam from the first area and the other detection sub-beam from the second area at the same time.

[0101] By analogy, during the sixth time period, the controller applies the sixth voltage only to the sixth region of the redirection module 205. This sixth time period starts at time t5 and ends at time t6. This embodiment uses the example of redirection module 205 having six regions, corresponding to six time periods. On the time axis, the intersection of any two of the six time periods is empty. Therefore, at any given moment, the first detection module 206 will only receive one detection sub-beam. It can be understood that, taking the wavelength of detection sub-beam 322 as λ1 as an example, if the first detection module 206 only transmits the optical power of detection sub-beam 322 emitted from the first region to the controller 207, the controller 207 calculates the insertion loss of the light beam input from input port 301, after switching through the WSS, and output from detection port 305 based on the optical power of detection beam 1105 and the optical power of detection sub-beam 322. If the controller 207 determines that the insertion loss is less than a preset threshold, the controller 207 determines that the WSS is normally switching the transmission of wavelength λ1. If the controller 207 determines that the insertion loss is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, the controller 207 determines that the transmission of the WSS switching wavelength λ1 is abnormal.

[0102] This embodiment uses the first detection module 206 as a PD or OPM as an example. In other examples, the first detection module 206 can be a module capable of detecting the modulated code type, modulation rate, and packet loss rate of each detection sub-beam, thereby determining whether the WSS switches the transmission of sub-beams based on the information modulated on each detection sub-beam. For example, the first detection module 206 can be a light sensor (LS) module. The LS module, also known as a channel sensing module, uses an amplitude-modulated pilot signal to identify each detection sub-beam and implements wavelength identification, optical power estimation, and path information transmission through the detection pilot signal. For a description of the type of the second detection module 1103, please refer to the description of the first detection module 206, and the details are not repeated here.

[0103] The WSS shown in this embodiment is based on the first detection module and the second detection module included in the WSS. It can detect whether each wavelength exchanged by the WSS is normal, thereby determining whether the WSS itself is in a normal working state. In the event that a fault point exists in the WSS, the WSS will be unable to successfully exchange input light beams. The first detection module and the second detection module can quickly locate the fault point, reduce the cost of locating the fault point, and improve the maintainability of the WSS. Among them, the fault point of the WSS refers to the failure of various components of the WSS (such as input ports, output ports, dispersion modules, redirection modules or controllers, etc.). The WSS fault point can also refer to the aging or displacement of the lenses included in the WSS, resulting in optical path failure, etc. Moreover, because the first detection module and the second detection module shown in this embodiment can also detect the modulated information on the light beam, it can monitor in real time whether the exchange path of each light beam in the WSS is correct, wherein the exchange path refers to the path of each light beam from a specific input port to the WSS and output from a specific output port of the WSS. The WSS can also monitor the flow rate of each light beam, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0104] Figure 13 This is a flowchart of the steps of the first embodiment of the optical switching method provided by this application. For the description of the WSS structure used in the optical switching method shown in this embodiment, please refer to the above embodiments and the details will not be repeated here.

[0105] Step 1301: The input port transmits the input light beam to the dispersion module.

[0106] For a detailed description of step 1301 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The description of the process of the input port 301 transmitting the input light beam 311 to the dispersion module 203 is omitted for clarity.

[0107] Step 1302: The dispersion module disperses the input beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmits the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module.

[0108] For a detailed description of the process of step 1302 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, the dispersion module 203 disperses the input beam 311 to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmits the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module 205, and the details are not repeated here.

[0109] Step 1303: The first area of ​​the redirection module splits the first sub-beam to obtain a service sub-beam and a detection sub-beam.

[0110] For a detailed description of the process of step 1303 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 9 as well as Figure 10 As shown, the light splitting function of the first area of ​​the redirection module 205 is described in detail without further elaboration.

[0111] Step 1304: The redirection module transmits the service sub-beam to the output port.

[0112] Step 1305: The redirection module transmits the detection sub-beam to the first detection module.

