Optical switch control system, optical switch device, and electronic apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technique that can be applied to complex non-power-fed optical switch systems.SOLUTION: An optical switch control system includes an optical switch and an optical switch control unit that transmits an optical path control signal to the optical switch. In the optical switch, the optical path directions of a first optical communication signal and a second optical communication signal are controlled by a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal, respectively, that are extracted from the optical path control signal. For example, the first optical path control signal has a first light amount, the second optical path control signal has a second light amount different from the first light amount, and the optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present technology relates to a switch control system, an optical switch device, and an electronic device, and more particularly to a switch control system including a non-powered optical switch device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which electricity is generated by a photovoltaic element based on an optical control signal, and an optical path is changed according to the amount of electricity generated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 57-155503 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is applied to a simple parasitic optical switch system, and a technology that can be applied to a complex parasitic optical switch system is desired.

[0005] An object of the present technology is to provide a technology that can be applied to a complex non-powered optical switch system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The concept of this technology is as follows: An optical switch device; an optical switch control unit that transmits an optical path control signal to the optical switch device; The optical switch device comprises: an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal; a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; In the light switch control system.

[0007] The present technology includes an optical switch device and an optical switch control unit that transmits an optical path control signal to the optical switch device. The optical switch device includes an extractor, a first optical communication signal optical path control unit, a second optical communication signal optical path control unit, a first photovoltaic element, and a second photovoltaic element.

[0008] The extraction unit extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal. The first optical communication signal optical path control unit controls the optical path direction of the first optical communication signal. The second optical communication signal optical path control unit controls the optical path direction of the second optical communication signal. Here, the first optical communication signal is an optical communication signal of main data actually used, and becomes a connection detection signal depending on the embodiment.

[0009] The first photovoltaic element generates power for controlling the optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extractor. The second photovoltaic element generates power for controlling the optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the second extractor.

[0010] For example, the first optical communication signal optical path control unit may be configured using a movable mechanism that changes the optical path direction by being driven by the power generated by the first photovoltaic element, and the second optical communication signal optical path control unit may be configured using a movable mechanism that changes the optical path direction by being driven by the power generated by the second photovoltaic element. This makes it possible to appropriately control the optical path directions of the first optical communication signal and the second optical communication signal.

[0011] Also, for example, the first optical path control signal may have a first light amount, the second optical path control signal may have a second light amount different from the first light amount, and the optical path control signal may include the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner. In this case, it is possible to reliably extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal based on the light amount.

[0012] In this case, for example, the extraction unit may include a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal of the first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal of the second optical path, an optical path control photovoltaic element that generates power based on the first branched optical path control signal, and an optical path control signal optical path control unit that controls the optical path direction of the second branched optical path control signal according to the power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element to extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal. This makes it possible to satisfactorily extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal, which are time-division multiplexed with different light amounts in the optical path control signal, in different optical path directions.

[0013] Here, for example, the light path control signal light path control section may be composed of a movable mechanism that changes the light path direction by being driven using the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element, such as a movable mirror or a mechanism that mechanically adjusts the light path. In this case, the light path direction is made different during each period of the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal that are included in the light path control signal in a time-division manner, and it becomes possible to satisfactorily extract the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal from the light path control signal in different light path directions.

[0014] In this case, for example, the first optical communication signal optical path control section may use the power generated by the first photovoltaic element via a low-pass filter, and the second optical communication signal optical path control section may use the power generated by the second photovoltaic element via a low-pass filter. In this case, the optical path control signal repeatedly includes the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a time-division manner, and even if the power generated by the first photovoltaic element and the second photovoltaic element is intermittent, it is possible to stably control the optical path direction of each of the first communication signal and the second communication signal.

[0015] Also, for example, the first optical path control signal may have a first wavelength, the second optical path control signal may have a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and the optical path control signal may include the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a wavelength multiplexed manner. In this case, it is possible to reliably extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal based on the wavelength.

[0016] In this case, for example, the extraction unit may include a wavelength separation unit (e.g., a prism, a diffraction grating, etc.) that receives an optical path control signal, outputs a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal in different directions, and extracts the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal. This makes it possible to satisfactorily extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal, which are wavelength-multiplexed with different wavelengths in the optical path control signal, in different optical path directions.

[0017] Also, for example, the extractor may further extract another optical path control signal different from the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal, and the optical switch device may further include an optical path control signal transmitter for transmitting the other optical path control signal to another optical switch device in a downstream stage. This makes it possible to control the optical path directions of optical communication signals in multiple optical switch devices by using one optical path control signal.

[0018] In this case, for example, the first optical path control signal may have a first light amount, the second optical path control signal may have a second light amount different from the first light amount, the other optical path control signal may have a light amount different from the first light amount and the second light amount, and the optical path control signal may include the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and the other optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner. In this case, it is possible to reliably extract the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and the other optical path control signal from the optical path control signal based on the light amount.

[0019] Here, for example, the extraction unit may include a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal and a second branched optical path control signal of the first optical path, an optical path control photovoltaic element that generates power based on the first branched optical path control signal, and an optical path control signal optical path control unit that controls the optical path direction of the second branched optical path control signal according to the power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element to extract the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and the other optical path control signal. This makes it possible to satisfactorily extract the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and the other control signal, which are time-division multiplexed with different light amounts in the optical path control signal, in different optical path directions.

[0020] In this case, for example, the optical path control signal optical path control unit may have a fluctuation prevention mechanism that prevents fluctuations in the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal. This makes it possible to transmit the third optical path control signal to the other optical switch device in the downstream stage satisfactorily without absorbing fluctuations on the path side for transmitting the other optical path control signal to the other optical switch device in the downstream stage.

[0021] Also, for example, the optical switch control unit may be configured to be able to transmit a connection detection signal to the optical switch as a first optical communication signal, and the first optical communication signal optical path control unit may control the optical path direction of the connection detection signal based on the optical path control signal to a first path direction for transmission to the optical switch control unit or a second path direction for transmission to another optical switch device at a downstream stage. This enables the optical switch control unit to detect the connection of the optical switch device and the downstream optical switch device.

[0022] In this case, for example, the first path may be a path different from the path of the input port of the first optical communication signal and the path of the input port of the second optical communication signal, which makes it possible to return the connection detection signal to the optical switch control unit via a path different from the path of the input port of the first optical communication signal and the path of the input port of the second optical communication signal.

[0023] In this case, for example, the first path may be the path of the input port of the second optical communication signal, which makes it possible to return the connection detection signal to the optical switch control unit by effectively utilizing the path of the input port of the second optical communication signal.

[0024] In this case, for example, the first optical communication signal optical path control unit uses the power intermittently generated by the first photovoltaic element via a low-pass filter, and the low-pass filter may have a unique time constant corresponding to the optical switch device. This enables the switch control unit to recognize the unique information of the optical switch device based on the time from when the optical path control signal is sent to when the connection detection signal is returned.

[0025] In this way, in this technology, the optical path directions of the first optical communication signal and the second optical communication signal are controlled in the optical switching device by the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal, respectively, which are extracted from the optical path control signal, making it possible to configure a complex non-powered optical switching system.

[0026] Another concept of the present technology is an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal; a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; Located in an optical switch device.

[0027] The present technology includes an extractor, a first optical communication signal optical path control section, a second optical communication signal optical path control section, a first photovoltaic element, and a second photovoltaic element.

[0028] The extractor extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal. The first optical communication signal optical path controller controls the optical path direction of the first optical communication signal. The second optical communication signal optical path controller controls the optical path direction of the second optical communication signal.

[0029] The first photovoltaic element generates power for controlling the optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extractor. The second photovoltaic element generates power for controlling the optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the second extractor.

[0030] For example, the extraction unit may include a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal of the first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal of the second optical path, an optical path control photovoltaic element that generates power based on the first branched optical path control signal, and an optical path control signal optical path control unit that controls the optical path direction of the second branched optical path control signal according to the power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element to extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal. This makes it possible to satisfactorily extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal, which are time-division multiplexed with different light amounts in the optical path control signal, in different optical path directions.

[0031] Also, for example, the extracting unit may further include an optical path control signal transmitting unit that further extracts another optical path control signal different from the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal and transmits the other optical path control signal to another optical switch device at a downstream stage. This makes it possible to control the optical path directions of optical communication signals not only in the optical switch device itself but also in other optical switch devices at downstream stages using one optical path control signal.

[0032] In this way, in this technology, a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal are extracted from an optical path control signal, and the optical path directions of the first optical communication signal and the second optical communication signal are controlled based on the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal, respectively, making it possible to configure a complex non-powered optical switch system.

[0033] Another concept of the present technology is A processing circuit; an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; an optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of a connection detection signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the connection detection signal output from the optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for supplying power to the processing circuit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; It's in electronic devices.

[0034] The present technology includes a processing circuit, an extractor, a light path controller, a first photovoltaic element, and a second photovoltaic element.

[0035] The extraction unit extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal. The optical path control unit controls the optical path direction of the connection detection signal. The first photovoltaic element generates power for controlling the optical path direction of the connection detection signal output from the optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit. The second photovoltaic element generates power for supplying power to the processing circuit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit.

[0036] In this way, in this technology, a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal are extracted from an optical path control signal, the optical path direction of the connection detection signal is controlled based on the first optical path control signal, and power is supplied to the processing circuit based on the second optical path control signal. Thus, connection detection and power supply can be performed by a single optical path control signal, making it possible to configure a complex non-powered optical switch system. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of an optical switch device. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining spatial propagation of collimated light in optical path conversion for coupling from an optical fiber to another optical fiber. [Figure 4] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of electrical connection between an optical path control photovoltaic element and a movable mirror in a switch control section, and an example of electrical connection between a photovoltaic element in the switch control section and a movable mirror in an optical path conversion section; [Diagram 5] 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal input to the optical switch device. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a change in current (current 1) flowing through a movable mirror of a photovoltaic element due to electric power generated in the light-path controlling photovoltaic element of the switch control section. [Figure 7] 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of optical path direction control of an optical path control signal in a switch control section during a period of a first control signal. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of optical path direction control of an optical path control signal in a switch control section during a period of a second control signal. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram for explaining a change in current (current 2) flowing through a movable mirror of an optical path changing section due to electric power generated by a photovoltaic element of a switch control section. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing changes in the current (current 2) flowing from the photovoltaic element of the switch control section through the low-pass filter to the movable mirror of the optical path conversion section from the start of input of the optical path control signal. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of optical path direction control of an optical communication signal 1 when the light amount of a first control signal is px1. FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of optical path direction control of the optical communication signal 1 when the light amount of the first control signal is px2. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of optical path direction control of the optical communication signal 1 when the light amount of the first control signal is px3. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of optical path direction control of an optical communication signal 2 when the light amount of a second control signal is py1. FIG. [Figure 15] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of optical path direction control of the optical communication signal 2 when the light amount of the second control signal is py2. FIG. [Figure 16] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of optical path direction control of an optical communication signal 2 when the light amount of a first control signal is py3. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical switch device capable of controlling the optical path directions of three optical communication signals based on one optical path control signal from an optical switch control center. [Figure 18] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of an optical path control signal when controlling optical path directions of three optical communication signals in an optical switch device. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 20]FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example in which two daisy-connected optical switch devices are controlled using two optical path control signals. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example in which two daisy-connected optical switch devices are controlled using one optical path control signal. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an optical path control signal when two daisy-connected optical switch devices are controlled. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an optical path control signal when controlling three daisy-connected optical switch devices. [Figure 24] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a path of an optical communication signal used between devices other than between devices A and B. FIG. [Diagram 25] 13 is a diagram showing another example of a path of an optical communication signal used between devices other than between devices AB. FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a connection check of a first-stage optical switch device that is daisy-connected. [Figure 28] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal when a first-stage optical switch device is a connection check target. FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a connection check of a daisy-connected second-stage optical switch device. [Diagram 30] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal when a second-stage optical switch device is a connection check target. FIG. [Diagram 31] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a connection check of a daisy-connected third-stage optical switch device. [Diagram 32] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal when a connection check is performed on the optical switch device at the third stage. FIG. [Diagram 33] 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of checking the connection of the optical switch device at each stage in the optical switch control center when three optical switch devices are daisy-connected. FIG. [Diagram 34] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system according to a fourth embodiment. [Diagram 35] FIG. 1 shows a state in which a first-stage optical switch device 1 is followed by a second-stage optical switch device 2 and an optical switch device 3 connected in parallel. [Diagram 36] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an optical path control signal when the first-stage optical switch device 1 is the target for a connection check. [Figure 37] 13 is a diagram showing an example of an optical path control signal when the second-stage optical switch device 2 is the target for a connection check. FIG. [Figure 38] 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second-stage optical switch device 2 during a connection check. FIG. [Figure 39] 13 is a diagram showing an example of an optical path control signal when the second-stage optical switch device 3 is the target for a connection check. FIG. [Diagram 40] 13 is a diagram for explaining an operation during a connection check of the second-stage optical switch device 3. FIG. [Diagram 41] 11 is a diagram for explaining another example of the configuration of the portion of the input optical fiber that constitutes the return path of the connection detection signal. FIG. [Diagram 42] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a connection check of each optical switch device when the optical switch devices are randomly connected up to the second stage and thereafter. [Diagram 43] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of an optical path control signal for comprehensively checking the connections of a plurality of randomly connected optical switch devices. [Diagram 44] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal for checking the connection of a specific optical switch device. [Diagram 45] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system in which a switch control center also transmits optical communication signals. [Diagram 46] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an optical switch control system that connects edge ICs (devices, etc.) in a large-scale area using optical switch devices. [Figure 47] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an edge IC. [Figure 48] 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of reading out unique information of an optical switch device using a connection detection signal; FIG. [Figure 49] 1 is a diagram for explaining that the time difference (constant time) between the input start timing of an optical path control signal and the output timing of a connection detection signal in an optical switch device is based on the time constant (RC parameter) of a low-pass filter. [Figure 50] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a connection check using a communication signal path. [Figure 51] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal when a first-stage optical switch device is a connection check target. FIG. [Figure 52] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a connection check of a daisy-connected second-stage optical switch device. [Figure 53] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path control signal when a second-stage optical switch device is a connection check target. FIG. [Figure 54] 1 is a diagram for explaining an example in which an optical path control signal includes a plurality of optical path control signals in a wavelength multiplexed manner; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiments") will be described. The description will be made in the following order. 1. Embodiment 1-1. Example of the configuration of an optical switch control system (first embodiment) 1-1-1. Example of optical switch device configuration 1-1-2.Other configuration examples of optical switch device 1-2. Example of the configuration of the optical switch control system (second embodiment) 1-2-1. Example of control of daisy-connected optical switch devices 1-2-2.Other examples of control of daisy-connected optical switch devices 1-3. Example of the configuration of the optical switch control system (third embodiment) 1-3-1.Example of control for checking the connection of daisy-connected optical switch devices 1-3-1-1. Checking the connection of the first stage optical switch device 1-3-1-2. Checking the connection of the second stage optical switch device 1-3-1-3. Checking the connection of the third stage optical switch device 1-4. Example of the configuration of the optical switch control system (fourth embodiment) 1-4-1. Example of control for checking connection of randomly connected optical switch devices 1-4-2.Other examples of control for checking connection of randomly connected optical switch devices 2. Variations 2-1. Example of optical switch control system configuration in which the switch control center transmits optical communication signals 2-2. Example of the configuration of an optical switch control system that connects edge ICs in a large area using optical switch devices 2-3. Example of reading unique information about optical switch device using connection detection signal 2-4. Example of connection check using communication signal path 2-5. Example of an optical path control signal including multiple optical path control signals in wavelength multiplexing

[0039] <1. Preferred embodiment> [1-1. Configuration example of optical switch control system (first embodiment)] 1 shows an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system 10A according to a first embodiment. The optical switch control system 10A constitutes a communication network unit that exists between device A and device B.

