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US 6,288,810 B1Granted
Device for adding and dropping optical signals
AssigneePirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
InventorsGiorgio Grasso, Fausto Meli, Marcos Antonio Brandão Sanches, Mario Tamburello
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-channel optical telecommunication system and method for transmitting optical signals having distinct wavelengths. Spectral selection is provided for the optical signals to add or drop signals of predetermined wavelengths. The signals are divided into at least two series of different wavelengths. The signals of each series are dropped or signals of corresponding wavelengths are added, and the signals are then combined.
Claims8
Device for adding and dropping optical signals to and from an optical transmission path (8), comprising:
- an input (950) for a plurality of optical signals with distinct wavelengths;
- spectral selection means (951, 959) for sending at least a first of said signals to a first optical path and sending at least a second of said signals to a second optical path;
- a wavelength selective switching means (953;
- 963) along said first optical path, for adding and dropping at least an optical signal to and from said first optical path;
- means (961, 969) for combining optical signals form said first and said second path to an output (960),
- characterized in that said spectral selection means comprises:
- means (959) for dividing said plurality of optical signals in a first and a second series of optical signals, mutually staggered in wavelength, and
- means (951, 959) for sending said first series of optical signals to said first optical path and said second series of optical signals to said second optical path.
5 more elements
Multichannel optical telecommunication system for transmitting optical signals comprising:
- a fiber-optic line (8);
- means (1A, 901 . . . 931, 3A, 5A, 7A) for inputting to said line optical signals with distinct wavelengths separated by an amount greater than or equal to a minimum predetermined value;
- an adding/dropping unit (750) comprising
- spectral selection means (951, 959) for sending a first series of said optical signals from said fiber-optic line to a first optical path and sending a second series of said optical signals from said fiber-optic line to a second optical path and
- means (961, 969) for combining optical signals form said first and said second path to said optical fiber line (8),
- characterized in that said adding/dropping unit further comprises an acousto-optical wavelength selective switch (953;
- 963) associated with said first optical path and having a spectral resolution greater than or equal to double said minimum predetermined value, and in that said spectral selection means is such that the signals of said first series sent to said first optical path have a wavelength spacing greater than or equal to said spectral resolution of said acousto-optical wavelength selective switch (953;
- 963).
5 more elements
Method for adding and dropping optical signals to and from an optical transmission path (8) comprising the steps of:
- receiving from said optical transmission path a plurality of optical signals with distinct wavelengths;
- sending (951, 959) at least a first of said signals to a first optical path and at least a second of said signals to a second optical path;
- adding and dropping (953;
- 963) at least an optical signal to and from said first optical path;
- combining (961, 969) optical signals form said first and said second path to said optical transmission path,
- characterized in that said sending step comprises:
- dividing (959) said plurality of optical signals in a first and a second series of optical signals, mutually staggered in wavelength and
- sending (951, 959) said first series of optical signals to said first optical path and said second series of optical signals to said second optical path.
5 more elements
Device for dropping optical signals from an optical transmission path (8), comprising:
- an input (950) for a plurality of optical signals with distinct wavelengths;
- spectral selection means (951, 959) for sending at least a first of said signals to a first optical path and sending at least a second of said signals to a second optical path;
- a wavelength selective switching means (953;
- 963) along said first optical path, for dropping at least an optical signal from said first optical path;
- means (961, 969) for combining optical signals form said first and said second path to an output (960),
- characterized in that said spectral selection means comprises:
- means (959) for dividing said plurality of optical signals in a first and a second series of optical signals, mutually staggered in wavelength, and
- means (951, 959) for sending said first series of optical signals to said first optical path and said second series of optical signals to said second optical path.
5 more elements
Device for adding optical signals to an optical transmission path (8), comprising:
- an input (950) for a plurality of optical signals with distinct wavelengths;
- spectral selection means (951, 959) for sending at least a first of said signals to a first optical path and sending at least a second of said signals to a second optical path;
- a wavelength selective switching means (953;
- 963) along said first optical path, for adding at least an optical signal to said first optical path;
- means (961, 969) for combining optical signals form said first and said second path to an output (960),
- characterized in that said spectral selection means comprises:
- means (959) for dividing said plurality of optical signals in a first and a second series of optical signals, mutually staggered in wavelength, and
- means (951, 959) for sending said first series of optical signals to said first optical path and said second series of optical signals to said second optical path.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.