JPH1118119A - Optical wavelength selector and wavelength multiplex optical network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the number of optical gate switches in the optical wavelength selector consisting of an optical branching filter, an optical wavelength router, an optical coupler and an optical gate switch. SOLUTION: A light with wavelength and λ0-λ31 received from an optical fiber 1 is branched by an optical branching filter 40, and lights with wavelength bands λ25, λ26, and λ27, λ28 and λ29, λ30 and λ31 are outputted from output ports o0, o1, o2, o3 of an optical wavelength router 50 respectively, when an optical gate switch 20-3 is closed. Then lights with wavelength bands λ30, λ31 are outputted from the output ports o0, o1 of an optical wavelength router 51 respectively, when an optical gate switch 21-3 is closed, and a light with the wavelength λ31 is outputted from an optical fiber 2 via an optical multiplexer 60, when an optical gate switch 22-1 is closed. The number of optical gate switches 20, 21, 22 is set to any of 2, 3, 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical communication system,
The present invention relates to an optical wavelength selector and a wavelength division multiplexing optical network used in an optical switching system or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a wavelength division multiplexing network or the like, an optical wavelength selector for selecting and outputting only light of a specific wavelength from wavelength multiplexed light obtained by multiplexing light of a plurality of wavelengths is used. For example, in a wavelength multiplexing optical network as shown in FIG. 6, the optical transmitters 100-1 to 100-100 of the nodes N0 to N31
Wavelengths λ0 to λ31 are assigned to −31 as transmission wavelengths. The light transmitted from the optical transmitter 100 is multiplexed by the star coupler 110, and the multiplexed wavelengths λ0 to λ
31 wavelength multiplexed lights are sent to each node. Each node selects light of an arbitrary wavelength by the optical wavelength selector 120,
The selected light is received by the optical receiver 130. As the optical wavelength selector, a wavelength tunable filter such as an acousto-optic effect filter can be used, but high-speed selection is possible.
Attention has been paid to an optical wavelength selector using an optical gate switch that can be controlled by a digital signal. FIGS. 7 and 8 show a typical configuration of an optical wavelength selector using an optical gate switch.

[0003] As an example of the optical wavelength selector of FIG. Z
Irngibl and C.I. H. Joner's proposal is E
electronics Letters, vol. 3
0, No. 9, pp. 700-701, April 1
994, and as an example of the optical wavelength selector of FIG.
Y. Tachikawa and Y. A proposal by Inoue in Electronics Letters, vol. 3
1, No. 23 pp. 2029-2030 Nove
mber 1995.

[0004] The optical wavelength selector of FIG.
0, an optical gate switch 20, and an optical wavelength multiplexer 30. The wavelength multiplexed light of wavelengths λ0 to λ31 input from the optical fiber 1 is split by the optical wavelength splitter 10 for each wavelength,
The wavelengths λ0, λ1, λ2,..., Λ31 are output from output ports o0, o1, o2,. Semiconductor optical amplifiers are often used as the optical gate switch 20, and when an electric current is applied, the optical gate switch 20 is turned on to transmit light. By turning on one of the 32 optical gate switches 20-0 to 20-31 and turning off the other, any one of the 32
Only the wavelength is output from the optical fiber 2 via the optical wavelength multiplexer 30. However, there is a problem that this optical wavelength selector requires the same number of optical gate switches as the number of wavelengths used.

Since the optical gate switch is the only active element in the optical wavelength selector and requires a drive circuit, the number of optical gate switches directly affects the amount of hardware, cost, power consumption, and the like. The optical wavelength selector of FIG. 8 which solves the above-described problem includes an optical demultiplexer 40, an optical gate switch 20, an optical wavelength router 50, and an optical gate switch 2.
1. An optical multiplexer 60. The relationship between the input port and output port of the optical wavelength router 50 and the wavelength to be transmitted is as shown in Table 1 below.

