Optical cross-connect apparatus

An optical cross-connect apparatus for performing optical cross-connection of optical signals, the apparatus comprising:

• a wavelength converter for converting wavelengths contained in each input WDM signal into wavelengths the number of which is equal to the number of WDM signals;
• a wavelength switching section including:
• a demultiplexer for separating the wavelength-converted optical signals according to wavelengths;
• a pulse width compression and phase shift section for compressing pulse widths of the demultiplexed optical signals by dividing the pulse widths by the number of the wavelengths contained in each input WDM signal and for performing a phase shift so that phases of a plurality of compressed signal will not be the same;
• and
• a multiplexer for combining the phase-shifted optical signals, and
• an output optical signal processing section for converting wavelengths contained in the optical signals distributed by the wavelength switching section into wavelengths recognized from phases of the optical signals, for expanding pulse widths of the optical signals, and for outputting WDM signals.

An optical cross-connect apparatus for performing non-blocking optical cross-connection of WDM input optical signals, the number of which is n and each of which contains m wavelengths λ1 through λm, in the case of m>n, the apparatus comprising:

• n wavelength converters for converting the wavelengths contained in the WDM input optical signals into wavelengths λ1 through λ2m;
• a first wavelength switching section including:
• n demultiplexers for separating the wavelength-converted optical signals according to wavelengths;
• (2m×n) first optical signal processing sections for converting a wavelength contained in each of the demultiplexed optical signals into one of wavelengths λ1 through λn, for compressing the pulse widths of the demultiplexed optical signals by the use of the time division number 2m, and for performing a phase shift so that the phases of a plurality of compressed signals will not be the same;
• and
• n multiplexers, to which output fibers of the first optical signal processing sections are connected by (2m/n)s, for combining the phase-shifted optical signals,
• n first wavelength conversion and pulse width expansion sections for converting wavelengths contained in output from the first wavelength switching section into the wavelengths λ1 through λm and for performing pulse width expansion;
• a second wavelength switching section including:
• n demultiplexers for separating output from the first wavelength conversion and pulse width expansion sections according to wavelengths;
• (2m×n) second optical signal processing sections for converting a wavelength contained in each of the demultiplexed optical signals into one of wavelengths λ1 through λn, for compressing the pulse widths of the demultiplexed optical signals by the use of the time division number 2m, and for performing a phase shift so that the phases of a plurality of compressed signals will not be the same;
• and
• n multiplexers, to which output fibers of the second optical signal processing sections are connected by (2m/n)s, for combining the phase-shifted optical signals, and
• n second wavelength conversion and pulse width expansion sections for converting wavelengths contained in output from the second wavelength switching section into the wavelengths λ1 through λm and for performing pulse width expansion.

An optical cross-connect apparatus for performing non-blocking optical cross-connection of WDM input optical signals, the number of which is n and each of which contains m wavelengths λ1 through λm, in the case of m≦n, the apparatus comprising:

• n wavelength converters for converting the wavelengths contained in the WDM input optical signals into wavelengths λ1 through λn;
• a first wavelength switching section including:
• n demultiplexers for separating the wavelength-converted optical signals according to wavelengths;
• (n×n) first optical signal processing sections for converting a wavelength contained in each of the demultiplexed optical signals into one of wavelengths λ1 through λn, for compressing the pulse widths of the demultiplexed optical signals by the use of the time division number 2m, and for performing a phase shift so that the phases of a plurality of compressed signals will not be the same;
• and
• n multiplexers, to which output fibers of the first optical signal processing sections are connected on a one-to-one basis, for combining the phase-shifted optical signals,
• n first wavelength conversion and pulse width expansion sections for converting wavelengths contained in output from the first wavelength switching section into the wavelengths λ1 through λm and for performing pulse width expansion;
• a second wavelength switching section including:
• n demultiplexers for separating output from the first wavelength conversion and pulse width expansion sections according to wavelengths;
• (n×n) second optical signal processing sections for converting a wavelength contained in each of the demultiplexed optical signals into one of wavelengths λ1 through λn, for compressing the pulse widths of the demultiplexed optical signals by the use of the time division number 2m, and for performing a phase shift so that the phases of a plurality of compressed signals will not be the same;
• and
• n multiplexers, to which output fibers of the second optical signal processing sections are connected on a one-to-one basis, for combining the phase-shifted optical signals, and
• n second wavelength conversion and pulse width expansion sections for converting wavelengths contained in output from the second wavelength switching section into the wavelengths λ1 through λm and for performing pulse width expansion.