Method and apparatus for cross-connecting optical transmission signals
US6501866B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0039
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus are contemplated for electrical-to-optical conversion coupled to an electrical switching fabric, wherein the number of lasers supplying optical carrier beams in electrical-to-optical conversion is less than the number of optical modulators. Cost savings for a reduced number of lasers may be considerable. Further, the shared laser bank supplying optical carrier beams may comprise shared control and monitoring electronics, resulting in a further cost savings. The shared laser bank may comprise at least one redundant laser. Optical modulators may be grouped into modules for ease of replacement and further cost savings. Optical signal conditioning may be applied to the lasers, and the conditioned beams may be shared among the modulators. Soliton pulses may be generated at a desired data rate, distributed to form a plurality of distributed pulse trains, and each pulse stream may be modulated with information from the same or different information channels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.