[0006]

[Table 1] The wavelength multiplexed light of wavelengths λ0 to λ31 input from the optical fiber 1 is split by the optical splitter 40. Now, light gate
Assuming that the switch 20-2 is on, wavelength multiplexed light having wavelengths λ0 to λ31 is input from the input port i2 of the optical wavelength router 50. At this time, output ports o0, o
, O7 output light of wavelengths λ16, λ17,..., Λ23. Optical gate switches 21-0 to 21-
Assuming that only 21-7 out of seven are on,
Only the light having the wavelength λ23 passes through the optical multiplexer 60 and the optical fiber 2
Output from As described above, the optical gate switches 20-0 to 20-3 and the optical gate switches 21-0 to 21-0
By turning on each one of 21-7, any one wavelength can be selected from 32 wavelengths.
In this configuration, the number of optical gate switches required is 12
The number is greatly reduced as compared with 32 in the configuration of FIG.

[0007]

However, the optical wavelength selector shown in FIG. 8 has a problem that the optical power loss accompanying the demultiplexing and multiplexing by the optical demultiplexer 40 and the optical multiplexer 60 is large. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a loss of at least 6 dB occurs in the optical demultiplexer 40 because the optical demultiplexer 40 performs the 1: 4 demultiplexing, and a loss of at least 9 dB occurs in the optical demultiplexer 60 because of the 8: 1 demultiplexing. . Therefore, for example, when applied to the wavelength division multiplexing optical network of FIG. 6, there is a possibility that the light receiving power in the optical receiver 130 becomes insufficient and a sufficiently low bit error rate cannot be obtained. There is also a demand for further reduction in the number of optical gate switches if possible.

In a wavelength division multiplexing optical network using an optical wavelength selector, there is a demand that the number of wavelengths to be used be reduced as much as possible. For example, when a semiconductor optical amplifier is used as an optical gate switch, the sum of optical powers of all input wavelengths is limited by gain saturation of the semiconductor optical amplifier. Therefore, if the number of input wavelengths is small, the optical power per wavelength can be increased,
It becomes easy to obtain sufficient light receiving power in the optical receiver. In addition, since the gain band of the optical amplifier is limited, the wavelength interval can be increased as the number of wavelengths decreases, and there is an advantage that crosstalk between wavelengths hardly occurs.

It is an object of the present invention to minimize the number of optical gate switches in an optical wavelength selector comprising an optical demultiplexer, an optical wavelength router, an optical multiplexer and an optical gate switch.

[0010]

According to the present invention, 1 × K
₀ optical demultiplexers, K ₀ optical gate switches connected to respective output ports of the optical demultiplexer, and input ports connected to the respective optical gate switches located at the preceding stage. A _Ki × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, where i = 0,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively. , I = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number)
N N stages of optical gate switches and K _N × 1 each having an input port connected to the preceding stage optical gate switch
, And K ₀ , K ₁ ,
An optical wavelength selector characterized in that K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4 is obtained.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, an optical wavelength demultiplexer of 1 × K ₀ , K ₀ optical gate switches connected to respective output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, wherein an input port is connected to each of said optical gate switches, wherein i = 0,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively. , I = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number)
N N stages of optical gate switches and K _N × 1 each having an input port connected to the preceding stage optical gate switch
, And K ₀ , K ₁ ,
An optical wavelength selector characterized in that K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4 is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer, K ₀ optical gate switches connected to each of the output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, wherein an input port is connected to each of said optical gate switches, wherein i = 0,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively. , I = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number)
N N stages of optical gate switches and K _N × 1 each having an input port connected to the preceding stage optical gate switch
, And K ₀ , K ₁ ,
An optical wavelength selector characterized in that K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4 is obtained.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a 1 × K ₀ optical demultiplexer, K ₀ optical gate switches connected to each of the output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router having an input port connected to each of said optical gate switches, wherein i = 0, 1,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively,
.., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and an optical wavelength of K _N × 1 in which an input port is connected to an optical gate switch of the preceding stage and an optical gate switch of the preceding stage, respectively. K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,
.., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4.