[0040] The optical switch control system 10A includes a plurality of optical switch devices 100A in a daisy-connected state, and an optical switch control center 200A constituting an optical switch control unit. For simplicity of illustration, an example in which four optical switch devices 100A are provided is shown in FIG.

[0041] The optical switch device 100A includes an optical path conversion unit 101 and a switch (SW) control unit 102. The optical path conversion unit 101 converts the optical path direction of an optical communication signal. The switch control unit 102 controls the operation of the optical path conversion unit 101 based on an optical path control signal transmitted from the optical switch control center 200A.

[0042] "1-1-1. Example of optical switch device configuration" 2 shows a configuration example of the optical switch device 100A. The optical switch device 100A has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port of an optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and functions as a branching section that branches the input optical path control signal into two. Note that it is also possible to optically branch the input optical path control signal into two using a half mirror or the like, rather than using an optical fiber.

[0043] The optical switching device 100A also has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal 1, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal 2. The optical switching device 100A also has output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for an optical communication signal 1, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for an optical communication signal 2.

[0044] The optical switch device 100A also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1. This optical path conversion unit 101-1 constitutes a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1. This optical path conversion unit 101-1 is composed of a movable mirror 101a, for example, a MEMS mirror. Note that this optical path conversion unit 101-1 may be composed of a mechanism that mechanically adjusts the optical path instead of the movable mirror 101a, and may generally be composed of a movable mechanism that changes the optical path direction. This is the same for other optical path conversion units described later. The optical communication signal 1 output from the input optical fiber 104 is input to any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0045] Here, in order to output the optical communication signal 1 output from the input optical fiber 104 in the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-1, an optical axis adjustment unit 104a is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 104. Also, in order to input the optical communication signal 1 from the optical path conversion unit 101-1 to the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 with high accuracy, an optical axis adjustment unit 106a is provided on the input side of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3. Although detailed explanations are omitted, these optical axis adjustment units 104a and 106a are configured, for example, using mirrors or lenses, or configured by bending optical fibers.

[0046] The optical switch device 100A also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2. This optical path conversion unit 101-2 constitutes a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2. This optical path conversion unit 101-2 is composed of a movable mirror 101a, for example, a MEMS mirror. The optical communication signal 2 output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0047] Here, in order to output the optical communication signal 2 output from the input optical fiber 105 in the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-2, an optical axis adjustment unit 105a is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 105. Also, in order to input the optical communication signal 2 from the optical path conversion unit 101-2 to the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 with high accuracy, an optical axis adjustment unit 107a is provided on the input side of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3. Although detailed description of these optical axis adjustment units 105a and 107a is omitted, they are configured using, for example, mirrors or lenses, or configured by bending optical fibers.

[0048] The optical switch device 100A also has a switch control section 102. The switch control section 102 has a photovoltaic element 102a for optical path control, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d. Here, the photovoltaic element 102c constitutes a first photovoltaic element, and the photovoltaic element 102d constitutes a second photovoltaic element. Here, the above-mentioned input optical fiber 103, the photovoltaic element 102a for optical path control and the movable mirror 102b of the switch control section 102 constitute an extraction section that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from an optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 constitutes a branching section, and the movable mirror 102b constitutes an optical path control signal optical path control section.

[0049] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal into two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal.

[0050] The movable mirror 102b is composed of, for example, a MEMS mirror, and controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching the optical path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103, according to the power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a. Note that the movable mirror 101b may be composed of, for example, a mechanism for mechanically adjusting the optical path, and generally may be composed of a movable mechanism for changing the optical path direction.

[0051] Here, the optical path control signal input to the optical switch device 100A includes a first optical path control signal with a first light amount and a second optical path control signal with a second light amount different from the first light amount, in a time division multiplexing manner. In this case, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 in the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-1, and the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 in the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0052] In addition, in the optical path conversion from an optical fiber to an optical fiber by the optical switch device 100A shown in Fig. 2, if the spatial transmission distance is long, it is considered that the light will be diffused and loss will occur. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, spatial propagation of collimated light is desirable. For example, by arranging a GRIN lens at the output end and the input end of the optical fiber, spatial propagation of collimated light is possible. This is also true in the optical path conversion from an optical fiber to an optical fiber by other optical switch devices described later.

[0053] 4(a) shows an example of electrical connection between the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a and the movable mirror 102b in the switch control section 102. In this case, the electric power generated in the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a is directly applied to the movable mirror 102b as driving power.

[0054] Therefore, during the period when the optical path control signal is the first optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the first optical path control signal, the first optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0055] Moreover, during the period when the optical path control signal is the second optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the second optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0056] The photovoltaic element 102c receives the first optical path control signal transmitted from the movable mirror 102b, generates electric power according to the light amount of the first optical path control signal, that is, electric power for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 outputted from the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and supplies the electric power to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 is controlled.

[0057] 4(b) shows an example of electrical connection between the photovoltaic element 102c in the switch control unit 102 and the movable mirror 101a in the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In this case, the power generated by the photovoltaic element 102c is given as drive power to the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 via the low-pass filter 101b (not shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity of the drawing). Note that, although an RC low-pass filter is shown as the low-pass filter 101b in the illustrated example, the low-pass filter 101b is not limited to an RC low-pass filter.

[0058] In this way, the power generated by the photovoltaic element 102c is supplied to the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 via the low-pass filter 101b, so that even if the power generated by the photovoltaic element 102c is intermittent, stable driving power can be supplied to the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and the optical path conversion unit 101-1 can stably control the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1.

[0059] The photovoltaic element 102d receives the second optical path control signal transmitted from the movable mirror 102b, generates electric power according to the light amount of the second optical path control signal, that is, electric power for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 output from the optical path conversion unit 101-2, and supplies the electric power to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 is controlled.

[0060] 4(b) also shows an example of electrical connection between the photovoltaic element 102d in the switch control unit 102 and the movable mirror 101a in the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In this way, the power generated by the photovoltaic element 102d is provided to the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-2 via the low-pass filter 101b, so that even if the power generated by the photovoltaic element 102d is intermittent, a stable driving power can be provided to the movable mirror 101a, and the optical path conversion unit 101-2 can stably control the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows an example of an optical path control signal input to the optical switch device 100A. The optical path control signal is a signal in which the period ta of the first optical path control signal and the period tb of the second optical path control signal are alternately successive. As described above, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 in the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and has a first light amount (power) within the range of px. By appropriately changing the first light amount of the first optical path control signal within the range of px, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 from the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 1 input to the input optical fiber 104 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0062] As described above, the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 in the optical path conversion unit 101-2, and has a second light amount (power) within the range of py. By appropriately changing the second light amount of the second optical path control signal within the range of py, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 from the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 2 input to the input optical fiber 105 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0063] Fig. 6(a) shows an example of electrical connection between the light path control photovoltaic element 102a and the movable mirror 102b in the switch control section 102, similar to Fig. 4(a) above. Fig. 6(b) shows a change in the current (current 1) flowing through the movable mirror 102b due to the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element 102a based on the light path control signal shown in Fig. 5 above. In this case, the current value is i-1 during the period ta of the first light path control signal, and the current value is i-2 during the period tb of the second light path control signal.

[0064] As described above, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) in the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c during the period ta of the first optical path control signal. In this case, the optical path control signal (first optical path control signal) reflected by the movable mirror 102b is adjusted so that it is received by the photovoltaic element 102c regardless of the amount of light (first amount of light) of the first optical path control signal within the range of px described above.

[0065] Fig. 7(a) shows an example of the light path control signal when the light amount of the first light path control signal in the period ta is the minimum light amount pxmin. Fig. 7(b) shows the light path direction of the light path control signal (first light path control signal) reflected by the movable mirror 102b in this case, and the first light path control signal is in a state where it is received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As the light amount of this first light path control signal becomes larger than the minimum light amount pxmin, the reflecting surface of the movable mirror 102b rotates clockwise, and the light path direction of the light path control signal (first light path control signal) reflected by this movable mirror 102b also rotates clockwise.

[0066] Fig. 7(c) shows an example of the control signal when the light amount of the first light path control signal in the period ta is the maximum light amount pxmax. Fig. 7(d) shows the light path direction of the light path control signal (first light path control signal) reflected by the movable mirror 102b in this case, and the first light path control signal is in a state of being received by the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0067] As described above, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) in the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d during the period tb of the second optical path control signal. In this case, the optical path control signal (second optical path control signal) reflected by the movable mirror 102b is adjusted so that it is received by the photovoltaic element 102d regardless of the amount of light (second amount of light) of the second optical path control signal within the range of py described above.

[0068] Fig. 8(a) shows an example of a control signal when the light amount of the first light path control signal in the period tb is the minimum light amount pymin. Fig. 8(b) shows the light path direction of the light path control signal (second light path control signal) reflected by the movable mirror 102b in this case, and the second light path control signal is in a state where it is received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As the light amount of this second light path control signal becomes larger than the minimum light amount pymin, the reflecting surface of the movable mirror 102b rotates clockwise, and the light path direction of the light path control signal (second light path control signal) reflected by this movable mirror 102b also rotates clockwise.

[0069] Fig. 8(c) shows an example of the control signal when the second light path control signal in the period tb has the maximum light amount pymax. Fig. 8(d) shows the light path direction of the light path control signal (second light path control signal) reflected by the movable mirror 102b in this case, and the second light path control signal is in a state of being received by the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0070] FIG. 9(a), like FIG. 4(b) above, shows an example of electrical connection between the photovoltaic element 102c in the switch control unit 102 and the movable mirror 101a in the optical path conversion unit 101-1, or between the photovoltaic element 102d in the switch control unit 102 and the movable mirror 101a in the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0071] FIG. 9(b) shows the change in the current (current 1) flowing to the low-pass filter 101b due to the power generated in the photovoltaic element 102c based on the first optical path control signal during the period ta of the optical path control signal shown in FIG. 5 described above, and the change in the current (current 2) flowing from this low-pass filter 101b to the movable mirror 101a.

[0072] In this case, current 1 flows intermittently only during period ta. On the other hand, current 2 is current 1 from which high frequency components have been removed by low-pass filter 101b, and enters a stable region after a certain time based on the time constant of low-pass filter 101b has elapsed since the start of input of the light path control signal.

[0073] Although detailed explanation is omitted, the same applies to the change in the current (current 1) flowing to the low-pass filter 101b due to the power generated in the photovoltaic element 102d based on the second optical path control signal during the period tb of the optical path control signal shown in Figure 5 described above, and the change in the current (current 2) flowing from this low-pass filter 101b to the movable mirror 101a.

[0074] Fig. 10 shows the change from the start of input of the optical path control signal in the current (current 2) I1 flowing through the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and the current (current 2) I2 flowing through the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-2. As shown in Fig. 5 above, the light amount of the first optical path control signal in the period ta is a first light amount within the range of px, and the light amount of the second optical path control signal in the period tb is a second light amount greater than the first light amount within the range of py. Therefore, the value of the current (current 2) I2 is greater than the value of the current (current 2) I1.

[0075] As described above, by appropriately changing the first light amount of the first optical path control signal within the range of px, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 from the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 1 input to the input optical fiber 104 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1. Also, as described above, by appropriately changing the second light amount of the second optical path control signal within the range of py, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 from the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 2 input to the input optical fiber 105 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0076] Fig. 11(a) shows an example of an optical path control signal when the light amount of the first optical path control signal in the period ta is set to px1. Fig. 11(b) shows that in this case, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 reflected by the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is the input side of the output optical fiber 106-1. In this case, the optical communication signal 1 input to the input optical fiber 104 is output from the output optical fiber 106-1 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0077] Fig. 12(a) shows an example of an optical path control signal when the light amount of the first optical path control signal in the period ta is set to px2. Fig. 12(b) shows that in this case, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 reflected by the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is the input side of the output optical fiber 106-2. In this case, the optical communication signal 1 input to the input optical fiber 104 is output from the output optical fiber 106-2 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0078] Fig. 13(a) shows an example of an optical path control signal when the light amount of the first optical path control signal in the period ta is set to px3. Fig. 13(b) shows that in this case, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 reflected by the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is the input side of the output optical fiber 106-3. In this case, the optical communication signal 1 input to the input optical fiber 104 is output from the output optical fiber 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0079] Fig. 14(a) shows an example of an optical path control signal when the light amount of the second optical path control signal in the period tb is set to py1. Fig. 14(b) shows that in this case, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 reflected by the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is the input side of the output optical fiber 107-1. In this case, the optical communication signal 2 input to the input optical fiber 105 is output from the output optical fiber 107-1 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0080] Fig. 15(a) shows an example of an optical path control signal when the light amount of the second optical path control signal in the period tb is set to py2. Fig. 15(b) shows that in this case, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 reflected by the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is the input side of the output optical fiber 107-2. In this case, the optical communication signal 2 input to the input optical fiber 105 is output from the output optical fiber 107-2 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0081] Fig. 16(a) shows an example of an optical path control signal when the light amount of the second optical path control signal in the period tb is set to py3. Fig. 16(b) shows that in this case, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 reflected by the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is the input side of the output optical fiber 107-3. In this case, the optical communication signal 2 input to the input optical fiber 105 is output from the output optical fiber 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0082] 1, the optical switch control system 10A shown in FIG. 1 controls the optical path directions of the optical communication signals 1 and 2 in the optical switch device 100A by the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal extracted from the optical path control signal, respectively, and it is possible to configure a complex non-power-supply optical switch system. In this case, only one optical path control signal is required to be transmitted from the optical switch control center 200A to the optical switch device 100A, which makes it possible to avoid the complexity of the optical fiber connections and also to reduce costs by reducing the number of optical fibers.

