Bidirectional wavelength cross connect architectures using wavelength routing elements
AssigneeNetwork Photonics, Inc.
InventorsEdward J. Bortolini, Dirk Barthel, Robert T. Weverka, Samuel Paul Weaver, Paulo E. X. Silveira
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals.
Claims39
A bidirectional wavelength cross connect, comprising:
- a plurality of optically interconnected wavelength routing elements configured to multiplex selective ones of a plurality of spectral bands to an output optical signal and to direct the output optical signal to one of a plurality of ports;
- wherein the spectral bands are comprised by a plurality of input optical signals, each input optical signal being received at respective ones of the plurality of ports.
A K×K bidirectional wavelength cross connect, comprising:
- K ports configured to receive input optical signals, each input optical signal comprising a plurality of spectral bands, at least one of the ports being disposed to transmit an output optical signal comprising at least one of the spectral bands;
- and
- a plurality of optically interconnected wavelength routing elements configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals.
A K×K bidirectional wavelength cross connect, comprising:
- a plurality K of 1:(K−1) optical couplers, each configured to receive one of a plurality of input optical signals, each of the plurality of input optical signals comprising a plurality of spectral bands;
- and
- a plurality
- 4 K ( K - 1 ) 2
- of wavelength blockers, each wavelength blocker having at least two wavelength blocker ports;
- wherein each optical coupler is configured to transmit (K−1) substantial equivalents of one of the plurality of input optical signals to (K−1) wavelength blockers, to receive an output optical signal from each of the (K−1) wavelength blockers, and to transmit a composite output signal;
- wherein the wavelength blockers are configured to receive two of the substantial equivalents of the plurality of input optical signals from two different optical couplers, selectively to block spectral bands from the substantial equivalents of the plurality of input optical signals, and to transmit output optical signals to the two different optical couplers.
A method of distributing a plurality of spectral bands, comprising:
- receiving input optical signals at a plurality of ports, the input optical signals comprising the spectral bands;
- multiplexing selected spectral bands from the input optical signals onto an output optical signal;
- and
- transmitting the output optical signal from one of the ports.
A method of distributing a plurality of spectral bands, comprising:
- receiving input optical signals at a plurality of ports, the input optical signals comprising the spectral bands;
- and
- transmitting at least one of the spectral bands from one of the ports.
A bidirectional wavelength cross connect for distributing a plurality of spectral bands, comprising:
- a plurality of means for receiving input optical signals, the input optical signals comprising the spectral bands;
- means for multiplexing selected spectral bands from the input optical signals onto an output optical signal;
- and
- means for transmitting the output optical signal from one of the means for receiving input optical signals.
A method of exchanging selected spectral bands of optical signals, comprising:
- receiving input spectral bands at a first port of a bidirectional wavelength routing element;
- directing express spectral bands to a second port of the bidirectional wavelength routing element, wherefrom the express spectral bands are redirected back to the second port;
- multiplexing the express spectral bands onto an express optical signal;
- and
- directing the express optical signal from the first port to an express port.
A method of exchanging selected spectral bands of optical signals, comprising:
- directing input spectral bands to a first port of a wavelength routing element;
- directing express spectral bands to a second port of the wavelength routing element;
- directing add spectral bands to a third port;
- directing the add spectral bands to the first port of the wavelength routing element;
- optically combining the add spectral bands with the express spectral bands onto an express optical signal;
- and
- directing the express optical signal to an express port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.