Further, according to the present invention, there are provided W optical transmitters having W wavelengths (W is an integer of 2 or more, the same applies hereinafter) as transmission light wavelengths and transmitting optical signals of different wavelengths. W (S is an integer of 2 or more, the same applies hereinafter) optical transmitter groups, and W optical signals transmitted from one of the optical transmitter groups are input and wavelength multiplexed by multiplexing the optical signals. An optical multiplexer for outputting an optical signal, S optical multiplexers for demultiplexing the wavelength multiplexed optical signal output from the optical multiplexer and outputting the W output ports, and the S optical multiplexers S wavelength multiplexed optical signals output from each of the demultiplexers are input, and W S × s capable of simultaneously outputting wavelength multiplexed optical signals input from an arbitrary input port from a plurality of output ports. S optical crossbar switch and the wavelength multiplexed optical signal output from the S × S optical crossbar switch. (W × S) optical wavelength selectors for selecting and outputting an optical signal of an arbitrary wavelength from the wavelength multiplexed optical signal as an input; receiving the optical signal output from the optical wavelength selector; Is converted and output (W ×
S) A wavelength division multiplexed optical network including optical receivers is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the optical wavelength selector includes a 1 × K ₀ optical demultiplexer, and K ₀ optical gate switches connected to respective output ports of the optical demultiplexer. When,
An optical wavelength router of _Ki × _{Ki + 1} in which an input port is connected to each of the optical gate switches located at the preceding stage, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,... Natural number of
, And K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength router, respectively, where i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N Is an arbitrary natural number), and comprises K _N × 1 optical multiplexers each having an input port connected to the preceding optical gate switch, and K ₀ ,
A wavelength multiplexing optical network is obtained in which K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N are any of 2, 3, and 4.

Further, according to the present invention, the optical wavelength selector includes a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer, and K ₀ optical gates connected to each of the output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer. A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router in which an input port is connected to each of the switches and each of the optical gate switches located at the preceding stage, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) N stages of optical wavelength routers, and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively, where i = 0,1,2,2 ..., N-1
(N is an arbitrary natural number), comprising an N-stage optical gate switch, and a K _N × 1 optical wavelength multiplexer in which an input port is connected to each of the preceding optical gate switches, and A wavelength multiplexing optical network is obtained in which K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N are any of 2, 3, and 4.

Further, according to the present invention, the optical wavelength selector comprises a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer, and K ₀ optical gates connected to respective output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer. A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router in which an input port is connected to each of the switches and each of the optical gate switches located at the preceding stage, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) N stages of optical wavelength routers, and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively, where i = 0,1,2,2 ..., N-1
(N is an arbitrary natural number), comprising an N-stage optical gate switch, and a K _N × 1 optical wavelength multiplexer in which an input port is connected to each of the preceding optical gate switches, and A wavelength multiplexing optical network is obtained in which K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N are any of 2, 3, and 4.

Further, according to the present invention, the optical wavelength selector comprises a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer, and K ₀ optical gates connected to respective output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer. A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router in which an input port is connected to each of the switches and each of the optical gate switches located at the preceding stage, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) N stages of optical wavelength routers, and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively, where i = 0,1,2,2 ..., N-1
(N is an arbitrary natural number), comprising an N-stage optical gate switch, and a K _N × 1 optical wavelength multiplexer in which an input port is connected to each of the preceding optical gate switches, and A wavelength multiplexing optical network is obtained in which K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N are any of 2, 3, and 4.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The first embodiment is an optical wavelength selector in which N = 2, K ₀ = 4, K ₁ = 4, and K ₂ = 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical demultiplexer 40, the optical gate switch 20, optical wavelength router 50, optical gate switch 21, optical wavelength router 51, optical gate switch 2
2. It comprises an optical multiplexer 60. Optical demultiplexer 40 and optical multiplexer 6
Numeral 0 denotes a fusion-type optical fiber. The optical gate switches 20, 21, and 22 use a semiconductor optical amplifier, and are turned on when a current is passed and light is transmitted, and are turned off when no current is passed and cut off the light. Optical wavelength router 5
Numerals 0 and 51 are arrayed waveguide grating type wavelength routers formed on a quartz glass substrate. Tables 2 and 3 below show the relationship between the input ports and output ports of the optical wavelength routers 50 and 51 and the wavelengths to be transmitted.

[0020]

[Table 2]

[0021]

[Table 3] Now, the optical gate switches 20-3, 21-3, 22-1
Is on and the others are off. Light of wavelengths λ0 to λ31 input from the optical fiber 1 is split by the optical splitter 40. Since the optical gate switch 20-3 is on, the wavelengths λ0 to λ0 are input from the input port i3 of the optical wavelength router 50.
The light of λ31 is input and the wavelength λ2 is output from the output port o0.
4, λ25 light is output from output port o1 to wavelengths λ26, λ.
27, light of wavelengths λ28 and λ29 is output from the output port o2, and light of wavelengths λ30 and λ31 is output from the output port o3.