[0083] "1-1-2. Other configuration examples of optical switch device" In the above, an example has been shown in which the optical path directions of two optical communication signals are controlled in the optical switching device 100A based on one optical path control signal from the optical switching control center 200A (see FIG. 2). However, it is also possible to similarly control the optical paths of three or more optical communication signals based on one control signal.

[0084] Fig. 17 shows an example of the configuration of an optical switching device 100A' that can control the optical path directions of three optical communication signals based on one optical path control signal from an optical switching control center 200A, and Fig. 18 shows an overview of the optical path control signal in this case. In Fig. 17, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0085] The optical switch device 100A' has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for an optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and functions as a branching section that branches the input optical path control signal into two. Note that it is also possible to optically branch the input optical path control signal into two using a half mirror or the like, rather than using an optical fiber.

[0086] The optical switching device 100A' also has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for optical communication signal 1, an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for optical communication signal 2, and an input optical fiber 108 constituting an input port for optical communication signal 3. The optical switching device 100A' also has output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for optical communication signal 1, output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for optical communication signal 2, and output optical fibers 109-1 to 109-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for optical communication signal 3.

[0087] The optical switch device 100A' also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1. This optical path conversion unit 101-1 is composed of a movable mirror 101a, for example, a MEMS mirror. The optical communication signal 1 output from the input optical fiber 104 is input to one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0088] Here, in order to output the optical communication signal 1 output from the input optical fiber 104 in the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-1, an optical axis adjustment unit 104a is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 104. Also, in order to appropriately input the optical communication signal 1 from the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 to the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3, an optical axis adjustment unit 106a is provided on the input side of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3. Although detailed explanations are omitted, these optical axis adjustment units 104a and 106a are configured, for example, using mirrors or lenses, or configured by bending optical fibers.

[0089] The optical switch device 100A' also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2. The optical path conversion unit 101-2 is composed of a movable mirror 101a, for example, a MEMS mirror. The optical communication signal 2 output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0090] Here, in order to output the optical communication signal 2 output from the input optical fiber 105 in the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-2, an optical axis adjustment unit 105a is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 105. Also, in order to appropriately input the optical communication signal 2 from the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-2 to the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3, an optical axis adjustment unit 107a is provided on the input side of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3. Although detailed explanations are omitted, these optical axis adjustment units 105a and 107a are configured, for example, using mirrors or lenses, or configured by bending optical fibers.

[0091] The optical switch device 100A' also has an optical path conversion unit 101-3 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 3. The optical path conversion unit 101-3 is composed of a movable mirror 101a, for example, a MEMS mirror. The optical communication signal 3 output from the input optical fiber 108 is input to one of the output optical fibers 109-1 to 109-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-3.

[0092] Here, in order to output the optical communication signal 3 output from the input optical fiber 108 in the direction of the optical path conversion unit 101-3, an optical axis adjustment unit 108a is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 108. Also, in order to appropriately input the optical communication signal 3 from the optical path conversion unit 101-3 to the output optical fibers 109-1 to 109-3, an optical axis adjustment unit 109a is provided on the input side of the output optical fibers 109-1 to 109-3. Although detailed explanations are omitted, these optical axis adjustment units 108a and 109a are configured using, for example, mirrors or lenses, or configured by bending optical fibers.

[0093] The optical switch device 100A' also has a switch control section 102. The switch control section 102 has an optical path control photovoltaic element 102a, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, a photovoltaic element 102d, and a photovoltaic element 102e. Here, the photovoltaic element 102c constitutes a first photovoltaic element, the photovoltaic element 102d constitutes a second photovoltaic element, and the photovoltaic element 102e constitutes a third photovoltaic element.

[0094] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal into two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal.

[0095] The movable mirror 102b is composed of, for example, a MEMS mirror, and controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching the optical path control signal in two by the input optical fiber 103, in accordance with the power generated in the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a.

[0096] Here, the optical path control signal input to the optical switch device 100A' includes a first optical path control signal with a first light amount, a second optical path control signal with a second light amount different from the first light amount, and a third optical path control signal with a third light amount different from the first light amount and the second light amount, in a time division multiplexing manner. For example, the first light amount<the second light amount<the third light amount. In this case, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 described above, the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 described above, and the third optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 3 in the optical path conversion unit 101-3 described above.

[0097] As described above, the electric power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a is directly applied to the movable mirror 102b as drive power (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0098] Therefore, during the period when the optical path control signal is the first optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the first optical path control signal, the first optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0099] Moreover, during the period when the optical path control signal is the second optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the second optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0100] Also, during the period when the optical path control signal is the third optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102e. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the third optical path control signal, the third optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102e.

[0101] As described above, the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102c is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-1 via low-pass filter 101b, and the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102d is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-2 via low-pass filter 101b. Similarly, the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102e is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-3 via low-pass filter 101b (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0102] Therefore, even if the power generated by the photovoltaic elements 102c, 102d, and 102e is intermittent, stable driving power can be provided to the movable mirrors 101a of the optical path conversion units 101-1, 101-2, and 101-3, respectively, and the optical path conversion units 101-1, 101-2, and 101-3 can stably control the optical path directions of the optical communication signals 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

[0103] 18 shows an example of an optical path control signal input to the optical switching device 100A'. The optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of a period ta of a first control signal, a period tb of a second control signal, and a period tc of a third control signal.

[0104] As described above, the first control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 in the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and has a first light amount (power) within the range of px. By appropriately changing the first light amount of the first control signal within the range of px, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 from the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 1 input to the input optical fiber 104 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0105] As described above, the second control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 in the optical path conversion unit 101-2, and has a second light amount (power) within the range of py. By appropriately changing this second light amount within the range of py, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 from the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 2 input to the input optical fiber 105 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0106] As described above, the third control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 3 in the optical path conversion unit 101-3, and has a third light amount (power) within the range of pz. By appropriately changing this third light amount within the range of pz, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 3 from the optical path conversion unit 101-3 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 109-1 to 109-3, and therefore the optical communication signal 3 input to the input optical fiber 108 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 109-1 to 109-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-3.

[0107] [1-2. Configuration example of optical switch control system (second embodiment)] Fig. 19 shows an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system 10B as the second embodiment. The optical switch control system 10B constitutes a communication network unit existing between device A and device B. In Fig. 19, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0108] The optical switch control system 10B includes a plurality of optical switch devices 100B in a daisy-connected state, and an optical switch control center 200B that constitutes an optical switch control unit. For the sake of simplicity, an example in which four optical switch devices 100B are provided is shown in FIG.

[0109] The optical switch device 100B has an optical path conversion unit 101 and a switch (SW) control unit 102. The optical path conversion unit 101 converts the optical path direction of an optical communication signal, etc. The switch control unit 102 controls the operation of the optical path conversion unit 101 based on an optical path control signal.

[0110] In the optical switch control system 10A shown in FIG. 1 above, an optical path control signal is sent from the optical switch control center 200A to each optical switch device 100A, but in the optical switch control system 10B shown in FIG. 19, an optical path control signal is sent from the optical switch control center 200B to the first stage (leading) optical switch device 100B, and then the optical path control signal is sent sequentially from the leading optical switch device 100B to the subsequent stage optical switch device 100B.

[0111] "1-2-1. Example of control of daisy-connected optical switch devices" Fig. 20 shows a configuration example of an optical switch device 100B. This example is an example in which two daisy-connected optical switch devices 100B are controlled using two optical path control signals. In Fig. 20, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0112] The first-stage optical switch device 100B has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for the optical path control signal 1. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and outputs the input optical path control signal 1 by branching it into two.

[0113] The first-stage optical switch device 100B also has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for the optical path control signal 2, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for the optical communication signal x. The first-stage optical switch device 100B also has output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical path control signal 2, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical communication signal x.

[0114] Here, the optical path control signal 1 is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical path control signal 2 and the optical communication signal x in the first-stage optical switching device 100B, and the optical path control signal 2 is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x and the optical communication signal y in the second-stage optical switching device 100B. Here, the optical communication signal y is an optical communication signal used between devices other than between devices A and B, although it is not shown in FIG.

[0115] The first-stage optical switch device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the optical path control signal 2. The optical path control signal 2 output from the input optical fiber 104 is input to one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1. Here, it is input to the output optical fiber 106-1 and sent to the second-stage optical switch device 100B.

[0116] The first-stage optical switching device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x. The optical communication signal x output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2. Here, the optical communication signal x is input to the output optical fiber 107-1 and sent to the second-stage optical switching device 100B.

[0117] Moreover, the first-stage optical switch device 100B has a switch control section 102. This switch control section 102 has an optical path control photovoltaic element 102a, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d.

[0118] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal 1 in two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal. The movable mirror 102b controls the light path direction of the other light path control signal (second branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal 1 in two at the input optical fiber 103 according to the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control.

[0119] Here, the optical path control signal 1 includes a first optical path control signal with a first light amount and a second optical path control signal with a second light amount different from the first light amount, in a time division multiplexing manner. For example, the first light amount is smaller than the second light amount. In this case, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical path control signal 2 in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 described above, and the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 described above.

[0120] As described above, the electric power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a is directly applied to the movable mirror 102b as drive power (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0121] Therefore, during the period when the optical path control signal 1 is the first optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during the period when the optical path control signal 1 is the first optical path control signal, the first optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal 1 and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0122] Moreover, during the period when the optical path control signal 1 is the second optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As a result, during the period when the optical path control signal 1 is the second optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal 1 and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0123] As described above, the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102c is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-1 via low-pass filter 101b, and the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102d is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-2 via low-pass filter 101b (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0124] Therefore, even if the power generated by the photovoltaic elements 102c and 102d is intermittent, stable driving power can be provided to the movable mirrors 101a of the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2, respectively, and the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2 can stably control the optical path direction of the optical path control signal 2 and the optical communication signal x, respectively.

[0125] The second-stage optical switch device 100B has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for the optical path control signal 2. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and outputs the input optical path control signal 2 by branching it into two.

[0126] The second-stage optical switching device 100B has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal x, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal y. The second-stage optical switching device 100B has output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for an optical communication signal x, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for an optical communication signal y.

[0127] The second-stage optical switch device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x. The optical communication signal x output from the input optical fiber 104 is input to one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1. Here, the optical communication signal x is input to the output optical fiber 106-1 and transmitted to the subsequent stage.

[0128] The second-stage optical switch device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal y. The optical communication signal y output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2. Here, the optical communication signal y is input to the output optical fiber 106-1 and transmitted to the subsequent stage.

[0129] Moreover, the second-stage optical switch device 100B has a switch control section 102. This switch control section 102 has an optical path control photovoltaic element 102a, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d.

[0130] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal 2 in two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal. The movable mirror 102b controls the light path direction of the other light path control signal (second branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal 2 in two at the input optical fiber 103 according to the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control.

[0131] Here, the optical path control signal 2 includes a first optical path control signal of a first light amount and a second optical path control signal of a second light amount different from the first light amount, in a time division multiplexing manner. In this case, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-1, and the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal y in the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0132] As described above, the electric power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a is directly applied to the movable mirror 102b as drive power (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0133] Therefore, during the period when the optical path control signal 2 is the first optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during the period when the optical path control signal 2 is the first optical path control signal, the first optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal 2 and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0134] Moreover, during the period when the optical path control signal 2 is the second optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As a result, during the period when the optical path control signal 2 is the second optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal 2 and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0135] As described above, the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102c is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-1 via low-pass filter 101b, and the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102d is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-2 via low-pass filter 101b (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0136] Therefore, even if the power generated by the photovoltaic elements 102c and 102d is intermittent, stable driving power can be provided to the movable mirrors 101a of the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2, respectively, and the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2 can stably control the optical path directions of the optical path control signals x and optical communication signals y, respectively.

[0137] In the example shown in Fig. 20, the case where two daisy-connected optical switch devices 100B are controlled has been described. Although detailed description is omitted, three or more daisy-connected optical switch devices can also be controlled in a similar configuration by further increasing the number of control signals.

[0138] "1-2-2. Other examples of control of daisy-connected optical switch devices" Fig. 21 shows a configuration example of an optical switch device 100B. This example shows a case where two daisy-connected optical switch devices 100B are controlled using one optical path control signal. In Fig. 21, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0139] The first-stage optical switch device 100B has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for an optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and outputs the input optical path control signal by branching it into two.

[0140] The first-stage optical switching device 100B also has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal x, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal y. The first-stage optical switching device 100B also has output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical communication signal x, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical communication signal y. Here, the optical communication signal y is an optical communication signal used between devices other than between devices A and B, although it is omitted in FIG. 19.

[0141] The first-stage optical switch device 100B also has an output optical fiber 110 that constitutes an output port for an optical path control signal. Here, the output optical fiber 110 constitutes an optical path control signal transmitting unit that transmits another optical path control signal to another optical switch device in a subsequent stage. An optical axis adjusting unit 110a is provided on the input side of this output optical fiber 110 in order to input an optical path control signal from the switch control unit 102 to the output optical fiber 110 with high accuracy, as will be described later. Although a detailed description of this optical axis adjusting unit 110a is omitted, it is configured in the same manner as the other optical axis adjusting units 104a, 106a, 105a, and 107a.

[0142] The first-stage optical switching device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x. The optical communication signal x output from the input optical fiber 104 is input to one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1. Here, the optical communication signal x is input to the output optical fiber 106-1 and sent to the second-stage optical switching device 100B.

