Optical communication system using wavelength-division multiplexed light

An optical wavelength selector provided with:

• an optical splitter that, when WDM optical signal in which k0×k1× . . . ×ki× . . . ×kp (where k0 . . . kp are each any natural number) WDM channels are multiplexed is inputted from one input port, splits said WDM optical signal into k0 beams and outputs the result;
• k0 optical gate switches that either let pass or cut off the k0 beams of said WDM optical signal inputted from said optical splitter;
• optical wavelength routers in p stages (where p is any natural number) that separate WDM optical signal inputted from one of ki−1 input ports into ki beams, one beam for each prescribed WDM channel group, and output the result;
• ki optical gate switcles in p stages that either let pass or cut off inputted WDM optical signal;
• and
• a wavelength-division multiplexer that outputs from one output port one WDM channel inputted from one of kp optical gate switches of the pth stage of said optical gate switches;
• wherein each of said k0, k1, ki, . . . kp is any of two, three, and four.

An optical wavelength selector provided with:

• an optical splitter that, when WDM optical signal in which k0×k1× . . . ×ki× . . . ×kp (where k0 . . . kp are each any natural number) WDM channels are multiplexed is inputted from one input port, splits said WDM optical signal into k0 beams and outputs the result;
• k0 optical gate switches that either let pass or cut off the k0 beams of said WDM optical signal inputted from said optical splitter;
• optical wavelength routers in p stages (where p is any natural number) that separate WDM optical signal inputted from one of ki−1 input ports into ki beams, one beam for each prescribed WDM channel group, and output the result;
• ki optical gate switches in p stages that either let pass or cut off inputted WDM optical signal;
• and
• an optical combiner that outputs from one output port one WDM channel inputted from one of kp optical gate switches of the pth stage of said optical gate switches;
• wherein said p stages are a plurality of stages.

An optical wavelength selector provided with:

• an optical splitter that, when WDM optical signal in which k0×k1× . . . ×ki× . . . ×kp (where k0 . . . kp are each any natural number) WDM channels are multiplexed is inputted from one input port, splits said WDM optical signal into k0 beams and outputs the result;
• k0 optical gate switches that either let pass or cut off the k0 beams of said WDM optical signal inputted from said optical splitter;
• optical wavelength routers in p stages (where p is any natural number) that separate WDM optical signal inputted from one of ki−1 input ports into ki beams, one beam for each prescribed WDM channel group, and output the result;
• ki optical gate switches in p stages that either let pass or cut off inputted WDM optical signal;
• and
• a wavelength-division multiplexer that outputs from one output port one WDM channel inputted from one of kp optical gate switches of the pth stage of said optical gate switches;
• wherein said p stages are a plurality of stages.

An optical communication system provided with:

• S (S being two or more) optical transmitter groups each made up of W (W being two or more) optical transmitters that transmit W WDM channels:
• S optical beam-combining means that are each connected to a respective one of said S optical transmitter groups, that combine W WDM channels that are transmitted into one WDM optical signal, and output the result;
• S optical splitters that are each connected to a respective one of said S optical beam-combining means, that split inputted WDM optical signal into W beams, and output each beam from a respective output port of W output ports;
• W optical crossbar switches that each have one of S input ports connected to a respective one of said S optical splitters and that are capable of simultaneously outputting WDM optical signal inputted from one of said S input ports from the plurality of S output ports;
• W×S optical wavelength selectors that are each connected to a respective one of S output ports of said W optical crossbar switches, that select one WDM channel from inputted WDM optical signal, and that output the result;
• and
• W×S optical receivers that are each connected to a respective one of said W×S optical wavelength selectors and that convert inputted optical signals of one wavelength to electrical signals.