Here, since the optical gate switch 21-3 is on, light of wavelengths λ30 and λ31 is input from the input port i3 of the optical wavelength router 51, and light of wavelength λ30 is output from the output port o0 and output from the output port o1. Light having a wavelength λ31 is output. Here, since the optical gate switch 22-1 is on, the light having the wavelength λ31 is output from the optical fiber 2 via the optical multiplexer 60. As described above,
Any of switches 20-0 to 20-3, 21-0 to 21
By turning on any of -3 or any of 22-0 to 22-1, one arbitrary wavelength can be selected from 32 wavelengths. In the present embodiment, the number of optical gate switches is 10, which is smaller than 32 in the conventional example in FIG. 7 and 12 in the conventional example in FIG. Generally, in the present embodiment, the number of optical gate switches required to configure an optical wavelength selector for selecting one wavelength from 2N wavelengths is 2N.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, N = 2,
An optical wavelength selector where K ₀ = 4, K ₁ = 4, and K ₂ = 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical demultiplexer 10, the optical gate switch 20, the optical wavelength router 50, and the optical gate switch 21 ,
It comprises an optical wavelength router 51, an optical gate switch 22, and an optical wavelength multiplexer 30. Optical gate switches 20, 21, 2
2 and the optical wavelength routers 50 and 51 are the same as those used in the first embodiment. The optical wavelength demultiplexer 10 and the optical wavelength multiplexer 30 are arrayed waveguide diffraction grating devices formed on a quartz glass substrate. Tables 4 and 5 below show the relationship between the input port and output port of the optical wavelength demultiplexer 10 and the optical wavelength multiplexer 30 and the wavelength to be transmitted.

[0024]

[Table 4]

[0025]

[Table 5] Now, the optical gate switches 20-3, 21-3, 22-1
Is on and the others are off. The light of wavelengths λ0 to λ31 input from the optical fiber 1 is
0, light having wavelengths λ0 to λ7 is output from output port o0, light having wavelengths λ8 to λ15 is output from output port o1, light having wavelengths λ16 to λ23 is output from output port o2, and wavelength λ24.
To λ31 are output from the output port o3. Since the optical gate switch 20-3 is ON, the optical wavelength router 50
, Light of wavelengths λ24 and λ25 from the output port o0, light of wavelengths λ26 and λ27 from the output port o1, and light of wavelengths λ28 and λ29 from the output port o2. , Output port o3
Output light of wavelengths λ30 and λ31. Here, since the optical gate switch 21-3 is on, light of wavelengths λ30 and λ31 is input from the input port i3 of the optical wavelength router 51, light of wavelength λ30 is output from the output port o0, and light of wavelength λ31 is output from the output port o1. Light is output.