[0143] The first-stage optical switch device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal y. The optical communication signal y output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2. Here, the optical communication signal y is input to the output optical fiber 107-1.

[0144] The first-stage optical switch device 100B also has a switch control section 102. This switch control section 102 has a photovoltaic element 102a for optical path control, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d. Here, the above-mentioned input optical fiber 103, and the photovoltaic element 102a for optical path control and the movable mirror 102b of this switch control section 102 constitute an extraction section that extracts the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and further another optical path control signal different from them from the optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 constitutes a branching section, and the movable mirror 102b constitutes an optical path control signal optical path control section.

[0145] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal. The movable mirror 102b controls the light path direction of the other light path control signal (second branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103 according to the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control.

[0146] Here, the light path control signal includes a first light path control signal with a first light amount, a second light path control signal with a second light amount different from the first light amount, a third light path control signal with a third light amount different from the first light amount and the second light amount, and a fourth light path control signal with a fourth light amount different from the first light amount to the third light amount. For example, the first light amount<the second light amount<the third light amount<the fourth light amount. Here, the third light path control signal and the fourth light path control signal constitute other light path control signals different from the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal.

[0147] In this case, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 described above, and the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal y in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 described above. The third optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 of the second-stage optical switch device 100B described below, and the fourth optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal z in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 of the second-stage optical switch device 100B described below. Here, the optical communication signal z is an optical communication signal used between devices other than between devices A and B, although it is omitted in FIG. 19.

[0148] As described above, the electric power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a is directly applied to the movable mirror 102b as drive power (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0149] Therefore, during the period when the optical path control signal is the first optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the first optical path control signal, the first optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0150] Moreover, during the period when the optical path control signal is the second optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal is the second optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0151] Furthermore, during a period in which the optical path control signal is the other control signal (the third optical path control signal and the fourth optical path control signal), the movable mirror 102b is in a state in which it controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (the second branched optical path control signal) in a direction in which it is input to the output optical fiber 110. As a result, during a period in which this optical path control signal is the other optical path control signal (the third optical path control signal and the fourth optical path control signal), the other optical path control signals (the third optical path control signal and the fourth optical path control signal) are extracted from the optical path control signal, input to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the optical switch device 100B at the next stage.

[0152] In this case, the light amount of the other optical path control signal may fluctuate and deviate from the control target, and the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal transmitted to the input side of the output optical fiber 110 via the movable mirror 102b may fluctuate. Therefore, in order to input the other optical path control signal to the output optical fiber 110 with high accuracy, a method of using an output optical fiber 110 with a large core diameter of, for example, about 1 mm and not compatible with high-speed communication, since high-speed communication is not necessary for the optical path control signal, or arranging a condenser lens on the input side of the output optical fiber 110 to absorb the fluctuation in the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal may be considered.

[0153] In order to input the other optical path control signal to the output optical fiber 110 with high accuracy, the movable mirror 102b constituting the optical path control signal optical path control section may have a fluctuation prevention mechanism for preventing fluctuation in the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal. This fluctuation prevention mechanism, for example, brings the movable mirror 102b into contact with the end of the movable range and fixed, that is, into a fully swung state, even when the light amount of the other optical path control signal is the minimum. As a result, the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal transmitted to the input side of the output optical fiber 110 via the movable mirror 102b is fixed without fluctuation, and it becomes possible to input the other optical path control signal to the output optical fiber 110 with high accuracy without taking measures such as increasing the core diameter of the output optical fiber 110.

[0154] As described above, the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102c is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-1 via low-pass filter 101b, and the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102d is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-2 via low-pass filter 101b (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0155] Therefore, even if the power generated by the photovoltaic elements 102c and 102d is intermittent, stable driving power can be provided to the movable mirrors 101a of the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2, respectively, and the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2 can stably control the optical path directions of the optical communication signals x and y, respectively.

[0156] The second-stage optical switch device 100B has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for an optical path control signal (another optical path control signal). Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and outputs the input optical path control signal by branching it into two.

[0157] The second-stage optical switching device 100B has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal x, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal z. The second-stage optical switching device 100B has output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical communication signal x, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical communication signal z.

[0158] Similarly to the first-stage optical switch device 100B described above, the second-stage optical switch device 100B has an output optical fiber 110 that constitutes an output port of an optical path control signal. The second-stage optical switch device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x. The optical communication signal x output from the input optical fiber 104 is input to one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1. Here, it is input to the output optical fiber 106-1. The second-stage optical switch device 100B also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of the optical communication signal z. The optical communication signal z output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2. Here, it is input to the output optical fiber 107-1.

[0159] Moreover, the second-stage optical switch device 100B has a switch control section 102. This switch control section 102 has an optical path control photovoltaic element 102a, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d.

[0160] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal (other light path control signal) in two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal. The movable mirror 102b controls the light path direction of the other light path control signal (second branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal (other light path control signal) in two at the input optical fiber 103 according to the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control.

[0161] Here, the optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) includes a third optical path control signal with a third amount of light and a fourth optical path control signal with a fourth amount of light different from the third amount of light in a time division multiplexed manner. In this case, the third optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 described above, and the fourth optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal z in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 described above.

[0162] As described above, the electric power generated by the optical path control photovoltaic element 102a is directly applied to the movable mirror 102b as drive power (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0163] Therefore, during the period when the optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) is the third optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) is the third optical path control signal, the third optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0164] Moreover, during the period when the optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) is the fourth optical path control signal, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) to the direction received by the photovoltaic element 102d. As a result, during the period when this optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) is the fourth optical path control signal, the fourth optical path control signal is extracted from the optical path control signal (another optical path control signal) and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d.

[0165] As described above, the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102c is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-1 via low-pass filter 101b, and the electric power generated by photovoltaic element 102d is provided as driving power to movable mirror 101a of optical path conversion unit 101-2 via low-pass filter 101b (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0166] Therefore, even if the power generated by the photovoltaic elements 102c and 102d is intermittent, stable driving power can be provided to the movable mirrors 101a of the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2, respectively, and the optical path conversion units 101-1 and 101-2 can stably control the optical path directions of the optical path control signals x and optical communication signals z, respectively.

[0167] 22 shows an example of an optical path control signal input to the first-stage optical switching device 100B. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of a period ta of a first optical path control signal, a period tb of a second optical path control signal, a period ta' of a third optical path control signal, and a period tb' of a fourth optical path control signal.

[0168] As described above, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 of the first-stage optical switch device 100B, and has a first light amount (power) within the range of px. By appropriately changing the first light amount of the first optical path control signal within the range of px, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x from the optical path conversion unit 101-1 of the first-stage optical switch device 100B is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3, and therefore the optical communication signal x input to the input optical fiber 104 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0169] As described above, the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal y in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 of the first-stage optical switch device 100B, and has a second light amount (power) within the range of py. By appropriately changing the second light amount of the second optical path control signal within the range of py, the optical path direction of the optical communication signal y from the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3, and therefore the optical communication signal y input to the input optical fiber 105 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0170] Moreover, the third optical path control signal and the fourth optical path control signal are input to the second stage optical switch device 100B as other control signals.

[0171] As described above, the third optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x in the optical path conversion unit 101-1 of the second-stage optical switch device 100B, and has a third light amount (power) within the range of px'. By appropriately changing the third light amount of the third optical path control signal within the range of px', the optical path direction of the optical communication signal x from the optical path conversion unit 101-1 of the second-stage optical switch device 100B is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3, and therefore the optical communication signal x input to the input optical fiber 104 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 106-1 to 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1.

[0172] As described above, the fourth optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal z in the optical path conversion unit 101-2 of the second-stage optical switch device 100B, and has a fourth light amount (power) within the range of py'. By appropriately changing the fourth light amount of the fourth optical path control signal within the range of py', the optical path direction of the optical communication signal z from the optical path conversion unit 101-2 is selectively switched to the input side of any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3, and therefore the optical communication signal z input to the input optical fiber 105 can be selectively output from any one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0173] 21, a case has been described where two daisy-connected optical switch devices 100B are controlled. Although detailed description will be omitted, three or more daisy-connected optical switch devices can also be controlled in a similar configuration by including a control signal for controlling all of the subsequent optical switch devices 100B in the optical path control signal input to the first-stage optical switch device 100B.

[0174] 23 shows an example of an optical path control signal in the case of controlling three daisy-connected optical switching devices 100B. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of a period ta of a first optical path control signal, a period tb of a second optical path control signal, a period ta' of a third optical path control signal, a period tb' of a fourth optical path control signal, a period ta" of a fifth optical path control signal, and a period tb" of a sixth optical path control signal.

[0175] The first and second optical path control signals are for controlling the first-stage optical switch device 100B. The first optical path control signal has a first light amount (power) within a range of px, and the second control signal has a second light amount (power) within a range of py.

[0176] The third optical path control signal to the sixth optical path control signal are sent from the first stage optical switch device 100B to the second stage optical switch device 100B as other optical path control signals. The third optical path control signal and the fourth optical path control signal are for controlling the second stage optical switch device 100B. The third optical path control signal has a third light amount (power) within the range of px', and the fourth control signal has a fourth light amount (power) within the range of py'.

[0177] The fifth optical path control signal and the sixth optical path control signal are sent from the second stage optical switch device 100B to the third stage optical switch device 100B as other optical path control signals. The fifth optical path control signal and the sixth optical path control signal are for controlling the third stage optical switch device 100B. The fifth optical path control signal has a fifth light amount (power) in the range of px", and the sixth control signal has a sixth light amount (power) in the range of py".

[0178] 19, a complex non-power-supply optical switch system can be configured by transmitting an optical path control signal from the optical switch control center 200B to only the first-stage optical switch device 100B, which avoids the complexity of optical fiber connections and reduces costs by reducing the number of optical fibers.

[0179] In addition, in the above-mentioned Fig. 19, optical communication signals used between devices other than between devices A and B are omitted from the illustration. Fig. 24 shows an example of a path of an optical communication signal y in the configuration example of the optical switching device 100B in Fig. 20, for example. In this example, the optical communication signal y is sent from device C to the second-stage optical switching device 100B, and then sent to device D via the third-stage and fourth-stage optical switching devices 100B. Note that the optical communication signal x is sent from device A to the first-stage optical switching device 100B, and then sent to device B via the second-stage, third-stage and fourth-stage optical switching devices 100B.

[0180] FIG. 25 also shows an example of a path of an optical communication signal y in the configuration example of the optical switch device 100B in FIG. 20. The optical communication signal y is sent from device C to the second-stage optical switch device 100B, and then sent from this second-stage optical switch device 100B to the third-stage optical switch device 100B in the other four daisy-connected optical switch devices 100B, and then sent to device D via the fourth-stage optical switch device 100B. Here, an example in which devices C and D are connected across two daisy-connected optical switch devices is shown, but in the case of connecting across multiple daisy-connected optical switch devices, it is possible to perform optical path control by preparing multiple optical path control signals. In this example, the optical communication signal x is sent from device A to the first-stage optical switch device 100B, and then sent to device B via the second-stage, third-stage, and fourth-stage optical switch devices 100B.

[0181] 24 and 25 are merely examples of the path of the optical communication signal y in the configuration example of the optical switching device 100B in Fig. 20, and the path of the optical communication signal y in the configuration example of the optical switching device 100B in Fig. 20 is not limited to these paths. For example, as another example, the optical communication signal y may be sent to the second-stage optical switching device 100B not from the device C but from another optical switching device 100B.

[0182] In addition, although detailed explanation is omitted, the paths of the optical communication signals y and z used between devices other than devices A and B in the configuration example of the optical switching device 100B in FIG. 21 can be considered to be similar to the path of the optical communication signal y in the configuration example of the optical switching device 100B in FIG. 20 described above.

[0183] 1, optical communication signals used between devices other than devices A and B are omitted, but the path of the optical communication signal used between devices other than devices A and B can be considered to be similar to the path of the optical communication signal y in the configuration example of the optical switch device 100B in Fig. 20. In the optical switch control system 10A shown in Fig. 1 and the optical switch control system 10B shown in Fig. 19, the second and subsequent stages of the multiple optical switch devices constituting the daisy-connected optical switch device may include optical switch devices having only one input for an optical communication signal.

[0184] [1-3. Configuration example of optical switch control system (third embodiment)] Fig. 26 shows an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system 10C as the third embodiment. The optical switch control system 10C constitutes a communication network unit existing between device A and device B. In Fig. 26, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 19 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0185] The optical switch control system 10C includes a plurality of optical switch devices 100C in a daisy-connected state, and an optical switch control center 200C that constitutes an optical switch control unit. For the sake of simplicity, an example in which four optical switch devices 100C are used is shown in FIG.

[0186] The optical switch device 100C includes an optical path conversion unit 101 and a switch (SW) control unit 102. The optical path conversion unit 101 converts the optical path direction of a connection detection signal, an optical communication signal, etc. The switch control unit 102 controls the operation of the optical path conversion unit 101 based on an optical path control signal.

[0187] In the optical switch control system 10B shown in Fig. 19 above, an optical path control signal is sent from the optical switch control center 200B to the first stage (leading) optical switch device 100B. However, in the optical switch control system 10C shown in Fig. 26, when checking the connection state of a plurality of optical switch devices 100C in a daisy-connected state (in scan mode), a connection detection signal (optical signal) is sent from the optical switch control center 200C to the first stage optical switch device 100C together with the optical path control signal.

[0188] In this case, the optical switch control center 200C sends a connection detection signal to the first-stage optical switch device 100C, along with an optical path control signal corresponding to the position of the optical switch device 100C being checked for connection, in this case the stage, and checks the connection status of the optical switch device 100C being checked for connection based on whether or not the connection detection signal is returned.

[0189] The connection state of each of the optical switch devices 100C in the daisy-connected state is checked before communication is performed between device A and device B. During communication, similar to the optical switch control system 10B shown in Fig. 19 above, for example, only an optical path control signal is supplied from the optical switch control center 200C to the first-stage optical switch device 100C, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal is controlled in the optical switch device 100C of each stage.

[0190] "1-3-1. Example of control for checking the connection of daisy-connected optical switch devices" (1-3-1-1. Checking the connection of the first stage optical switch device) Fig. 27 shows a configuration example of an optical switching device 100C. This example shows only the first-stage optical switching device 100C. In Fig. 27, parts corresponding to Fig. 2 and Fig. 21 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0191] The first-stage optical switch device 100C has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for an optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and outputs the input optical path control signal by branching it into two.

