Method and apparatus for an opto-electronic circuit switch
US6058227A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0047
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A size-expandable and bandwidth upgradable opto-electronic circuit switch (10) and corresponding methodology for full broadcast routing of a plurality of signals with 100% non-blocking are provided. The opto-electronic circuit switch (10) includes at least two input transmitters (22) for receiving electrical input signals and for converting these electrical signals into a corresponding optical input signal, such that each optical input signal is at a different wavelength carrier. Next, a multiplexer (24) is used to combine these optical signals into a single optical input using wavelength division multiplexing, a fixed equalizer (25) provides the same gain response among all signals, and an amplifier (26) optically amplifies this optical signal received from the multiplexer. A splitter (28) receives this amplified optical signal from the amplifier (26) and transmits it as a plurality of optical output signals to at least two optical receivers (30). Each optical receiver (30) selects one of the optical input signals from the optical output signal by its wavelength, and then converts this selected signal into an electrical output signal. Optional RF and digital subsystems are also pr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.