Here, since the optical gate switch 22-1 is on, the light having the wavelength λ31 passes from the input port i1 of the optical wavelength multiplexer 30 to the output port o0 and is output from the optical fiber 2. As described above, any one of the optical gate switches 20-0 to 20-3, any one of 21-0 to 21-3, and any one of 22-0 to 22-1 are turned on in total. Thereby, any one wavelength can be selected from 32 wavelengths. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the number of optical gate switches required to configure an optical wavelength selector for selecting one wavelength from 2N wavelengths is 2N. In addition, in the present embodiment, the conventional example shown in FIG.
Since the optical wavelength demultiplexer 10 and the optical wavelength demultiplexer 30 are used instead of the optical demultiplexer 40 and the optical demultiplexer 60 in the embodiment, the advantage that the loss of the optical power in this part is small. There is. Since the loss of the optical wavelength demultiplexer 10 and the optical wavelength multiplexer 30 is at most 2 dB, the loss in the entire optical wavelength selector is 5 dB higher in the present embodiment than in the first embodiment.
Above is also small.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, W =
8, 32 = 32 wavelength multiplexed optical network with S = 4. FIG. 3 shows the configuration. Optical transmitter 10 of each node
0 is assigned a unique transmission wavelength. Optical transmitters 100-0, 100-1, ..., 100-7
, Λ7 are assigned to the optical transmitters 100-8 to λ7, respectively.
0-15, optical transmitters 100-16 to 100-23, and optical transmitters 100-24 to 100-31. The transmitted light of wavelengths λ0 to λ7 is converted into an optical wavelength multiplexer 14.
0, and the wavelength-division multiplexed light is
4 × 4 optical crossbar switch 16 demultiplexed by 0
Distributed to all zeros.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the optical crossbar switch 160.
Shown in The optical crossbar switch 160 is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and includes an input waveguide 200, an optical demultiplexer 210,
Waveguide 220, semiconductor optical amplifier 230, waveguide 240,
It comprises an optical multiplexer 250 and an output waveguide 260. The semiconductor optical amplifier 230 operates as an optical gate switch, and an arbitrary port can be connected by turning it on and off. Also, by simultaneously turning on a plurality of semiconductor amplifiers 230 connected to the same optical demultiplexer 210,
Light input from one input waveguide can be simultaneously output to a plurality of output waveguides. This function is called multicast. An optical wavelength selector 120 is connected to an output port of the optical crossbar switch 160. This optical wavelength selector according to the second invention of the present application has N = 1 and K ₀ =
4, K ₁ = 2, and as shown in FIG. 5, an optical wavelength demultiplexer 10, an optical gate switch 20, an optical wavelength router 5
0, an optical gate switch 21 and an optical wavelength multiplexer 30. By turning on any one of the optical gate switches 20-0 to 20-3 and any one of the optical gate switches 21-0 and 21-1, any one wavelength is selected from the wavelengths λ0 to λ7. And output. The optical receiver 130 receives an optical signal of the wavelength selected by the optical wavelength selector 120.

Here, the operation when data transfer from the node N0 to the node N1 and data transfer from the node N1 to the node N2 are performed simultaneously will be described. The optical signal of the wavelength λ0 transmitted from the node N0 and the optical signal of the wavelength λ1 transmitted from the node N1 are multiplexed by the optical wavelength multiplexer 140, and then are demultiplexed by the optical demultiplexer 150 and Are distributed to the input ports i0 of the optical crossbar switches 160. Since the optical crossbar switch 160 is capable of multicasting, the input port i0 of the optical crossbar switch 160-0 is
And output ports o1 and o2 are connected simultaneously.

As a result, the wavelength multiplexed optical signal obtained by wavelength multiplexing the optical signal of the wavelength λ0 transmitted from the node N0 and the optical signal of the wavelength λ1 transmitted from the node N1 is converted into the optical wavelength selectors 120-1 and 120-. 2 is input to both. The optical wavelength selector 120-1 selects the wavelength λ0, and the optical wavelength selector 120-2 selects the wavelength λ1. As described above, the optical signal of wavelength λ0 transmitted from the node N0 is received by the optical receiver 130-1 of the node N1,
1 is received by the optical receiver 130-2 of the node N2, so that the data transfer from the node N0 to the node N1 and the transmission from the node N1 to the node N
That is, the data transfer to No. 2 is performed at the same time. This wavelength multiplexing network is logically a crossbar network,
It has exactly the same function as the conventional wavelength multiplexing optical network shown in FIG.

Here, the optical gate selector and optical gate required in the present embodiment and the case where the optical wavelength selector shown in the above second embodiment is applied to the wavelength multiplexing optical network of FIG.
The number of switches and the number of wavelengths are compared. The second mentioned above
Since ten optical gate switches are used in the optical wavelength selector shown in the embodiment, a total of 320 optical gate switches are required in the wavelength division multiplexing optical network of FIG. On the other hand, in this embodiment, 16 optical crossbar switches 160 and optical wavelength selectors 120
Require six optical gate switches, so the entire network still requires 320 optical gate switches. Regarding the required number of wavelengths, 32 wavelengths are required in the wavelength division multiplexing optical network of FIG. 6, and 8 wavelengths are required in the present embodiment. Therefore, in order to realize the same function as that of the wavelength division multiplexing optical network of FIG.
Only the same number of switches and only 1/4 of the number of wavelengths are required. Since the number of wavelengths input to the optical gate switch, which is a semiconductor optical amplifier, can be reduced, there are advantages such as an increase in optical power per wavelength.