[0192] The first-stage optical switching device 100C also has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for a connection detection signal as the optical communication signal 1, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal (optical communication signal 2). The first-stage optical switching device 100C also has an output optical fiber 106 constituting an output port for the connection detection signal, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for the optical communication signal 2. The first-stage optical switching device 100C also has an output optical fiber 110 constituting an output port for an optical path control signal.

[0193] The first-stage optical switch device 100C has an input optical fiber 111 that constitutes an input port (return path of the connection detection signal) for the connection detection signal returning from the second-stage optical switch device 100C, and an output optical fiber 112 that constitutes an output port (connection detection path) for the connection detection signal. An optical axis adjustment unit 111a is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 111 to orient the connection detection signal output from the input optical fiber 111 toward the output optical fiber 112. An optical axis adjustment unit 112a is provided on the input side of the output optical fiber 112 to accurately input the connection detection signal from the input optical fiber 111 and an optical path conversion unit 101-1 described later. Although detailed description is omitted, these optical axis adjustment units 111a and 112a are configured, for example, using mirrors or lenses, or configured by bending optical fibers.

[0194] The first-stage optical switch device 100C also has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of a connection detection signal. The connection detection signal output from the input optical fiber 104 is controlled via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 to the direction of a first path for transmission to the optical switch control center 200C, that is, the direction of the output optical fiber 112, or the direction of a second path for transmission to the subsequent-stage optical switch device 100C, that is, the direction of the output optical fiber 106.

[0195] The first-stage optical switch device 100C also has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of an optical communication signal (corresponding to the optical communication signal 2 in FIG. 2). The optical communication signal output from the input optical fiber 105 is input to one of the output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0196] Moreover, the first-stage optical switch device 100C has a switch control section 102. This switch control section 102 has an optical path control photovoltaic element 102a, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d.

[0197] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal. The movable mirror 102b controls the light path direction of the other light path control signal (second branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103 according to the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control.

[0198] The photovoltaic element 102c receives the optical path control signal transmitted from the movable mirror 102b, generates power according to the light amount of this optical path control signal, that is, power for controlling the optical path direction of the connection detection signal output from the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-1, and supplies the power to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the optical path direction of the connection detection signal is controlled.

[0199] The photovoltaic element 102d receives the optical path control signal transmitted from the movable mirror 102b, generates electric power according to the light amount of the optical path control signal, that is, electric power for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal output from the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-2, and supplies the electric power to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal is controlled.

[0200] Here, the optical path control signal during a connection check of each optical switch device 100C in a plurality of daisy-connected optical switch devices 100C is set to a different state depending on the stage in which the optical switch device 100C that is the subject of the connection check is located.

[0201] For example, if the optical switch device 100C to be checked for connection is the first stage, the optical path control signal includes an optical path control signal with a light intensity p1a for returning a connection detection signal to the switch control center 200C in this first stage optical switch device 100C.

[0202] For example, when the optical switch device 100C to be checked for connection is the nth stage (n=2, 3, 4, . . . ), the optical path control signal includes optical path control signals with light intensities p1b to p(n-1)b for sending a connection detection signal to the optical switch device 100C of the next stage in the optical switch devices 100C up to the previous stage, and an optical path control signal with light intensities pna for returning the connection detection signal to the optical switch device 100C of the previous stage in the optical switch device 100C to be checked for connection. The magnitude relationship of the light intensities in this case is, for example, p1a <p1b<p2a<p2b<p3a<p3b<···である。

[0203] In the first-stage optical switch device 100C, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) in a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1a. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1a, the optical path control signal with the light amount p1a is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0204] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p1a, and this power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path changing unit 101-1 and returned to the optical switch control center 200C.

[0205] In the first-stage optical switch device 100C, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) in a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1b. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1b, the optical path control signal with the light amount p1b is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0206] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light quantity p1b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106 via the optical path changing unit 101-1, and is sent to the next-stage optical switch device 100C (not shown in FIG. 27).

[0207] In the first-stage optical switch device 100C, the movable mirror 102b is in a state where it controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) in a direction to input to the output optical fiber 110 during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py. As a result, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py, an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py is extracted from the optical path control signal and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the next-stage optical switch device 100C. In this embodiment, since it is preferable to avoid an amount of light close to a boundary or a state close to a transition, the amount of light exceeding py is set to be equal to or greater than p2a, rather than an amount of light slightly exceeding py.

[0208] 28 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the first-stage optical switching device 100C is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0209] The light path control signal in the period ta is set to p1a, which is the minimum light amount within the range of px. In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb is set to the maximum light amount within the range of py, the light path control signal in the period ta' is set to p2a, which is the minimum light amount within the range of px', the light path control signal in the period tb' is set to the maximum light amount within the range of py', the light path control signal in the period ta" is set to p3a, which is the minimum light amount within the range of px", and the light path control signal in the period tb" is set to the maximum light amount within the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the first-stage optical switch device 100C is in a connection check state, and the light path control signal from the period tb to the period tb" is not used. In addition, in the light path control signal, the period tb to the period tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0210] A case will be described where an optical path control signal shown in FIG. 28 is input from the optical switch control center 200C to the first stage optical switch device 100C together with a connection detection signal.

[0211] During a period ta, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1a, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch control center 200C.

[0212] This allows the optical switch control center 200C to detect the connection of the first-stage optical switch device 100C. In this case, if the first-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200C, and the optical switch control center 200C can detect that the first-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected.

[0213] (1-3-1-2. Checking the connection of the second stage optical switch device) Figure 29 shows a state in which two optical switching devices 100C are daisy-connected. In Figure 29, parts corresponding to those in Figure 27 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The second-stage optical switching device 100C is configured similarly to the first-stage optical switching device 100C, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0214] An optical path control signal output from the output optical fiber 110 of the first-stage optical switching device 100C is input to the input optical fiber 103 of the second-stage optical switching device 100C. Moreover, a connection detection signal output from the output optical fiber 106 of the first-stage optical switching device 100C is input to the input optical fiber 104 of the second-stage optical switching device 100C. Moreover, a connection detection signal output from the output optical fiber 112 of the second stage is input to the input optical fiber 111 of the first-stage optical switching device 100C.

[0215] In the second-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p2a, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching the optical path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103, to a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p2a, the optical path control signal with a light amount p2a is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0216] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p2a, and this power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path changing unit 101-1 and returned to the first-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0217] In the second-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p2b, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching the optical path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103, to a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p2b, the optical path control signal with the light amount p2b is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0218] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light quantity p2b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 106 via the optical path changing unit 101-1, and then sent to the next-stage optical switch device 100C (not shown in FIG. 29).

[0219] In the second-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py', the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) in a direction to input to the output optical fiber 110. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py', the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py' is extracted from the optical path control signal, input to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the next-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0220] 30 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the second-stage optical switching device 100C is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0221] The light path control signal in the period ta is set to p1b, which is the maximum light amount in the range of px. The light path control signal in the period ta' is set to p2a, which is the minimum light amount in the range of px'. In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb is set to the maximum light amount in the range of py, the light path control signal in the period tb' is set to the maximum light amount in the range of py', the light path control signal in the period ta" is set to p3a, which is the minimum light amount in the range of px", and the light path control signal in the period tb" is set to the maximum light amount in the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the second-stage optical switch device 100C is in a connection check state, and the light path control signals in the periods tb, tb' to tb" are not used. In the light path control signal, the periods tb, tb' to tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0222] A case will be described where an optical path control signal shown in FIG. 30 is input from the optical switch control center 200C to the first stage optical switch device 100C together with a connection detection signal.

[0223] In the first-stage optical switching device 100C, during the period ta, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1b from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and is sent to the second-stage optical switching device 100C.

[0224] In addition, in the first-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py, the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the second-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0225] In the second-stage optical switch device 100C, during the period ta', the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p2a from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p2a, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the first-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0226] In the first stage optical switch device 100C, the connection detection signal transmitted from the second stage optical switch device 100C is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the input optical fiber 111, and is transmitted to the optical switch control center 200C.

[0227] This allows the optical switch control center 200C to detect the connection of the second-stage optical switch device 100C. In this case, if the second-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200C, and the optical switch control center 200C can detect the non-connection of the second-stage optical switch device 100C. This non-connection detection of the second-stage optical switch device 100C is valid on the premise that the first-stage optical switch device 100C is connected.

[0228] (1-3-1-3. Checking the connection of the third stage optical switch device) Fig. 31 shows three optical switching devices 100C daisy-connected. In Fig. 31, parts corresponding to Fig. 27 and Fig. 29 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Detailed explanations of the third-stage optical switching device 100C will be omitted, but it is configured similarly to the first-stage and second-stage optical switching devices 100C.

[0229] The optical path control signal output from the output optical fiber 110 of the second-stage optical switch device 100C is input to the input optical fiber 103 of the third-stage optical switch device 100C. Moreover, the connection detection signal output from the output optical fiber 106 of the second-stage optical switch device 100C is input to the input optical fiber 104 of the third-stage optical switch device 100C. Moreover, the connection detection signal output from the output optical fiber 112 of the third stage is input to the input optical fiber 111 of the second-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0230] In the third-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p3a, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching the optical path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103, to a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p3a, the optical path control signal with a light amount p3a is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0231] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p3a, and this power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path changing unit 101-1 and returned to the second-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0232] In the third-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p3b, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching the optical path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103, to a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p3b, the optical path control signal with a light amount p3b is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0233] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p3b, and this power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 106 via the optical path changing unit 101-1, and then sent to the next-stage optical switch device 100C (not shown in FIG. 31).

[0234] Furthermore, in the third-stage optical switching device 100C, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding Py", the movable mirror 102b is in a state in which it controls the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) described above in a direction to input to the output optical fiber 110. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding Py", the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding Py" is extracted from the optical path control signal, input to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the next-stage optical switching device 100C.

[0235] 32 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the third-stage optical switching device 100C is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0236] The light path control signal in the period ta is set to p1b, which is the maximum light amount within the range of px. The light path control signal in the period ta' is set to p2b, which is the maximum light amount within the range of px'. The light path control signal in the period ta" is set to p3a, which is the minimum light amount within the range of px". In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb is set to the maximum light amount within the range of py, the light path control signal in the period tb' is set to the maximum light amount within the range of py', and the light path control signal in the period tb" is set to the maximum light amount within the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the third-stage optical switch device 100C is in a connection check state, and the light path control signals in the periods tb, tb', and tb" are not used. In the light path control signal, the periods tb, tb', and tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0237] A case will be described where an optical path control signal shown in FIG. 32 is input from the optical switch control center 200C to the first stage optical switch device 100C together with a connection detection signal.

[0238] In the first-stage optical switching device 100C, during the period ta, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1b from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and is sent to the second-stage optical switching device 100C.

[0239] In addition, in the first-stage optical switch device 100C, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py, the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the second-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0240] In the second-stage optical switch device 100C, during the period ta', the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p2b from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p2b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and is sent to the third-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0241] In addition, in the second-stage optical switch device 100C, during the period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py', the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the third-stage optical switch device 100C.

[0242] Furthermore, in the third-stage optical switching device 100C, during the period ta'', an optical path control signal with a light amount p3a is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p3a, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and transmitted to the second-stage optical switching device 100C.

[0243] In the second-stage optical switch device 100C, the connection detection signal transmitted from the third-stage optical switch device 100C is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the input optical fiber 111 and sent to the first-stage optical switch device 100C. Furthermore, in the first-stage optical switch device 100C, the connection detection signal transmitted from the second-stage optical switch device 100C is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the input optical fiber 111 and sent to the optical switch control center 200C.

[0244] This allows the optical switch control center 200C to detect the connection of the third-stage optical switch device 100C. In this case, if the third-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200C, and the optical switch control center 200C can detect the non-connection of the third-stage optical switch device 100C. This non-connection detection of the third-stage optical switch device 100C is valid on the premise that the first- and second-stage optical switch devices 100C are connected.

[0245] In the above, the connection check of the first, second and third stage optical switch devices 100C has been described. Although a detailed description is omitted, the connections of the fourth and subsequent stages of optical switch devices 100C can be checked in the same manner by using an optical path control signal according to the position (stage) of the optical switch device 100C to be checked for connection.

[0246] Here, the operation of checking the connection of the optical switch device 100C at each stage in the optical switch control center 200C when three optical switch devices 100C are daisy-connected, for example, as shown in FIG. 33(a), will be further described with reference to FIG. 33(b).

[0247] When scanning (checking connection) the first-stage optical switch device 100C, the optical switch control center 200C scans with an optical path control signal (see FIG. 28) having a light amount of p1a. At this time, if the optical switch control center 200C receives a return of a connection detection signal, it detects that the first-stage optical switch device 100C is connected, whereas if the optical switch control center 200C does not receive a return of a connection detection signal, it detects that the first-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected.

[0248] Furthermore, when the optical switch control center 200C scans (checks connection) the second-stage optical switch device 100C, it scans with an optical path control signal (see FIG. 30) having a light intensity of p2a. At this time, if the connection detection signal is returned, the optical switch control center 200C detects that the second-stage optical switch device 100C is connected, whereas if the connection detection signal is not returned, it detects that the second-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected. Note that this detection of the non-connection of the second-stage optical switch device 100C is valid on the premise that the first-stage optical switch device 100C is connected.

[0249] Furthermore, when the optical switch control center 200C scans (checks connection) the third-stage optical switch device 100C, it scans with an optical path control signal (see FIG. 32) having a light intensity of p3a. At this time, if the connection detection signal is returned, the optical switch control center 200C detects that the third-stage optical switch device 100C is connected, whereas if the connection detection signal is not returned, it detects that the third-stage optical switch device 100C is not connected. Note that this non-connection detection of the third-stage optical switch device 100C is valid on the premise that the first- and second-stage optical switch devices 100C are connected.

[0250] As described above, in the optical switch control system 10C shown in FIG. 26, a connection check of each of a plurality of optical switch devices 100C in a daisy-connected state is performed by sending an optical path control signal corresponding to the position (which stage) of the optical switch device 100C to be checked for connection, together with a connection detection signal, from the optical switch control center 200C, and checking whether or not the connection detection signal is returned. This enables good connection checks of each of a plurality of optical switch devices 100C in a daisy-connected state that constitutes a complex non-power-supply optical switch system.

