# US 11,115,735 B2 · Reconfigurable optical networks

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- Number: US 11,115,735 B2
- Document ID: US11115735B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/617,852
- Filed: 2018-05-30
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-30
- Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Commscope Technologies LLC
- Inventors: Olivier Hubert Daniel Yves Rousseaux; Joseph Christopher Coffey; David James Mather; John Charles Chamberlain; Erik J. Gronvall; Peter Merlo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11115735B2

## CPC

- H04Q 11/0062: {Network aspects}
- G02B 6/3596: {With planar waveguide arrangement, i.e. in a substrate, regardless if actuating mechanism is outside the substrate}
- H04B 10/40: Transceivers
- H04J 14/0206: {Express channels arrangements}
- H04J 14/0212: {using optical switches or wavelength selective switches [WSS]}
- H04J 14/0213: {Groups of channels or wave bands arrangements}
- H04Q 11/0005: {Switch and router aspects}
- G02B 6/3508: {Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends}
- G02B 6/3518: {the reflective optical element being an intrinsic part of a MEMS device, i.e. fabricated together with the MEMS device (MEMS devices in general B81B; manufacture of MEM devices in general B81C; micromechanical devices controlling the direction of light G02B26/0833)}
- G02B 6/3522: {the optical element enabling or impairing total internal reflection (using evanescent coupling G02B6/3536)}
- G02B 6/3536: {involving evanescent coupling variation, e.g. by a moving element such as a membrane which changes the effective refractive index (mode converters G02B6/14; adjustable lateral coupling between waveguides G02B6/283; electro- optical refractive index variations G02F1/0118)}
- G02B 6/3538: {based on displacement or deformation of a liquid (controlling the intensity of light by displacement or deformation of a fluid in general G02B26/004; fluid-filled lens of variable focal length G02B3/14)}
- H04Q 2011/0015: {using splitting combining}
- H04Q 2011/0016: {using wavelength multiplexing or demultiplexing}
- H04Q 2011/0039: {Electrical control}
- H04Q 2011/0058: {Crossbar; Matrix}
- H04Q 2011/0079: {Operation or maintenance aspects}
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S)