In the first and second embodiments, N = 2, K ₀ = 4, K ₁ = 4, K ₂ = 2, and in the third embodiment, W = 8, S = 4, N = 1, K ₀ =
4, K ₁ = 2, but these numbers can be arbitrarily determined within the scope described in the claims.

In the first, second and third embodiments, the semiconductor optical amplifier is used as the optical gate switch. However, various other forms of the optical gate switch are conceivable. For example, an electroabsorption type semiconductor optical modulator, an optical switch using an electro-optic effect, an acousto-optic effect, a thermo-optic effect, a liquid crystal optical switch, a mechanical optical switch, or the like can be used.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, a fusion type made of an optical fiber is used as the optical demultiplexer and the optical demultiplexer, but the material and the configuration of the optical demultiplexer and the optical demultiplexer are used. This is not the case. For example, a waveguide type optical multiplexer, an optical demultiplexer, or the like formed on a substrate made of quartz glass, a semiconductor, a polymer, or the like can be considered.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type device formed on a quartz glass substrate is used as an optical wavelength demultiplexer, an optical wavelength multiplexer, and an optical wavelength router. The materials and configurations of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, the optical wavelength multiplexer, and the optical wavelength router are not limited thereto. For example, an arrayed waveguide grating device, a reflection grating device, or a dielectric interference film optical filter, a Fabry-Perot optical filter, an acousto-optic effect optical filter, etc., fabricated on a substrate such as a semiconductor or a polymer. The one used is conceivable.

In the first and second embodiments, the transmission characteristics of the optical wavelength router, the optical wavelength demultiplexer and the optical wavelength multiplexer are shown in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 described above. However, applicable transmission characteristics are not limited to this, and all wavelengths may be distinguished by combining transmission characteristics of an optical wavelength router, an optical wavelength demultiplexer, and an optical wavelength multiplexer. For example, the second
Although the optical wavelength demultiplexer 10 according to the embodiment outputs eight adjacent wavelengths from the same output port as shown in Table 3 above, λ0, λ4, λ8, λ12, λ16, λ2
Even if 0, λ24, λ28 are output from the output port o0, the transmission characteristics of other wavelength routers, optical wavelength routers, optical wavelength demultiplexers, and optical wavelength multiplexers are appropriately set, and Should be able to distinguish all wavelengths.

The optical wavelength multiplexer 140 according to the third embodiment can be replaced with a normal optical multiplexer having no wavelength dependency.

[0038]

As described above, in the optical wavelength selector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of optical gate switches required to select one wavelength from 2 _N wavelengths is 2N. It can be smaller than the number required by the conventional optical wavelength selector.

In the optical wavelength selector according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the optical wavelength demultiplexer and the optical multiplexer constituting the optical wavelength selector according to the first embodiment are replaced with optical wavelength demultiplexers. Since the optical multiplexer and the optical wavelength multiplexer are used, an additional effect that the loss of optical power due to the demultiplexing and the multiplexing is small is obtained.

In the wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to the third embodiment of the present invention, if the number of spatial multiplexing and the number of wavelength multiplexing are appropriately set by the configuration using the spatial optical switch and the optical wavelength selector, the conventional wavelength multiplexing is used. Functions equivalent to those of an optical network can be realized with an equal number of optical gate switches and a smaller number of wavelengths.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an optical crossbar switch according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an optical wavelength selector according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wavelength division multiplexing optical network.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a first conventional example of an optical wavelength selector.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a second conventional example of an optical wavelength selector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 Optical fiber 10 Optical wavelength multiplexer 20 Optical gate switch 21 Optical gate switch 22 Optical gate switch 30 Optical wavelength multiplexer 40 Optical demultiplexer 50 Optical wavelength router 51 Optical wavelength router 60 Optical wavelength multiplexer Waveguide 100 Optical transmitter 110 Star coupler 120 Optical wavelength selector 130 Optical receiver 140 Optical wavelength multiplexer 150 Optical splitter 160 Optical crossbar switch 200 Input waveguide 210 Optical duplexer 220 Waveguide 230 Optical gate switch 240 waveguide 250 optical multiplexer 260 output waveguide