[0113] For a description of the execution process of steps 1304 to 1305 shown in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The description of the process of the redirection module 205 transmitting the service sub-beam 321 to the output port 303 and transmitting the detection sub-beam 322 to the first detection module 206 is not repeated in detail.

[0114] Step 1306: The first detection module detects the transmission of the sub-beam.

[0115] For a description of the execution process of step 1306 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The description of the process of the corresponding first detection module 206 detecting the detection sub-beam 322 is omitted for clarity.

[0116] For a description of the beneficial effects of the optical switching method shown in this embodiment executed by WSS, please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The description of the corresponding beneficial effects will not be repeated in detail.

[0117] Figure 14 This is a flowchart of the steps of the second embodiment of the optical switching method provided by this application. For the description of the WSS structure used in the optical switching method shown in this embodiment, please refer to the above embodiment, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0118] Step 1401: The input port transmits the input light beam to the dispersion module.

[0119] Step 1402: The dispersion module disperses the input beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmits the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module.

[0120] For a description of the execution process of steps 1401 to 1402 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 13 The description of the corresponding process from step 1301 to step 1302 is omitted for clarity.

[0121] Step 1403: The controller applies a first voltage to the first region.

[0122] Step 1404: Split the first sub-beam in the first region to which the first voltage is applied to obtain a service sub-beam and a detection sub-beam.

[0123] For a description of the execution process of steps 1403 to 1404 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 9 as well as Figure 10 The corresponding instructions are not detailed here.

[0124] Step 1405: The controller applies a first voltage to the second region.

[0125] Step 1406: Split the second sub-beam in the second region to which the second voltage is applied to obtain another service sub-beam and another detection sub-beam.

[0126] For a description of the execution process of steps 1405 to 1406 in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 9 、 Figure 10 as well as Figure 12 The corresponding instructions are not detailed here.

[0127] Step 1407: The redirection module transmits the service sub-beam to the output port.

[0128] The service sub-beams shown in this embodiment include a service sub-beam emitted from the first area and another service sub-beam emitted from the second area.

[0129] Step 1408: The redirection module transmits the detection sub-beam to the first detection module.

[0130] The detection sub-beams shown in this embodiment include a detection sub-beam emitted from the first area and another detection sub-beam emitted from the second area.

[0131] Step 1409: The first detection module detects the transmission of the sub-beam.

[0132] The first detection module shown in this embodiment detects the transmission of the detection sub-beam emitted from the first area and the transmission of another detection sub-beam emitted from the second area respectively.

[0133] Figure 15 This is a flowchart of the third embodiment of the optical switching method provided by this application. For the description of the WSS structure used in the optical switching method shown in this embodiment, please refer to the above embodiment, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0134] Step 1501: The optical splitter receives a light beam from an input port.

[0135] Step 1502: A beam splitter splits the light beam to obtain an input light beam and a detection light beam.

[0136] Step 1503: The optical splitter transmits the input light beam to the dispersion module.

[0137] Step 1504: The optical splitter transmits the detection light beam to the second detection module.

[0138] Step 1505: The second detection module detects the transmission of the detection light beam.

[0139] For a description of the execution process of steps 1501 to 1505 shown in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 11 The corresponding instructions are not detailed here.

[0140] Step 1506: The dispersion module disperses the input beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmits the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module.

[0141] Step 1507: The first region of the redirection module splits the first sub-beam to obtain a service sub-beam and a detection sub-beam.

[0142] Step 1508: The redirection module transmits the service sub-beam to the output port.

[0143] Step 1509: The redirection module transmits the detection sub-beam to the first detection module.

[0144] Step 1510: The first detection module detects the transmission of the detection sub-beam.

[0145] For a description of the execution process of steps 1506 to 1510 shown in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 13 The description of the execution process of the corresponding steps 1302 to 1306 is omitted for clarity.

[0146] Step 1511: The controller receives the optical power of the detection sub-beam from the first detection module.

[0147] Step 1512: The controller receives the optical power of the detection light beam from the second detection module.

[0148] Step 1513: The controller detects the transmission of the input light beam according to the optical power of the detection sub-beam and the optical power of the detection light beam.