## Abstract

Switching technology may be incorporated into various systems, components, and/or architectures in a fiber optic network to promote network reconfigurability and design flexibility. A signal access unit comprises an input, an output, an access port, a switch arrangement including a switch, and a controller. The switch optically couples the input to the output and not to the access port when in a first configuration, and optically couples the access port to at least one of the input and the output without optically coupling the input and the output together when in a second configuration. The controller is configured to receive an indication of a selected wavelength and to operate the switch arrangement to change the switch between the first and second configurations based on the indication of the selected wavelength.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A signal access unit comprising:
an input;
an output;
an access port;
a switch arrangement including a switch that is optically coupled to the input, the output, and the access port, the switch being configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, the switch optically coupling the input to the output and not to the access port when in the first configuration, and the switch optically coupling the access port to at least one of the input and the output without optically coupling the input and the output together when in the second configuration;
a controller configured to receive an indication of a selected wavelength and to operate the switch arrangement to change the switch between the first and second configurations based on the indication of the selected wavelength; and
an optical tap disposed between the switch and the access port, the optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, the tap input being optically coupled to the input, the first tap output being optically coupled to the output, and the second tap output being optically coupled to the access port, the optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the tap input to the first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the second tap output, the second part being less than the first part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The signal access unit of claim 1, further comprising:
a demultiplexer coupled to the input, the demultiplexer being configured to separate optical signals received at the input onto a plurality of demultiplexer outputs based on wavelength; and
a multiplexer coupled to the output, the multiplexer being configured to combine optical signals received at a plurality of multiplexer inputs and to direct the combined signal to the output;
wherein the switch optically couples to the input via at least one of the demultiplexer outputs and optically couples to the output via at least one of the multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The signal access unit of claim 1, wherein the access port is one of a plurality of access ports; wherein the switch of the switch arrangement is one of a plurality of switches, each of the switches being optically coupled to the input, the output, and one of the access ports.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The signal access unit of claim 3, wherein the switches include adiabatic switches.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The signal access unit of claim 3, wherein the switches include total internal reflection (TIR) switches.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The signal access unit of claim 3, wherein each of the switches is optically coupled to the input via at least one of the demultiplexer outputs and optically coupled to the output via at least one of the multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The signal access unit of claim 6, wherein each switch is optically coupled to a respective one of the demultiplexer outputs and a respective one of the multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The signal access unit of claim 6, wherein each switch is optically coupled to a plurality of the demultiplexer outputs and a plurality of the multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The signal access unit of claim 2, wherein the access port is a drop port, and wherein the switch optically couples the drop port to the input.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The signal access unit of claim 9, wherein the switch arrangement can be configured to optically couple the drop port to any of the demultiplexer outputs, optionally via the optical tap.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The signal access unit of claim 9, wherein the switch arrangement can be configured to optically couple the drop port to less than all of the demultiplexer outputs, optionally via the optical tap.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The signal access unit of claim 2, wherein the access port is an add port, and wherein the switch optically couples the add port to the output.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The signal access unit of claim 12, wherein the switch arrangement can be configured to optically couple the add port to any of the multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The signal access unit of claim 12, wherein the switch arrangement can be configured to optically couple the add port to less than all of the multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The signal access unit of claim 1, further comprising a plug-in module at the access port, the plug-in module configured to receive a WDM optical transceiver, the plug-in module also defining a plug port to receive a non-WDM optical transceiver, and the plug-in module being configured to convert signals between the non-WDM optical transceiver and the WDM optical transceiver.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The signal access unit of claim 15, wherein the non-WDM optical transceiver is a standard optical transceiver.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The signal access unit of claim 15, wherein the non-WDM optical transceiver is an electrical connector.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The signal access unit of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector is an SFP connector.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The signal access unit of claim 1, further comprising a body defining an environmentally sealed interior, the body including a first environmentally sealed port defining the input, a second environmentally sealed port defining the output, and a third environmentally sealed port defining the access port.

### Claim 20 (depends on 2)

The signal access unit of claim 2, wherein the input is a first input, the output is a first output, the access port is a first access port, the switch arrangement is a first switch arrangement, the demultiplexer is a first demultiplexer, and the multiplexer is a first multiplexer, and wherein the signal access unit further comprises:
a second input;
a second output;
a second access port; and
a second switch arrangement including a second switch that is optically coupled to the second input, the second output, and the second access port, the second switch being configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, the second switch optically coupling the second input to the second output and not to the second access port when in the first configuration, and the second switch optically coupling the second access port to at least one of the second input and the second output without optically coupling the second input and the second output together when in the second configuration.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The signal access unit of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to receive a second indication of a second selected wavelength and is configured to operate the second switch arrangement to change the second switch between the first and second configurations based on the second indication of the second selected wavelength.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The signal access unit of claim 20, further comprising:
a second demultiplexer coupled to the second input, the second demultiplexer being configured to separate optical signals received at the second input onto a plurality of second demultiplexer outputs based on wavelength; and
a second multiplexer coupled to the second output, the second multiplexer being configured to combine optical signals received at a plurality of second multiplexer inputs and to direct the combined signal to the second output;
wherein the second switch optically couples to the second input via at least one of the second demultiplexer outputs and optically couples to the second output via at least one of the second multiplexer inputs.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The signal access unit of claim 20, further comprising a body defining an environmentally sealed interior, the body having a plurality of environmentally sealed ports defining the first input, the second input, the first output, the second output, the first access port, and the second access port, wherein the first multiplexer, the second multiplexer, the first demultiplexer, the second demultiplexer, the first switch arrangement, and the second switch arrangement are disposed within the interior of the body.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The signal access unit of claim 20, wherein the second access port is one of a plurality of second access ports; and wherein the second switch of the second switch arrangement is one of a plurality of second switches, and wherein each of the second switches is optically coupled to at least one of the second access ports.