[0251] [1-4. Configuration example of optical switch control system (fourth embodiment)] Fig. 34 shows an example of the configuration of an optical switch control system 10D as the fourth embodiment. The optical switch control system 10D constitutes a communication network unit existing between device A and device B. In Fig. 34, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 26 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0252] The optical switch control system 10D includes a plurality of optical switch devices 100D and an optical switch control center 200D that constitutes an optical switch control unit. Here, the plurality of optical switch devices 100D are composed of a first-stage optical switch device 100D and a plurality of optical switch devices 100D randomly connected to the rear stages.

[0253] The optical switch device 100D has an optical path conversion unit 101 and a switch (SW) control unit 102. The optical path conversion unit 101 converts the optical path direction of a connection detection signal, an optical communication signal, etc. The switch control unit 102 controls the operation of the optical path conversion unit 101 based on an optical path control signal.

[0254] In the optical switch control system 10D shown in FIG. 34, similarly to the optical switch control system 10C shown in FIG. 26 described above, when checking the connection status of multiple optical switch devices 100D (in scan mode), a connection detection signal (optical signal) is sent from the optical switch control center 200D to the first-stage optical switch device 100D together with an optical path control signal.

[0255] In this case, the optical switch control center 200D sends an optical path control signal corresponding to the position of the optical switch device 100D being the target of the connection check, along with a connection detection signal, to the first-stage optical switch device 100D, and checks the connection status of the optical switch device 100D being the target of the connection check based on whether or not the connection detection signal is returned.

[0256] "1-4-1. Example of control for checking connection of randomly connected optical switch devices" Fig. 35 shows a state in which an optical switch device 100D as a second-stage optical switch device 2 and an optical switch device 100D as a second-stage optical switch device 3 are connected in parallel to the rear of an optical switch device 100D as a first-stage optical switch device 1. In Fig. 35, the same reference numerals are used for the parts corresponding to Fig. 27, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0257] The optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has an input optical fiber 103 that constitutes an input port for an optical path control signal. Here, the input optical fiber 103 has a structure in which the output side is branched into two, and outputs the input optical path control signal by branching it into two.

[0258] Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has an input optical fiber 104 constituting an input port for a connection detection signal, and an input optical fiber 105 constituting an input port for an optical communication signal. Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has output optical fibers 106-2, 106-3 constituting output ports for a connection detection signal, and output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 constituting output ports 1 to 3 for optical communication signals. Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has output optical fibers 110-2, 110-3 constituting output ports for an optical path control signal.

[0259] Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has an input optical fiber 111-2 constituting an input port for a connection detection signal returning from the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, and an input optical fiber 111-3 constituting an input port for a connection detection signal returning from the optical switch device (optical switch 3) 100D. Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has an output optical fiber 112 constituting an output port for the connection detection signal.

[0260] An optical axis adjustment unit 111a is provided on the output side of the input optical fibers 111-2 and 111-3 in order to orient the direction of the output connection detection signal toward the output optical fiber 112. An optical axis adjustment unit 112a is provided on the input side of the output optical fiber 112 in order to accurately input the connection detection signal from the input optical fibers 111-2 and 111-3 and an optical path conversion unit 101-1 (described later). Although detailed description of these optical axis adjustment units 111a and 112a will be omitted, they are configured using, for example, a mirror or a lens, or configured by bending an optical fiber.

[0261] Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has an optical path conversion unit 101-1 that converts the optical path direction of the connection detection signal. The connection detection signal output from the input optical fiber 104 is controlled via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 to the direction of a first path (connection detection path) for transmission to the optical switch control center 200C, that is, the direction of the output optical fiber 112, or the direction of a second path (path 1 or path 2) for transmission to the subsequent optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D or the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D, that is, the direction of the output optical fiber 106-2 or the output optical fiber 106-3.

[0262] Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has an optical path conversion unit 101-2 that converts the optical path direction of an optical communication signal. An optical communication signal output from an input optical fiber 105 is input to one of output optical fibers 107-1 to 107-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0263] Moreover, the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D has a switch control section 102. This switch control section 102 has an optical path control photovoltaic element 102a, a movable mirror 102b, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d.

[0264] The photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power based on one light path control signal (first branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control generates electric power of a magnitude according to the amount of light of the light path control signal. The movable mirror 102b controls the light path direction of the other light path control signal (second branched light path control signal) obtained by branching the light path control signal in two at the input optical fiber 103 according to the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102a for light path control.

[0265] The photovoltaic element 102c receives the optical path control signal transmitted from the movable mirror 102b, generates power according to the light amount of this optical path control signal, that is, power for controlling the optical path direction of the connection detection signal output from the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-1, and supplies the power to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the optical path direction of the connection detection signal is controlled.

[0266] The photovoltaic element 102d receives the optical path control signal transmitted from the movable mirror 102b, generates electric power according to the light amount of the optical path control signal, that is, electric power for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal output from the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-2, and supplies the electric power to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal is controlled.

[0267] Although detailed description is omitted, the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D and the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D are each configured similarly to the above-mentioned optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D. An output optical fiber 110-2 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is connected to an input optical fiber 103 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, and an output optical fiber 110-3 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is connected to the input optical fiber 103 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D.

[0268] Moreover, the output optical fiber 106-2 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is connected to the input optical fiber 104 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, and the output optical fiber 106-3 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is connected to the input optical fiber 104 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D. Furthermore, the output optical fiber 112 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D is connected to the input optical fiber 111-2 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, and the output optical fiber 112 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D is connected to the input optical fiber 111-3 of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D.

[0269] Here, the optical path control signal during a connection check of each of the plurality of optical switch devices 100D is set to a state corresponding to the position of the optical switch device 100D that is the subject of the connection check.

[0270] For example, when the connection check target is the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D described above, the optical path control signal includes an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a for returning a connection detection signal to the switch control center 200C in the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D.

[0271] Also, for example, when the connection check target is the above-mentioned optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, the optical path control signal includes an optical intensity p1b for sending a connection detection signal to the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D in the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, and also includes an optical path control signal with an optical intensity p2a for returning the connection detection signal to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D in the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D.

[0272] Also, for example, when the connection check target is the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D, the optical path control signal includes a light amount p1c for sending a connection detection signal to the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D in the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, and also includes a light path control signal with a light amount p3a for returning the connection detection signal to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D in the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D. The magnitude relationship of the light amounts in this case is, for example, p1a <p1b<p1c<p2a<p3aである。

[0273] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) obtained by branching in the input optical fiber 103, to a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c. As a result, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a, the optical path control signal with a light amount p1a is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0274] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p1a, and this power is supplied to the optical path changing unit 101-1. In the optical path changing unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path changing unit 101-1 and returned to the optical switch control center 200D.

[0275] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) in a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1b. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1b, the optical path control signal with the light amount p1b is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0276] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p1b, and this power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106-2 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D.

[0277] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) in a direction received by the photovoltaic element 102c during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1c. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with the light amount p1c, the optical path control signal with the light amount p1c is extracted from the optical path control signal and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c.

[0278] In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c generates power according to the light quantity p1c, and this power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D.

[0279] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) in a direction input to the output optical fiber 110-2 during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light ranging from the minimum of px' to the maximum of py'. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light ranging from the minimum of px' to the maximum of py', an optical path control signal with an amount of light ranging from the minimum of px' to the maximum of py' is extracted from the optical path control signal and supplied to the output optical fiber 110-2, and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D.

[0280] Furthermore, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, during the period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light ranging from the minimum of px" to the maximum of py", the movable mirror 102b is in a state of controlling the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) described above in a direction to input to the output optical fiber 110-3. As a result, during the period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light ranging from the minimum of px" to the maximum of py", an optical path control signal with an amount of light ranging from the minimum of px" to the maximum of py" is extracted from the optical path control signal, supplied to the output optical fiber 110-3, and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D.

[0281] Although detailed description is omitted, the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D and the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D operate in the same manner as the above-mentioned optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D. For example, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p2a, the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and returned to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D. Also, for example, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p3a, the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is sent to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and returned to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D.

[0282] 36 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0283] The light path control signal in the period ta has a light amount p1a within the range of px. In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb has a maximum light amount within the range of py, the light path control signal in the period ta' has a light amount p2a within the range of px', the light path control signal in the period tb' has a maximum light amount within the range of py', the light path control signal in the period ta" has a light amount p3a within the range of px", and the light path control signal in the period tb" has a maximum light amount within the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is in a connection check state, and the light path control signal from the period tb to the period tb" is not used. In the light path control signal, the period tb to the period tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0284] A case where an optical path control signal shown in FIG. 36 is inputted together with a connection detection signal from the optical switch control center 200D to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D will be described with reference to FIG.

[0285] During a period ta, an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1a, and the electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and transmitted to the optical switch control center 200D.

[0286] This allows the optical switch control center 200D to detect the connection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D. In this case, if the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200D, and the optical switch control center 200D can detect that the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is not connected.

[0287] 37 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D is the target for connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0288] The light path control signal in the period ta has a light amount p1b within the range of px, and the light path control signal in the period ta' has a light amount p2a within the range of px'. In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb has a maximum light amount within the range of py, the light path control signal in the period tb' has a maximum light amount within the range of py', the light path control signal in the period ta" has a light amount p3a within the range of px", and the light path control signal in the period tb" has a maximum light amount within the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D is in a connection check state, and the light path control signals in the periods tb, tb' to tb" are not used. In addition, in the light path control signal, the periods tb, tb' to tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0289] A case where the optical path control signal shown in FIG. 37 is inputted together with a connection detection signal from the optical switch control center 200D to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D will be described with reference to FIG.

[0290] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, during the period ta, the optical path control signal with the light amount p1b is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106-2 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and is transmitted to the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D.

[0291] In addition, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, during the period ta', the optical path control signal with the light amount p2a is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b, and is supplied to the output optical fiber 110-2 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D.

[0292] In addition, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is controlled by the switch control unit 102 based on the optical path control signal of the input light amount p2a, and the connection detection signal sent from the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D.

[0293] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, the connection detection signal sent from the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, that is, the connection detection signal returned from the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D, is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the input optical fiber 111-2 and sent to the optical switch control center 200D.

[0294] This allows the optical switch control center 200D to detect the connection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D. In this case, if the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200D, and the optical switch control center 200D can detect the non-connection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D. This non-connection detection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 2) 100D is valid on the premise that the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is connected.

[0295] 39 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0296] The light path control signal in the period ta has a light amount p1c within the range of px, and the light path control signal in the period ta" has a light amount p3a within the range of px". In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb has a maximum light amount within the range of py, the light path control signal in the period ta' has a light amount p2a within the range of px', the light path control signal in the period tb' has a maximum light amount within the range of py', and the light path control signal in the period tb" has a maximum light amount within the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D is in a connection check state, and the light path control signals in the periods tb to tb' and tb" are not used. In the light path control signal, the periods tb to tb' and tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0297] A case where the optical path control signal shown in FIG. 39 is inputted together with a connection detection signal from the optical switch control center 200D to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D will be described with reference to FIG.

[0298] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, during the period ta, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1c from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1c, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106-3 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D.

[0299] In addition, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, during the period ta'', the optical path control signal with the light amount p3a is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b, and is supplied to the output optical fiber 110-3 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D.

[0300] In addition, in the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D, the optical path conversion unit 101-1 is controlled by the switch control unit 102 based on the optical path control signal of the input light amount p3a, and the connection detection signal sent from the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D.

[0301] In the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D, the connection detection signal sent from the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D, that is, the connection detection signal returned from the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D, is supplied to the output optical fiber 112 via the input optical fiber 111-3 and sent to the optical switch control center 200D.

[0302] This allows the optical switch control center 200D to detect the connection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D. In this case, if the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200D, and the optical switch control center 200D can detect the non-connection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D. This non-connection detection of the optical switch device (optical switch device 3) 100D is valid on the premise that the optical switch device (optical switch device 1) 100D is connected.

[0303] In addition, in the above-mentioned optical switch device 100D, with regard to the input optical fibers 111-2, 111-3 that form the return path of the connection detection signal, as shown in Figure 41, an optical branch may be provided outside the device, and a single input optical fiber 111 may be used inside the device.

[0304] "1-4-2. Other examples of control for checking connection of randomly connected optical switch devices" Although an example of up to two stages has been described above, consider a case where an optical switching device 100D is randomly connected to a subsequent stage as shown in Fig. 42. Fig. 43 shows an overview of an optical path control signal for comprehensively checking the connection of a plurality of optical switching devices 100D randomly connected in this way.

[0305] Aa indicates the amount of light for putting the optical switch device (SW1) 100D into a scanning state (connection check state), and Ab, Ac, Ad, ... indicate the amount of light for putting the optical switch device (SW1) 100D into a state in which a connection detection signal is transmitted to the parallel optical switch device 100D connected to the subsequent stage. In this case, when the amount of light is Aa, the input connection detection signal is supplied to the connection detection path and returned to the previous stage. On the other hand, when the amount of light is Ab, Ac, Ad, ..., the input connection detection signal is supplied to path 1, path 2, path 3, ..., respectively, and sent to the subsequent stage.

[0306] Also, "Ba" indicates the light amount for putting the optical switch device (SWB1) 100D, the optical switch device (SWB2) 100D, etc. into a scanning state (connection check state), and "Bb", "Bc", "Bd", etc. into a state for transmitting a connection detection signal to the parallel optical switch device 100D connected to the rear stage. The same applies to "C" and "D" below.

[0307] The optical switch control center 200D sequentially changes the optical switch device 100D to be checked for connection, and sets the light intensity of the control signal in period tA, period tB, period tC, ... according to the position, thereby making it possible to comprehensively check the connection of a plurality of optical switch devices 100D. For example, Fig. 44 shows an example of an optical path control signal for checking the connection of the optical switch device (SWC2) 100D. In this case, the light intensity in period tA is Ab, the light intensity in period tB is Bc, and the light intensity in period tC is Ca.

[0308] When it is detected that the optical switch device 100D at a certain position is not connected, the connection check operation for the subsequent stages can be skipped, thereby shortening the time required for the connection check. Also, the optical switch control center 200D can perform a spot connection check of a specific optical switch device 100D by transmitting an optical path control signal in which the light amount is set corresponding to the specific optical switch device 100D.