[0149] For a description of the execution process of steps 1511 to 1513 shown in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 11 The corresponding instructions are not detailed here.

[0150] An embodiment of the present application provides a switching device. For a description of the structure of the switching device, please refer to the corresponding description of Figure 1, and the details are not repeated here.

[0151] Embodiments of the present application provide a waveform shaper (waveshaper), also known as a programmable optical filter. This waveform shaper is used to shape the spectrum of an input light beam into any user-defined shape and can be used in optical experiments. The waveform shaper includes an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first output port, and a second output port. The structures of the input port, dispersion module, redirection module, first output port, and second output port of the waveform shaper shown in this embodiment are described in the above embodiments and are not further described here.

[0152] The input port is configured to transmit an input light beam to the dispersion module. The dispersion module is configured to disperse the input light beam to obtain multiple sub-beams and transmit the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module. The redirection module is configured to split each sub-beam to obtain a first optical signal and a second optical signal. In this embodiment, the description of the input port transmitting the input light beam to the dispersion module, the dispersion module dispersing the input light beam, and the redirection module splitting the light beam is similar to that described in the above embodiment and is not further described here.

[0153] The redirection module in this embodiment not only has splitting and redirection functions, but also has a shaping function. Specifically, the redirection module shapes the spectrum of the split first optical signal to obtain a shaped first optical signal. Similarly, the redirection module shapes the spectrum of the split second optical signal to obtain a shaped second optical signal. Based on the redirection capability, the redirection module transmits the shaped first optical signal to the first output port and transmits the shaped second optical signal to the second output port.

[0154] As described above, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A wavelength switching device, characterized in that: It includes an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first detection module and an output port; The input port is used to transmit the input light beam to the dispersion module; The dispersion module is used to disperse the input light beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmit the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module; The redirection module is used to split the first sub-beam to obtain a business sub-beam and a detection sub-beam, and the first sub-beam is one of the multiple sub-beams; The redirection module is further used to transmit the service sub-beam to the output port, and transmit the detection sub-beam to the first detection module; The first detection module is used to detect the transmission of the first sub-beam according to the detection sub-beam.

2. The wavelength switching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The redirection module includes multiple areas, and the multiple areas include a first area. The first sub-beam is incident on the first area. The first area is used to emit the business sub-beam from the redirection module at a first exit angle, and emit the detection sub-beam from the redirection module at a second exit angle. The first exit angle is different from the second exit angle.

3. The wavelength switching device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device also includes a controller connected to the redirection module, the controller is used to apply a first voltage to a first area of ​​the redirection module, the first area to which the first voltage is applied is loaded with a first phase grating, and the first phase grating is used to split the first sub-beam to obtain the business sub-beam and the detection sub-beam.

4. The wavelength switching device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The controller is used to apply the first voltage to the first region in a first time period, and to apply a second voltage to the second region in a second time period, the second region to which the second voltage is applied is loaded with a second phase grating, the plurality of regions include the second region different from the first region, and on the time axis, the intersection of the first time period and the second time period is empty; The multiple sub-beams include a second sub-beam, the second sub-beam is incident on the second region, and the second phase grating is used to split the second sub-beam to obtain another service sub-beam and another detection sub-beam.

5. The wavelength switching device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The frequency distribution corresponding to the first phase grating has J peaks, where J is an integer not less than 2. The frequency distribution represents the correspondence between each frequency and intensity after the first phase grating is Fourier transformed. The detection sub-beam and the business sub-beam correspond to two of the J peaks, respectively.

6. The wavelength switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device also includes a spectrometer and a second detection module. The spectrometer is used to receive a light beam from the input port, split the light beam to obtain the input light beam and a detection light beam, and transmit the input light beam to the dispersion module and transmit the detection light beam to the second detection module. The second detection module is used to detect the transmission of the input light beam based on the detection light beam.

