Optical Switching Architecture for Multidirectional Port Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wavelength selective switches (WSS) in optical switching nodes are limited in the number of output ports, restricting the ability to switch optical signals in multiple transmission directions.
Innovation Solution
An optical switching apparatus with a first and second dispersion member, switching engines, and beam combining members that decompose and recombine light beams to change transmission directions along both wavelength and port planes, allowing for flexible switching to any output port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single WSS with one-dimensional fiber arrangement is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the quantity of output ports is limited and transmission direction switching is restricted to only the target direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional fiber arrangement to a two-dimensional configuration by introducing a second set of input optical fibers arranged in a direction different from the first set. This dimensional expansion enables the WSS to receive optical signals from multiple spatial directions and switch them to multiple output ports, thereby resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and transmission direction versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple WSS are interconnected to increase output ports, then the transmission direction switching capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional capabilities into a single WSS device by integrating a first set and a second set of input optical fibers with different arrangement directions within the same device architecture. This merging approach achieves the transmission direction switching capability of multiple interconnected WSS while avoiding the complexity of actual interconnections between separate devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the quantity of input and output ports is increased, then the switching versatility is improved, but the overall volume of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes two-dimensional spatial arrangement of optical fibers (with different directions for first and second sets) to increase the effective number of input ports without proportionally increasing the apparatus volume. This dimensional optimization allows more fibers to be packed into a compact configuration, achieving high switching versatility while controlling physical size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables switching of sub-wavelength light beams in multiple directions, reducing insertion loss and improving switching accuracy while utilizing optical components efficiently, and reducing the overall volume of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The first dispersion member is configured to receive the first light beams from the input ports, and is configured to decompose the first light beams into a plurality of first sub-wavelength light beams
Implementation Method 2
The first beam combining regions are configured to perform beam combining on the received first sub-wavelength light beams to form second light beams
Implementation Method 3
The first lens group is configured to converge the plurality of second light beams to the second dispersion member
Implementation Method 4
The second dispersion member is configured to decompose each second light beam into a plurality of second sub-wavelength light beams
Implementation Method 5
The second beam combining regions are configured to perform beam combining on the received second sub-wavelength light beams to form third light beams
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical switching apparatus, an optical switching method, an optical switching node, and a system, to implement switching of optical signals in more transmission directions. The optical switching apparatus includes input ports, a first dispersion member, a first switching engine, a first beam combining member, a first lens group, a second dispersion member, a second beam combining member, a second switching engine, and output ports. The first switching engine and the second switching engine jointly change transmission directions of sub-wavelength light beams along a wavelength plane and a port plane, the wavelength plane and the port plane are perpendicular to each other, and both the wavelength plane and the port plane are parallel to transmission directions of first light beams.