Four-port wavelength-selective crossbar switches (4WCS) using reciprocal WDM MUX-DEMUX and optical circulator combination
US6751372B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 15, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0058
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A four-port wavelength-selective crossbar switch generates an add/drop wavelength signal from a wave division multiplexed (WDM) signal using a plurality of double-sided reflectors that selectively reflects a selected wavelength channel signal of the WDM signal through optical circulators to provide low crosstalk between the dropped and added wavelength signals. The switch also reduces the number of WDM MUX-DEMUX required to one half that compared to a traditional approach. Furthermore, the switch can be designed to be wavelength cyclic with individual free spectral ranges that can be independently set to either through or add/drop states.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.