Non-blocking optical cross-connect structure for telecommunications network

A nonblocking cross-connect structure for establishing connections between M source optical waveguides and M destination optical waveguides, comprising:

• wavelength division demultiplexing means for receiving multiple wavelength, information carrying optical signals from each of said source waveguides and for separating said received optical signals into N wavelengths so that said wavelengths are organized according to a corresponding waveguide of origin, each individual wavelength from each source waveguide being capable of carrying information destined for a specific destination waveguide;
• nonblocking optical means for rearranging said wavelengths so as to group together wavelengths having a common destination waveguide, said nonblocking optical means including
• first spatial switching means having a plurality of inputs for receiving said separated wavelengths from said wavelength division demultiplexing means and a plurality of outputs, said first spatial switching means being operable to supply any of said separated wavelengths to any of said outputs,
• order preserving, wavelength converting means for receiving each separated wavelength from the outputs of said first spatial switching means and for converting any said received wavelength carrying information destined for a specific destination waveguide to a wavelength currently available on said specific destination waveguide, and
• second spatial switching means for receiving each converted wavelength from said wavelength converting means and for grouping said converted wavelengths according to destination waveguide;
• and
• wavelength division multiplexing means for multiplexing together wavelengths having the same destination waveguide.