### Claim 25

A signal access unit comprising:
a body defining an input port, an output port, and a plurality of access ports;
a demultiplexer disposed within the body, the demultiplexer having a demultiplexer input and a plurality of demultiplexer outputs, the demultiplexer input being optically coupled to the input port of the body, the demultiplexer being configured to separate optical signals received at the demultiplexer input onto the demultiplexer outputs based on wavelength;
a multiplexer disposed within the body, the multiplexer having a plurality of multiplexer inputs and a multiplexer output, the multiplexer being configured to combine optical signals received at the plurality of multiplexer inputs onto the multiplexer output, the multiplexer output being optically coupled to the output port of the body;
a switching arrangement disposed within the body between the demultiplexer and the multiplexer, the switching arrangement including a plurality of switches; and
an optical circuit including a plurality of first optical lines, a plurality of second optical lines, and a plurality of third optical lines, each of the first optical lines extending from a respective one of the demultiplexer outputs to a respective one of the switches, each of the second optical lines extending from a respective one of the switches to a respective one of the multiplexer inputs, and each of the third optical lines extending from a respective one of the switches to a respective one of the access ports; and
a plurality of optical taps, each optical tap being disposed between one of the switches of the switching arrangement and one of the access ports, each optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, each tap input being optically coupled to the input port of the body, each first tap output being optically coupled to the output port of the body, and each second tap output being optically coupled to the respective access port, each optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the respective tap input to the respective first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the respective second tap output, the second part being less than the first part.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The signal access unit of claim 25, wherein the body also defines a second input port and a second output port, and wherein the signal drop unit further comprises:
a second demultiplexer disposed within the body, the second demultiplexer having a second demultiplexer input and a plurality of second demultiplexer outputs, the second demultiplexer input being optically coupled to the second input port of the body, the second demultiplexer being configured to separate optical signals received at the second demultiplexer input onto the second demultiplexer outputs based on wavelength;
a second multiplexer disposed within the body, the second multiplexer having a plurality of second multiplexer inputs and a second multiplexer output, the second multiplexer being configured to combine optical signals received at the plurality of second multiplexer inputs onto the second multiplexer output, the second multiplexer output being optically coupled to the second output port of the body;
a second switching arrangement disposed within the body between the second demultiplexer and the second multiplexer, the second switching arrangement including a plurality of switches; and
a second optical circuit including a plurality of first optical lines, a plurality of second optical lines, and a plurality of third optical lines, each of the first optical lines of the second optical circuit extending from a respective one of the second demultiplexer outputs to a respective one of the switches of the second switching arrangement, each of the second optical lines of the second optical circuit extending from a respective one of the switches of the second switch arrangement to a respective one of the second multiplexer inputs, and each of the third optical lines of the second optical circuit extending from a respective one of the switches of the second switching arrangement to a respective one of the access ports.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The signal access unit of claim 26, wherein each of the access ports receives a respective one of the third optical lines of the optical circuit and a respective one of the third optical lines of the second optical circuit.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The signal access unit of claim 25, further comprising:
a second demultiplexer disposed within the body, the second demultiplexer having a second demultiplexer input and a plurality of second demultiplexer outputs, the second demultiplexer input being optically coupled to the second input port of the body, the second demultiplexer being configured to separate optical signals received at the second demultiplexer input onto the second demultiplexer outputs based on wavelength;
a second multiplexer disposed within the body, the second multiplexer having a plurality of second multiplexer inputs and a second multiplexer output, the second multiplexer being configured to combine optical signals received at the plurality of second multiplexer inputs onto the second multiplexer output, the second multiplexer output being optically coupled to the second output port of the body;
a second switching arrangement disposed within the body between the second demultiplexer and the second multiplexer, the second switching arrangement including a plurality of switches;
a second optical circuit including a plurality of first optical lines, a plurality of second optical lines, and a plurality of third optical lines, each of the first optical lines of the second optical circuit extending from a respective one of the second demultiplexer outputs to a respective one of the switches of the second switching arrangement, each of the second optical lines of the second optical circuit extending from a respective one of the switches of the second switch arrangement to a respective one of the second multiplexer inputs, and each of the third optical lines of the second optical circuit extending from a respective one of the switches of the second switching arrangement to a respective one of the access ports; and
a plurality of optical taps, each optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, each optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the respective tap input to the respective first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the respective second tap output, the second part being less than the first part, wherein the tap input of each optical tap is optically coupled to one of the third lines of one of the optical circuit and the second optical circuit, wherein the first tap output of each optical tap is optically coupled to one of the third lines of the other of the optical circuit and the second optical circuit, and wherein the second tap output of each optical tap is optically coupled to one of the access ports.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The signal access unit of claim 25, further comprising a plurality of plug-in modules disposed at at least some of the access ports, each of the plug-in modules being configured to convert optical signals of a specific wavelength to an electrical signal.

