Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical network
US6175432A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0035
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical cross-connect network provides wavelength routing of optical channels between two arrays of optical fibers carrying WDM signals using interconnected arrays of optical wavelength switches based on combinations of a 1.times.2 wavelength switch architecture. For example, a cross-connect network can be made by interconnecting two arrays of 1.times.4 wavelength switches, each of which is made by combining three 1.times.2 wavelength switches. Each 1.times.2 optical wavelength switch has polarization separation element (e.g., a first birefringent element) that decomposes and spatially separates the input WDM signal into two orthogonally-polarized beams. A first polarization rotator selectably rotates the polarization of one of the beams to match the polarization of other beam, based on an external control signal. A wavelength filter (e.g., stacked waveplates) provides a polarization-dependent optical transmission function such that the first beam decomposes into third and fourth orthogonal beams, and the second beam decomposes into fifth and sixth orthogonal beams. The third and fifth beams carry a first spectral band at a first polarization and the fourth and sixth beams carry…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.