Optical cross-connect device and optical network

Abstract

In an optical cross-connect device for constructing a large scale optical network that supports an increase in the number of wavelengths, and an optical network using this optical cross-connect device, the optical cross-connect device comprises: a combination of any two of “a” units of wave multiplexers for multiplexing “n” waves of light signals directly received from an intra-office device to be transferred to a same destination, “L−a” threads of transmission lines each for transmitting an n-wave-multiplexed light signal, and “a” units of wave demultiplexers for demultiplexing the n-wave-multiplexed light signals bound for the same destination; and an L*L light switch for selecting the combination for transmitting the light signals to the same destination. Furthermore, a protective transmission line is provided, and a protective-signal light switch for selecting a combination of the protective transmission line, the wave multiplexer, and the wave demultiplexer is provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.