### Claim 30

A signal access unit comprising:
a body defining a first main port, a second main port, and at least one access port;
a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit disposed within the body, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit having a main line and a plurality of channel lines, the main line being optically coupled to the first main port of the body, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit being configured to separate optical signals received at the main line onto the channel lines by wavelength, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit also configured to combine optical signals received at the channel lines onto the main line;
a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit disposed within the body, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit having a main line and a plurality of channel lines, the main line of the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit being optically coupled to the second main port of the body, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit being configured to separate optical signals received at the respective main line onto the respective channel lines by wavelength, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit also configured to combine optical signals received at the respective channel lines onto the respective main line;
a switching arrangement disposed within the body between the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit, the switching arrangement including at least one switch configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration;
an optical circuit including a first optical line, a second optical line, and a third optical line, the first optical line extending from a respective one of the channel lines of the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit to the switch, the second optical line extending from the switch to a respective one of the channel lines of the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit, and the third optical line extending from the switch to the access port; and
an optical tap disposed between the at least one switch and the at least one access port, the optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, the tap input being optically coupled to the first main port, the first tap output being optically coupled to the second main port, and the second tap output being optically coupled to the at least one access port, the optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the tap input to the first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the second tap output, the second part being less than the first part;
wherein the switch optically couples the first and second optical lines when in the first configuration and the switch optically couples the third optical line to at least one of the first and second optical lines when in the second configuration.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The signal access unit of claim 30, wherein the at least one access port is one of a plurality of access ports defined by the body, wherein the switching arrangement includes a plurality of switches, wherein the first optical line is one of a plurality of first optical lines, the second optical line is one of a plurality of second optical lines, and the third optical line is one of a plurality of third optical lines, each of the first optical lines extending from a respective one of the channel lines of the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit to a respective one of the switches, each of the second optical lines extending from a respective one of the switches to a respective one of the channel lines of the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit, and each of the third optical lines extending from one of the switches to one of the access ports.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The signal access unit of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of plug-in modules, each plug-in module being optically coupled to the access port, each plug-in module also defining a port configured to receive an electrical connector.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The signal access unit of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of optical taps, each optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, each optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the respective tap input to the respective first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the respective second tap output, the second part being less than the first part, each optical tap being disposed along the third optical line of the optical circuit so that the respective tap input receives optical signals from the switch via the third optical line, the respective first tap output outputs the first part of the optical signals to the respective access port via the third optical line, and a fourth optical line optically couples the respective second tap output to the switch, wherein the switch couples the respective fourth optical line to a respective one of the channel lines of the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The signal access unit of claim 30, further comprising a controller configured to receive an indication of a selected wavelength and to transition the switch between the first and second configurations based on the selected wavelength.