Optical switch
US6433902B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0049
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switch which avoids imparting interference noise, limiting communications speed, and imparting losses, includes n passive couplers, each of which is provided with a number k of outlets, and with an inlet suitable for receiving one input signal; and k wavelength multiplexers, each of which is provided with n inlets set to respective ones of n wavelengths. For each multiplexer, that one of its inlets which is set to one of the wavelengths, is coupled via an amplifying optical gate to one of the outlets of that one of the couplers that is organized to receive an input signal carried by the same wavelength. The switch is used in performing routing functions in communications networks having optical links.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.