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US 10,389,470 B2Granted
Construction of optical nodes using programmable ROADMS
OwnerMark E. Boduch, Kimon Papakosinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to programmable ROADMs used to construct optical nodes. Example embodiments include wavelength switches and waveguide switches, wherein the waveguide switches may be programmed to direct wavelength division multiplexed optical signals to and from the wavelength switches.
Claims20
An optical node comprising:
- a first optical degree;
- a second optical degree;
- a first plurality of drop ports;
- a second plurality of drop ports;
- a first wavelength switch, used to select individual wavelengths for the first optical degree, and used to select individual wavelengths for the first plurality of drop ports;
- a second wavelength switch, used to select individual wavelengths for the second optical degree, and used to select individual wavelengths for the second plurality of drop ports;
- and
- a plurality of waveguide switches, operable to be set to a first mode and to a second mode,
- wherein when the plurality of waveguide switches are set to the first mode, the first plurality of drop ports are operable to drop wavelengths from the first optical degree and from the second optical degree, and the second plurality of drop ports are operable to drop wavelengths from the first optical degree and from the second optical degree, and wherein when the plurality of waveguide switches are set to the second mode, the first plurality of drop ports are operable to drop wavelengths only from the first optical degree, and the second plurality of drop ports are operable to drop wavelengths only from the second optical degree.
6 more elements
A wavelength switch comprising:
- a first optical input;
- a second optical input;
- a first optical output;
- a second optical output;
- a first optical coupler having a coupler input, a first coupler output, and a second coupler output, wherein the coupler input is connected to the first optical input;
- a first waveguide switch having a first switch input, a second switch input, and a switch output, wherein the first switch input is connected to the second optical input, and wherein the second switch input is connected to the first coupler output;
- a first wavelength equalizer having a first equalizer input and a first equalizer output, wherein the first equalizer input is connected to the second coupler output;
- a second wavelength equalizer having a second equalizer input and a second equalizer output, wherein the second equalizer input is connected to the switch output;
- a second waveguide switch having a switch input, a first switch output, and a second switch output, wherein the first equalizer output is connected to the switch input, and wherein the first switch output is connected to the first optical output;
- and
- a second optical coupler having a first coupler input, a second coupler input, and a coupler output, wherein the first coupler input is connected to the second equalizer output, and wherein the second coupler input is connected to the second switch output, and wherein the coupler output is connected to the second optical output.
8 more elements
A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) of a first optical node comprising:
- an optical degree output port used to connect the first optical node to a second optical node;
- a plurality of optical express input ports, used to connect the ROADM of the first optical node to additional ROADMs within the first optical node;
- one or more optical drop ports;
- a wavelength switch, used to switch individual wavelengths within wavelength division multiplexed optical signals;
- and
- a plurality of waveguide switches that are programmable to perform a first function and a second function,
- wherein when the plurality of waveguide switches are programmed to perform the first function, the wavelength switch passes and blocks individual wavelengths to the optical degree output port from m number of the plurality of optical express input ports, and the wavelength switch passes and blocks individual wavelengths for n number of optical drop ports of the one or more optical drop ports, and wherein when the plurality of waveguide switches are programmed to perform the second function, the wavelength switch passes and blocks individual wavelengths to the optical degree output port from m+j number of the plurality of optical express input ports, and the wavelength switch passes and blocks individual wavelengths for n−j number of optical drop ports of the one or more optical drop ports, wherein m, n, and j are integers greater than zero, and wherein j≤n.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.