[0309] As described above, in the optical switch control system 10D shown in FIG. 34, a connection check of each optical switch device 100D in a plurality of optical switch devices 100D in a randomly connected state is performed by sending an optical path control signal corresponding to the position of the optical switch device 100D to be checked for connection, along with a connection detection signal, from the optical switch control center 200D, and checking whether or not the connection detection signal is returned. This makes it possible to effectively check the connection of each optical switch device 100D in a plurality of optical switch devices 100D in a randomly connected state that constitutes a complex non-powered optical switch system.

[0310] <2. Modifications> "2-1. Example of the configuration of an optical switch control system in which a switch control center transmits optical communication signals" Fig. 45 shows a configuration example of an optical switch control system 10E in which the switch control center also transmits optical communication signals. This example corresponds to the optical switch control system 10D shown in Fig. 34 described above, but it can also be considered to correspond to the other optical switch control systems 100A to 100C described above. In Fig. 45, parts corresponding to Fig. 34 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0311] The optical switch control system 10E includes a plurality of optical switch devices 100D and an optical switch control center 200E that configures an optical switch control unit. As shown in the figure, the optical switch control center 200E transmits optical communication signals in addition to optical path control signals and connection detection signals.

[0312] "2-2. Example of the configuration of an optical switch control system that connects edge ICs in a large area using optical switch devices" 46 shows a configuration example of an optical switch control system 10F that connects edge ICs (devices, etc.) 300 in a large-scale area (such as a large-scale farm) using an optical switch device 100. Here, the edge ICs 300 are, for example, devices such as cameras, LIDAR, and RADAR, or sensing devices such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, weather sensors, acceleration sensors, gyro sensors, ultrasonic sensors, radio wave sensors, infrared sensors, GPS, gas sensors, current sensors, power sensors, pressure sensors, blood glucose sensors, and pulse sensors. In this optical switch control system 10F, as explained in the above embodiment, an optical path control signal is output from the optical switch control center 200F and transmitted to the edge ICs 300 via the optical switch device 100, so that the optical path control signal can be used as a power supply for the edge ICs 300.

[0313] Fig. 47 shows a configuration example of the edge IC 300. In Fig. 47, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 27 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this case, the photovoltaic element 102c in the switch control unit 102 is used to generate power for driving the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 based on the optical path control signal during a connection check. Also, the photovoltaic element 102d in the switch control unit 102 is used to generate power for supplying power to the processing circuit 301 based on the optical path control signal.

[0314] In this manner, by supplying power to the edge IC 300 based on the optical path control signal output from the optical switch control center 200F, power can be easily supplied to the edge IC 300 even in the optical switch control system 10F in which the edge IC (equipment, etc.) 300 is connected using the optical switch device 100 in a large area (e.g., a large farm, etc.).

[0315] "2-3. Example of processing according to the unique time constant corresponding to each optical switch device using the connection detection signal" Fig. 48 shows an example of processing according to a unique time constant corresponding to each optical switch device using a connection detection signal. In Fig. 48, the same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to Fig. 27, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0316] As described above, the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element 102c is provided as driving power to the movable mirror 101a of the optical path conversion unit 101-1 via the low-pass filter 101b (see FIG. 4(b)). The current (current 2) flowing from the low-pass filter 101b to the movable mirror 102b enters a stable region after a certain time based on the time constant (RC parameter) of the low-pass filter 101b has elapsed since the start of input of the optical path control signal (see FIG. 9(b)).

[0317] In this case, the amount of movement of the movable mirror 102b gradually changes from the start of input of the optical path control signal, and accordingly, the optical path direction of the connection detection signal reflected by the movable mirror 101a gradually changes toward the direction of input to the output optical fiber 112 that constitutes the connection detection path, which is the output port of the connection detection signal, and after a certain period of time has passed, the connection detection signal reaches a state where it is input to the output optical fiber 112.

[0318] Fig. 49(a) shows an optical path control signal input from the optical switch control center 200C to the optical switching device 100C and a connection detection signal, which is one of the optical communication control signals. Note that here, an example is shown in which the input start timing of this connection detection signal (going) is the same as the input start timing of the optical path control signal. Fig. 49(b) shows a connection detection signal (return) output from the optical switching device 100C and returned to the optical switching control center 200C. In this way, the time difference between the input timing and the output timing is a fixed time based on the time constant (RC parameter) of the low-pass filter 101b.

[0319] By having each optical switch device 100C have a time constant (RC parameter) of a unique value (setting the time constant if the optical switch device has a variable configuration), the optical switch control center 200C can obtain a time difference according to the unique time constant as the time difference between the input timing of the connection detection signal (going) optical path control signal and the output timing of the connection detection signal (return) in each optical switch device 100C. When the optical switch control center 200C detects a connection detection signal (return), in addition to determining that the connection is correct, it can also determine which optical switch device 100C the connection detection result corresponds to by checking the obtained time difference against, for example, a table held by the optical switch control center 200C.

[0320] In this case, the time difference must be set to be sufficiently longer than the optical propagation time in the optical fiber so that the optical propagation time in the optical fiber can be ignored. The unique time constant may be associated with the type of optical switch device 100C or an identifier of the optical switch device 100C, such as a serial number. For example, by associating the unique time constant with the serial number, the switch control center 200C can determine which optical switch device 100C has failed in the event of a failure. Although a detailed description is omitted, the edge IC 300 (see FIG. 47) can also be given a unique time constant in a similar manner.

[0321] "2-4. Example of connection check using communication signal path" In the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which an output optical fiber 112 is provided to configure a connection detection path as a dedicated output port for a connection detection signal in order to perform a connection check (see FIG. 27, etc.). However, it is also possible to perform a connection check by using a communication signal path instead of a dedicated connection detection path. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the communication signal path and perform a connection check with a simple configuration that does not require a separate connection detection path.

[0322] Fig. 50 shows a configuration example of an optical switch control system 10G consisting of an optical switch control center 200G and an optical switch device 100G. In this example, only the first-stage optical switch device 100G is shown. In Fig. 50, parts corresponding to Fig. 2 and Fig. 27 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0323] The input optical fiber 104 functions as an input port for the optical communication signal 1 during communication, and functions as an input port for the connection detection signal during a connection check. The input optical fiber 105 functions as an input port for the optical communication signal 2 during communication, and functions as an output port for the connection detection signal during a connection check. In other words, during a connection check, the path (communication path) of the input port for the optical communication signal 2 is used as the connection detection path.

[0324] For example, when checking the connection of each optical switch device 100G in a plurality of daisy-connected optical switch devices 100G, the optical path control signal is set to a different state depending on the stage of the optical switch device 100G that is the subject of the connection check.

[0325] For example, if the optical switch device 100G to be checked for connection is the first stage, the optical path control signal includes an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a' for returning a connection detection signal to the switch control center 200G in this first stage optical switch device 100G.

[0326] Also, for example, when the optical switching device 100G that is the target of the connection check is the nth stage (n=2, 3, 4, . . . ), the optical path control signal includes the following three control signals for the amount of light.

[0327] The first is an optical path control signal with light amounts p1b' to p(n-1)b' for sending a connection detection signal to the next-stage optical switch device 100G in the optical switch device 100G up to the previous stage. The second is an optical path control signal with light amounts p1c' to p(n-1)c' for sending a connection detection signal sent from the subsequent stage to the previous stage in the optical switch device 100G up to the previous stage. And the third is an optical path control signal with light amount pna' for returning a connection detection signal to the previous-stage optical switch device 100G in the optical switch device 100G that is the subject of the connection check.

[0328] In this case, the magnitude relationship of the light amount is, for example, p1a' <p1b’<p1c’<p2a’<p2b’<p2c’<p3a’<p3b’<p3c’<···である。

[0329] In the first stage optical switch device 100G, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a', the optical path control signal with a light amount p1a' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1a', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is transmitted to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and returned to the optical switch control center 200G.

[0330] In addition, in the first-stage optical switching device 100G, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p1b', the optical path control signal with a light amount p1b' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1b', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106-1 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and is transmitted to the next-stage optical switching device 100G (not shown in FIG. 50).

[0331] In addition, in the period in which the optical path control signal in the first stage optical switch device 100G is an optical path control signal with a light amount p1c', the optical path control signal with a light amount p1c' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d. Then, the photovoltaic element 102d generates electric power according to the light amount p1c', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input from the second stage optical switch device 100G to the output optical fiber 107-1 is transmitted to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2 and returned to the optical switch control center 200G.

[0332] In the first-stage optical switching device 100G, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py, the optical path direction of the optical path control signal (second branch optical path control signal) is set by the movable mirror 102b to a direction in which the optical path control signal is input to the output optical fiber 110. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py, the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py is extracted from the optical path control signal and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and then sent to the next-stage optical switching device 100G.

[0333] 51 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the first-stage optical switching device 100C is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0334] The light path control signal in the period ta is set to p1a', which is the minimum light amount within the range of px. In the illustrated example, the light path control signal in the period tb is set to p1c', which is the maximum light amount within the range of py, the light path control signal in the period ta' is set to p2a', which is the minimum light amount within the range of px', the light path control signal in the period tb' is set to p2c', which is the maximum light amount within the range of py', the light path control signal in the period ta" is set to p3a', which is the minimum light amount within the range of px", and the light path control signal in the period tb" is set to p3c', which is the maximum light amount within the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the first-stage optical switch device 100C is in a connection check state, and the light path control signal from the period tb to the period tb" is not used. In the light path control signal, the period tb to the period tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0335] A case will be described where an optical path control signal shown in FIG. 51 is input from the optical switch control center 200G to the first stage optical switch device 100G together with a connection detection signal.

[0336] During a period ta, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1a' from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1a', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the optical switch control center 200G.

[0337] This allows the optical switch control center 200G to detect the connection of the first-stage optical switch device 100G. In this case, if the first-stage optical switch device 100G is not connected, a connection detection signal is not returned to the optical switch control center 200C, and the optical switch control center 200G can detect that the first-stage optical switch device 100G is not connected.

[0338] Fig. 52 shows a state in which two optical switching devices 100G are daisy-connected. In Fig. 52, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 50 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Detailed explanations of the second-stage optical switching device 100G will be omitted, but the second-stage optical switching device 100G is configured similarly to the first-stage optical switching device 100G.

[0339] The optical path control signal output from the output optical fiber 110 of the first-stage optical switch device 100G is input to the input optical fiber 103 of the second-stage optical switch device 100G. In addition, the connection detection signal output from the output optical fiber 106-1 of the first-stage optical switch device 100G is input to the input optical fiber 104 of the second-stage optical switch device 100G. In addition, the connection detection signal output from the input optical fiber 105 of the second stage is input to the output optical fiber 107-1 of the first-stage optical switch device 100G.

[0340] In the second-stage optical switching device 100G, during a period when the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p2a', the optical path control signal with a light amount p2a' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p2a', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is transmitted to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and returned to the first-stage optical switching device 100G.

[0341] In addition, in the second-stage optical switching device 100G, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p2b', the optical path control signal with a light amount p2b' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p2b, and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is transmitted to the output optical fiber 106-1 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and then transmitted to the next-stage optical switching device 100G (not shown in FIG. 52).

[0342] In addition, in the second-stage optical switching device 100G, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with a light amount p2c', the optical path control signal with a light amount p2c' is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and transmitted to the photovoltaic element 102d. Then, the photovoltaic element 102d generates electric power according to the light amount p2c', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input from the third-stage optical switching device 100G to the output optical fiber 107-1 is transmitted to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2 and returned to the first-stage optical switching device 100G.

[0343] In the second-stage optical switching device 100G, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py', the movable mirror 102b sets the optical path direction of the optical path control signal (second branched optical path control signal) to a direction in which it enters the output optical fiber 110. As a result, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py', the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py' is extracted from the optical path control signal and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and then sent to the next-stage optical switching device 100G.

[0344] 53 shows an example of an optical path control signal when the second-stage optical switching device 100G is the target for a connection check. This optical path control signal is a repeated sequence of an optical path control signal for a period ta, an optical path control signal for a period tb, an optical path control signal for a period ta', an optical path control signal for a period tb', an optical path control signal for a period ta", and an optical path control signal for a period tb".

[0345] The optical path control signal in the period ta is set to p1b', which is the maximum light amount in the range of px. The optical path control signal in the period tb is set to p1c', which is the maximum light amount in the range of py. The optical path control signal in the period ta' is set to p2a', which is the minimum light amount in the range of px'. In the illustrated example, the optical path control signal in the period tb' is set to p2c', which is the maximum light amount in the range of py', the optical path control signal in the period ta" is set to p3a', which is the minimum light amount in the range of px", and the optical path control signal in the period tb" is set to p3c', which is the maximum light amount in the range of py", but the light amounts in these periods are not limited to these and may be, for example, 0. This is because the second-stage optical switch device 100C is in a connection check state, and the optical path control signal from the period tb' to the period tb" is not used. In the optical path control signal, the period tb' to the period tb" may be eliminated in order to shorten the connection check time and reduce power consumption.

[0346] A case will be described where an optical path control signal shown in FIG. 53 is input from the optical switch control center 200G to the first stage optical switch device 100G together with a connection detection signal.

[0347] In the first-stage optical switching device 100G, during the period ta, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1b' from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p1b', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the output optical fiber 106-1 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1, and is sent to the second-stage optical switching device 100G.

[0348] In addition, in the first-stage optical switch device 100G, during a period in which the optical path control signal is an optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py, the optical path control signal with an amount of light exceeding py is extracted from the optical path control signal by the movable mirror 102b and supplied to the output optical fiber 110, and sent to the second-stage optical switch device 100G.

[0349] In the second-stage optical switch device 100G, during the period ta', the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p2a' from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102c. Then, the photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power according to the light amount p2a', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input to the input optical fiber 104 is supplied to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-1 and sent to the first-stage optical switch device 100G.

[0350] In the first-stage optical switching device 100G, during the period tb, the movable mirror 102b extracts an optical path control signal with a light amount p1c' from the optical path control signal and transmits it to the photovoltaic element 102d. Then, the photovoltaic element 102d generates electric power according to the light amount p1c', and this electric power is supplied to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on this electric power, and the connection detection signal input from the second-stage optical switching device 100G to the output optical fiber 107-1 is sent to the input optical fiber 105 via the optical path conversion unit 101-2 and returned to the optical switch control center 200G.

