Wavelength Cross-Connect with Band Conversion for Uniform Optical Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wavelength cross connect devices exhibit variations in transmission performance among S-, C-, and L-band optical signals due to differences in optical characteristics, leading to inefficiencies in utilizing each wavelength band within an optical network.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength cross connect device that includes a wavelength band switching unit to split and perform wavelength band conversion on multiplexed signal beams, and a WXC unit for rerouting, reducing differences in transmission performance among distinct wavelength bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wavelength cross connect devices process S-, C-, and L-band optical signals separately through dedicated WXC units, then each wavelength band can be processed independently, but variations in transmission performance occur among different wavelength bands due to differences in optical characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength band parameter by converting S-band and L-band optical signals to C-band through wavelength band conversion units. This parameter transformation allows all wavelength bands to be processed through the same C-band WXC unit, eliminating performance variations while maintaining the ability to handle multiple wavelength bands. The wavelength band conversion units adjust the optical signal parameters to match the C-band transmission window.
2Productivity
If separate WXC units are provided for each wavelength band, then wavelength band specific processing can be performed, but device complexity increases and network utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal C-band WXC unit that can process all wavelength bands (S-, C-, and L-band) through wavelength band conversion. Instead of having separate dedicated WXC units for each wavelength band, the system uses a single multi-functional WXC unit that handles all bands by converting them to C-band first, then processing through the same switching fabric, thereby reducing device complexity and improving network utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate WXC units (one for each wavelength band) into a single unified WXC unit. By combining the S-band WXC, C-band WXC, and L-band WXC into one integrated unit that processes all bands through common switching resources, the system reduces overall device complexity and improves resource utilization while maintaining the capability to handle multiple wavelength bands simultaneously.
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
Enhances the efficiency of utilizing each wavelength band within the optical network by reducing variations in transmission performance and increasing network capacity by enabling wavelength band conversion on a link and wavelength basis, thereby avoiding constraints like inter-band stimulated Raman scattering.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength selective switch (WSS) configured to split a wavelength multiplexed signal beam transmitted from an input route into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed signal beams
Implementation Method 2
perform wavelength band conversion on each of the split predetermined number of wavelength multiplexed signal beams
Data Source
AI summary
A wavelength cross connect device includes: a wavelength band switching unit configured to receive wavelength multiplexed signal beams each having been transmitted in multiple bands in optical transmission lines each including one or more optical fibers, the wavelength multiplexed signal beams each including multiplexed optical signals of distinct wavelength bands, perform wavelength band conversion on each of the wavelength multiplexed signal beams so as to convert the wavelength bands of the optical signals multiplexed in the wavelength multiplexed signal beam, and output the converted wavelength multiplexed signal beams; and a WXC unit including input-side WSSes that respectively split and output the wavelength multiplexed signal beams output from the wavelength band switching unit, and output-side WSSes mesh-connected to the input-side WSSes. The WXC unit inputs the split wavelength multiplexed signal beams to the output-side WSSes while performing rerouting and outputs the rerouted wavelength multiplexed signal beams to output transmission lines.