US 6,128,115 A · Optical switch device

Abstract

An optical switch device includes an integrated space switch section and a wavelength switch section which reduces, a packaging volume and cost. The optical switch device includes a plurality of multi-functional wavelength converters. One of these converters includes a wavelength converter 121, in which an input terminal and an output terminal are connected to optical divider 131 and opticalcoupler 141, respectively, is operated as the wavelength converter only when a current flows through a semiconductor optical amplifier in the wavelength converter. When the current does not flow through the amplifier, the light is not outputted. By turning on/off the current flowing through the semiconductor optical amplifier in the wavelength converter, wavelength converter 121 can functions as a gate switch. The switch device has both of a wavelength conversion function and a space switch function. Wavelength converters 121-123 connected to one optical divider 131 are connected to different opticalcouplers 141-143, respectively, whereby the device can also have a wavelength multiplexing function.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An optical switch device for communication comprising:

a plurality of optical dividers;
a plurality of wavelength converters which switch/set a mode for outputting a light and a mode for not outputting the light;
a plurality of optical couplers;
a plurality of input terminals;
and
a plurality of output terminals,
wherein;
said plurality of input terminals are connected to said plurality of optical dividers,
said plurality of optical dividers are connected to said plurality of wavelength converters,
said plurality of wavelength converters are connected to said plurality of optical couplers,
said plurality of optical couplers are connected to said plurality of output terminals,
each of said plurality of wavelength converters include:
a switching section which switches said each wavelength converter between said light outputting mode and said mode for not outputting light;
and
a wavelength converting section which converts input light into a predetermined wavelength.

12 more elements

An optical switch device for communication comprising:

a plurality of wavelength converters which switch/set a mode for outputting light and a mode for not outputting light;
a plurality of optical couplers;
a plurality of input terminals;
and
a plurality of output terminals,
wherein said plurality of input terminals are connected to said plurality of wavelength converters,
said plurality of wavelength converters are connected to said plurality of optical couplers, and
said plurality of optical couplers are connected to said plurality of output terminals,
each of said plurality of wavelength converters include:
a switching section which switches said each wavelength converter between said light outputting mode and said mode for not outputting light;
and
a wavelength converting section which converts input light into a predetermined wavelength.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical switch device

Life of this patent

Optical switch device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16