[0351] This allows the optical switch control center 200G to detect the connection of the second-stage optical switch device 100G. In this case, if the second-stage optical switch device 100G is not connected, a connection detection signal will not be returned to the optical switch control center 200G, and the optical switch control center 200G can detect the non-connection of the second-stage optical switch device 100G. This non-connection detection of the second-stage optical switch device 100G is valid on the premise that the first-stage optical switch device 100G is connected.

[0352] In the above, the connection check of the first and second stage optical switch devices 100G has been described. Although a detailed description is omitted, by using an optical path control signal according to the position (stage) of the optical switch device 100G to be checked for connection, it is possible to check the connection of the optical switch devices 100G of the third stage and onwards in the same manner. In addition, although a detailed description is omitted, performing a connection check using a communication signal path instead of a connection detection path can also be applied in the same manner in cases where a plurality of optical switch devices are randomly connected (see FIG. 38, etc.).

[0353] "2-5. Example of an optical path control signal including multiple optical path control signals in wavelength multiplexing" In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the optical path control signal sent from the optical switch control center includes a plurality of optical path control signals with different light amounts in a time division multiplexed manner. However, an example is also conceivable in which the optical path control signal sent from the optical switch control center includes a plurality of optical path control signals with different wavelengths in a wavelength multiplexed manner. In this case, it is possible to easily and reliably extract a plurality of optical path control signals from the optical path control signal based on the wavelength, and perform the desired control well.

[0354] Fig. 54 shows an example of the configuration of an optical switching device 100H in this case. In this Fig. 54, the same reference numerals are used for the parts corresponding to Fig. 2, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0355] The optical switch device 100H has an input optical fiber 103H that constitutes an input port for an optical path control signal. An optical axis adjustment unit 103Ha is provided on the output side of the input optical fiber 103H to adjust the optical path direction of the output optical path control signal.

[0356] The optical switch device 100H also includes a switch control section 102H. The switch control section 102H includes a prism 102f that constitutes a wavelength separation section, a photovoltaic element 102c, and a photovoltaic element 102d.

[0357] The rest of the optical switch device 100H is configured similarly to the optical switch device 100A shown in Fig. 2. Here, the prism 102f constituting the wavelength separation unit of the switch control unit 102H constitutes an extraction unit that extracts the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal.

[0358] Here, the optical path control signal includes a first optical path control signal of a first wavelength λ1 and an optical path control signal of a second wavelength λ2 different from the first wavelength λ1 in a wavelength multiplexed manner. In this case, the first optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 in the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-1, and the second optical path control signal is for controlling the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 in the above-mentioned optical path conversion unit 101-2.

[0359] In the optical switch device 100H, the optical path control signal output from the input optical fiber 103H is input (incident) to the prism 102f, and a first optical path control signal of a first wavelength λ1 and an optical path control signal of a second wavelength λ2 are separated and output (emitted).

[0360] In this case, the first optical path control signal of the first wavelength λ1 output from the prism 102f is supplied to the photovoltaic element 102c. The photovoltaic element 102c generates electric power of a magnitude corresponding to the amount of light of the first optical path control signal, and supplies the electric power to the optical path conversion unit 101-1. In the optical path conversion unit 101-1, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 1 is controlled.

[0361] In this case, the second optical path control signal of the second wavelength λ2 output from the prism 102f is supplied to the photovoltaic element 102d. The photovoltaic element 102d generates electric power having a magnitude corresponding to the amount of light of the first optical path control signal, and supplies the electric power to the optical path conversion unit 101-2. In the optical path conversion unit 101-2, the movable mirror 101a is driven based on the electric power, and the optical path direction of the optical communication signal 2 is controlled.

[0362] In this manner, the optical switching device 100H shown in FIG. 54 can also control the optical path directions of the optical communication signals 1 and 2, similarly to the optical switching device 100A shown in FIG.

[0363] In the optical switching device 100H shown in Fig. 54, the first optical path control signal of the first wavelength λ1 and the optical path control signal of the second wavelength λ2 are continuous in time, so that the low-pass filter 101b (see Fig. 4(b)) for stable control of the movable mirror 101a, which was necessary in the optical switching device 100A shown in Fig. 2, is not necessary. Also, in the optical switching device 100H shown in Fig. 54, the prism 102f can be configured using another element having a wavelength separation function, such as a diffraction grating.

[0364] Furthermore, by including optical path control signals of multiple wavelengths in the optical path control signal, it is possible to control the optical path direction of the optical communication signal in multiple daisy-connected or randomly connected optical switch devices, and also to perform connection checks.

[0365] In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present disclosure can conceive of various modified or amended examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0366] In addition, the effects described in this specification are merely descriptive or exemplary and are not limiting. In other words, the technology according to the present disclosure may achieve other effects that are apparent to a person skilled in the art from the description of this specification, in addition to or in place of the above effects.

[0367] The technology can also be configured as follows: (1) an optical switch device; an optical switch control unit that transmits an optical path control signal to the optical switch device; The optical switch device comprises: an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal; a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; Light switch control system. (2) the first optical communication signal light path control unit is configured using a movable mechanism that is driven by the electric power generated by the first photovoltaic element to change the direction of the light path; The second optical communication signal optical path control unit is configured using a movable mechanism that is driven by the electric power generated by the second photovoltaic element to change the optical path direction. The optical switch control system according to (1) above. (3) the first light path control signal has a first light amount, and the second light path control signal has a second light amount different from the first light amount; The optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner. An optical switch control system according to (1) or (2). (4) The extraction unit a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal for a first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal for a second optical path; a photovoltaic element for optical path control that generates electric power based on the first branch optical path control signal; and a light path control signal light path control section for controlling a light path direction of the second branch light path control signal in response to the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element to extract the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal. The optical switch control system according to (3) above. (5) The light path control signal light path control section is configured using a movable mechanism that changes the light path direction by being driven using the electric power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element. The optical switch control system according to (4) above. (6) In the first optical communication signal optical path control section, the electric power generated in the first photovoltaic element is used via a low pass filter, In the second optical communication signal optical path control section, the electric power generated in the second photovoltaic element is used via a low pass filter. An optical switch control system according to any one of (3) to (5). (7) the first optical path control signal has a first wavelength, and the second optical path control signal has a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; The optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a wavelength multiplexed manner. An optical switch control system according to (1) or (2). (8) The extraction unit: a wavelength separation unit that receives the optical path control signal, and outputs the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in different directions to extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal. The optical switch control system according to (7) above. (9) The extraction unit further extracts another optical path control signal different from the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal, The optical switch device further includes an optical path control signal transmitting unit that transmits the other optical path control signal to another optical switch device in a downstream stage. An optical switch control system according to any one of (1) to (8). (10) The first light path control signal has a first light amount, the second light path control signal has a second light amount different from the first light amount, and the other light path control signal has a light amount different from the first light amount and the second light amount, The optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and the other optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner. The optical switch control system according to (9) above. (11) The extraction unit includes: A branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal for a first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal; a photovoltaic element for optical path control that generates electric power based on the first branch optical path control signal; a light path control signal light path control section for controlling a light path direction of the second branch light path control signal in response to the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element, and extracting the first light path control signal, the second light path control signal, and the other light path control signal; The optical switch control system according to (10) above. (12) The optical path control signal optical path control section has a fluctuation prevention mechanism for preventing fluctuation in the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal. The optical switch control system according to (11) above. (13) The optical switch control unit is configured to be able to transmit a connection detection signal to the optical switch device as the first optical communication signal, The first optical communication signal optical path control unit controls an optical path direction of the connection detection signal based on the optical path control signal to a first path direction for transmitting the connection detection signal to the optical switch control unit or a second path direction for transmitting the connection detection signal to another optical switch device at a downstream stage. An optical switch control system according to any one of (1) to (12). (14) The first path is a path different from a path of an input port of the first optical communication signal and a path of an input port of the second optical communication signal. The optical switch control system according to (13) above. (15) The first path is a path of an input port of the second optical communication signal. The optical switch control system according to (13) above. (16) In the first optical communication signal optical path control section, the electric power intermittently generated by the first photovoltaic element is used via a low pass filter, The low pass filter has a specific time constant corresponding to the optical switch device. The optical switch control system according to (13) above. (17) an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal; a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; Optical switch device. (18) The extraction unit: a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal for a first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal for a second optical path; a photovoltaic element for optical path control that generates electric power based on the first branch optical path control signal; a light path control signal light path control section that controls a light path direction of the second branched light path control signal in response to the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element, and extracts the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal. The optical switch device according to (17) above. (19) The extraction unit further extracts another optical path control signal different from the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal, The optical switch device further includes an optical path control signal transmitting unit for transmitting the other optical path control signal to another optical switch device in a downstream stage. The optical switch device according to (17) above. (20) a processing circuit; an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; an optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of a connection detection signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the connection detection signal output from the optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for supplying power to the processing circuit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; electronic equipment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0368] 10A~10G Optical Switch Control System 100,100A~100H,100A'...Optical switch device 101, 101-1, 101-2: Optical path conversion section 101a···Movable mirror 101b...Low pass filter 102, 102H...Switch control section 102a...Photovoltaic element for optical path control 102b Movable mirror 102c,102d,102e...Photovoltaic element 102f Prism 103, 103H, 104, 105, 108, 111, 111-2, 111-3... Input optical fiber 106-1, 106-2, 106-3, 107-1, 107-2, 107-3, 109-1, 109-2, 109-3, 110, 110-2, 110-3, 112...Output optical fiber 200A~200F···Optical switch control center 300···Edge IC (equipment) 301 Processing circuit

Claims

1. An optical switch device; an optical switch control unit that transmits an optical path control signal to the optical switch device; The optical switch device comprises: an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal; a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal outputted from the second optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; Light switch control system.

2. the first optical communication signal light path control unit is configured using a movable mechanism that is driven by the electric power generated by the first photovoltaic element to change the direction of the light path, The second optical communication signal optical path control unit is configured using a movable mechanism that is driven by the electric power generated by the second photovoltaic element to change the optical path direction.

2. The optical switch control system according to claim 1.

3. the first light path control signal has a first light amount, and the second light path control signal has a second light amount different from the first light amount; The optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner.

2. The optical switch control system according to claim 1.

4. The extraction unit is a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal for a first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal for a second optical path; a photovoltaic element for optical path control that generates electric power based on the first branch optical path control signal; a light path control signal light path control section for controlling a light path direction of the second branch light path control signal in response to the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element, and extracting the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal; 4. The optical switch control system according to claim 3.

5. The light path control signal light path control section is configured using a movable mechanism that changes the light path direction by being driven using the electric power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element.

5. The optical switch control system according to claim 4.

6. In the first optical communication signal optical path control section, the electric power generated in the first photovoltaic element is used via a low pass filter; In the second optical communication signal optical path control section, the electric power generated in the second photovoltaic element is used via a low pass filter.

4. The optical switch control system according to claim 3.

7. the first optical path control signal has a first wavelength, and the second optical path control signal has a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; The optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in a wavelength multiplexed manner.

2. The optical switch control system according to claim 1.

8. The extraction unit is a wavelength separation unit that receives the optical path control signal, and outputs the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal in different directions to extract the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal.

8. The optical switch control system according to claim 7.

9. The extraction unit further extracts another optical path control signal different from the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal, The optical switch device further includes an optical path control signal transmitting unit that transmits the other optical path control signal to another optical switch device in a downstream stage.

2. The optical switch control system according to claim 1.

10. the first light path control signal has a first light amount, the second light path control signal has a second light amount different from the first light amount, and the other light path control signal has a light amount different from the first light amount and the second light amount; The optical path control signal includes the first optical path control signal, the second optical path control signal, and the other optical path control signal in a time division multiplexed manner.

10. The optical switch control system according to claim 9.

11. The extraction unit is a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branch optical path control signal for a first optical path and a second branch optical path control signal; a photovoltaic element for optical path control that generates electric power based on the first branch optical path control signal; a light path control signal light path control section for controlling a light path direction of the second branch light path control signal in response to power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element, and extracting the first light path control signal, the second light path control signal, and the other light path control signal; 11. The optical switch control system according to claim 10.

12. The optical path control signal optical path control section has a fluctuation prevention mechanism for preventing fluctuation in the optical path direction of the other optical path control signal.

12. The optical switch control system of claim 11.

13. the optical switch control unit is configured to be able to transmit a connection detection signal to the optical switch device as the first optical communication signal; The first optical communication signal optical path control unit controls, based on the optical path control signal, an optical path direction of the connection detection signal to a first path direction for transmitting the connection detection signal to the optical switch control unit or a second path direction for transmitting the connection detection signal to another optical switch device at a downstream stage.

2. The optical switch control system according to claim 1.

14. The first path is a path different from paths of the input port of the first optical communication signal and the input port of the second optical communication signal.

14. The optical switch control system of claim 13.

15. The first path is a path of an input port of the second optical communication signal.

14. The optical switch control system of claim 13.

16. In the first optical communication signal optical path control section, the electric power intermittently generated by the first photovoltaic element is used via a low pass filter; The low pass filter has a specific time constant corresponding to the optical switch device.

14. The optical switch control system of claim 13.

17. an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; a first optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal; a second optical communication signal optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the first optical communication signal output from the first optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the second optical communication signal output from the second optical communication signal optical path control unit based on the second optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; Optical switch device.

18. The extraction unit is a branching unit that branches the optical path control signal into a first branched optical path control signal for a first optical path and a second branched optical path control signal for a second optical path; a photovoltaic element for optical path control that generates electric power based on the first branch optical path control signal; a light path control signal light path control section that controls a light path direction of the second branch light path control signal in response to the power generated by the light path control photovoltaic element, and extracts the first light path control signal and the second light path control signal.

18. The optical switch device according to claim 17.

19. The extraction unit further extracts another optical path control signal different from the first optical path control signal and the second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal, The optical switch device further includes an optical path control signal transmitting unit for transmitting the other optical path control signal to another optical switch device in a downstream stage.

18. The optical switch device according to claim 17.

20. A processing circuit; an extracting unit that extracts a first optical path control signal and a second optical path control signal from the optical path control signal; an optical path control unit that controls an optical path direction of a connection detection signal; a first photovoltaic element that generates power for controlling an optical path direction of the connection detection signal output from the optical path control unit based on the first optical path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; a second photovoltaic element that generates power for supplying power to the processing circuit based on the second light path control signal extracted by the extraction unit; electronic equipment.

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