7. The wavelength switching device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device further includes a controller; the controller is used to receive the optical power of the detection sub-beam from the first detection module, and receive the optical power of the detection beam from the second detection module; The controller is further configured to detect the transmission of the input light beam according to the optical power of the detection sub-beam and the optical power of the detection light beam.

8. The wavelength switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device further includes a detection port, wherein the detection port is used to receive the detection sub-beam from the redirection module and transmit the detection sub-beam to the first detection module.

9. An optical switching method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a wavelength switching device, the wavelength switching device comprising an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first detection module and an output port, and the method comprises: transmitting an input light beam to the dispersion module through the input port; Dispersing the input light beam by the dispersion module to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmitting the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module; Splitting a first sub-beam by the redirection module to obtain a service sub-beam and a detection sub-beam, wherein the first sub-beam is one of the multiple sub-beams; Transmitting the service sub-beam to the output port through the redirection module, and transmitting the detection sub-beam to the first detection module; The transmission of the first sub-beam is detected by the first detection module and based on the detection sub-beam.

10. The optical switching method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device further includes a controller. Before splitting the first sub-beam by the redirection module to obtain a service sub-beam and detecting the sub-beam, the method further includes: A first voltage is applied to a first area of ​​the redirection module through the controller, and a first phase grating is loaded on the first area to which the first voltage is applied. The first phase grating is used to split the first sub-beam to obtain the business sub-beam and the detection sub-beam.

11. The optical switching method according to claim 10, characterized in that: Applying a first voltage to a first region of the redirection module by the controller includes: applying the first voltage to the first region by the controller during a first time period; The method further comprises: A second voltage is applied to the second area in a second time period by the controller, and a second phase grating is loaded on the second area to which the second voltage is applied. The multiple areas include the second area which is different from the first area. On the time axis, the intersection of the first time period and the second time period is empty. The multiple sub-beams include a second sub-beam, and the second sub-beam is incident on the second area. The second phase grating is used to split the second sub-beam to obtain another business sub-beam and another detection sub-beam.

12. The optical switching method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: The frequency distribution corresponding to the first phase grating has J peaks, where J is an integer not less than 2. The frequency distribution represents the correspondence between each frequency and intensity after the first phase grating is Fourier transformed. The detection sub-beam and the business sub-beam correspond to two of the J peaks, respectively.

13. The optical switching method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device further includes a spectrometer and a second detection module, and transmitting the input light beam to the dispersion module through the input port includes: receiving a light beam from the input port through the light splitter, splitting the light beam to obtain the input light beam and a detection light beam, and transmitting the input light beam to the dispersion module; After receiving the light beam from the input port through the optical splitter, the method further comprises: transmitting the detection light beam to the second detection module through the beam splitter; The transmission of the input light beam is detected by the second detection module and based on the detection light beam.

14. The optical switching method according to claim 13, characterized in that: The wavelength switching device further includes a controller. After the second detection module detects the transmission of the input light beam according to the detection light beam, the method further includes: receiving, by the controller, the optical power of the detection sub-beam from the first detection module, and receiving the optical power of the detection beam from the second detection module; The controller detects the transmission of the input light beam based on the optical power of the detection sub-beam and the optical power of the detection light beam.

15. A switching device, characterized in that: A wavelength switching device comprising a beam splitter, a coupler and any one of claims 1 to 8; The wavelength switching device is used to receive the first light beam from the beam splitter and receive the second light beam from the coupler; The wavelength switching device is used to switch the first light beam and the second light beam to output to the output port.

16. A waveform shaper, characterized in that: comprising an input port, a dispersion module, a redirection module, a first output port and a second output port; The input port is used to transmit the input light beam to the dispersion module; The dispersion module is used to disperse the input light beam to obtain multiple sub-beams, and transmit the multiple sub-beams to the redirection module; The redirection module is used to split a sub-beam to obtain a first optical signal and a second optical signal, the sub-beam being one of the multiple sub-beams, and to shape the first optical signal and the second optical signal to obtain a shaped first optical signal and a shaped second optical signal; The redirection module is further configured to transmit the shaped first optical signal to the first output port, and transmit the shaped second optical signal to the second output port.

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