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A 1 × and the optical demultiplexer K _0, and K ₀ or optical gate switch connected to each of the output ports of the optical demultiplexer, wherein each optical gate switch located upstream K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength routers each having an input port connected thereto, wherein N stages of optical wavelength routers for i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) And K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to the output port of the optical wavelength router, respectively, where i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N
Is an arbitrary natural number), and comprises K _N × 1 optical multiplexers each having an input port connected to the preceding optical gate switch, and K ₀ , K ₀ . An optical wavelength selector, wherein ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N is any one of 2, 3, and 4. 2. A 1 × and optical wavelength demultiplexer K _0, and K ₀ or optical gate switch connected to each of the output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, wherein each optical gate located in front An optical wavelength router of _Ki × _{Ki + 1 with} an input port connected to each switch, and N stages of light for i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) A wavelength router and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches respectively connected to output ports of the optical wavelength router, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,..., N
-1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), comprising an N-stage optical gate switch, and a K _N × 1 optical wavelength multiplexer in which an input port is connected to each of the preceding optical gate switches, An optical wavelength selector, wherein K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4. 3. 1 × and optical wavelength demultiplexer K _0, and K ₀ or optical gate switch connected to each of the output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, wherein each optical gate located in front An optical wavelength router of _Ki × _{Ki + 1 with} an input port connected to each switch, and N stages of light for i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) A wavelength router and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches respectively connected to output ports of the optical wavelength router, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,..., N
-1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), comprising an N-stage optical gate switch, and a K _N × 1 optical multiplexer in which an input port is connected to the preceding optical gate switch, respectively, and An optical wavelength selector, wherein K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4. An optical demultiplexer 4. 1 × K _0, and K ₀ or optical gate switch connected to each of the output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer, wherein each optical gate located in front- An optical wavelength router of _Ki × _{Ki + 1} with input ports connected to the respective switches, and N stages of optical wavelengths for i = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) A router and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches respectively connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength router, wherein i = 0, 1, 2,..., N-1
(N is an arbitrary natural number), comprising an N-stage optical gate switch, and a K _N × 1 optical wavelength multiplexer in which an input port is connected to each of the preceding optical gate switches, and An optical wavelength selector, wherein K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4. 5. The optical wavelength selector according to claim 1, wherein N is 2 or more. 6. An S (S is 2) transmission optical wavelength transmission apparatus having W (W is an integer of 2 or more, the same applies hereinafter) wavelengths and W optical transmitters transmitting optical signals having different wavelengths. An optical transmitter group of the above integers, the same applies hereinafter) and W optical signals transmitted from one of the optical transmitter groups are input, and a wavelength multiplexed optical signal obtained by multiplexing the optical signals is output. An optical multiplexer, S optical demultiplexers for demultiplexing the wavelength multiplexed optical signal output from the optical multiplexer and outputting from W output ports, and each of the S optical demultiplexers Can input the S wavelength-division multiplexed optical signals output from a plurality of input ports, and can simultaneously output the wavelength-division multiplexed optical signals input from an arbitrary input port from a plurality of output ports.
The S × S optical crossbar switch and the wavelength multiplexed optical signal output from the S × S optical crossbar switch are input, and an optical signal of any one wavelength is selected from the wavelength multiplexed optical signal. A wavelength composed of (W × S) optical wavelength selectors to be output, and (W × S) optical receivers that receive the optical signal output from the optical wavelength selector, convert the received optical signal into an electric signal, and output the electric signal. Multiplexed optical network. 7. An optical wavelength selector comprising: a 1 × K ₀ optical demultiplexer; and a K multiplexer connected to each of the output ports of the optical demultiplexer.
₀ optical gate switches, and K in which an input port is connected to each of the optical gate switches located in the preceding stage.
_i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, i = 0,1,2,2
.., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number) N stages of optical wavelength routers, and Ki _{+ 1} optical gate switches connected to the output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively, where i =
.., N-1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and a K _N × 1 optical multiplexer in which an input port is connected to each of the preceding optical gate switches. And K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,..., K _N
7. The wavelength division multiplexed optical network according to claim 6, wherein is one of 2, 3, and 4. 8. An optical wavelength selector comprising: a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer; K ₀ optical gate switches connected to respective output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer; A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, wherein an input port is connected to each of said optical gate switches, wherein i = 0,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively. , I = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number)
N N stages of optical gate switches and K _N × 1 each having an input port connected to the preceding stage optical gate switch
, And K ₀ , K ₁ ,
7. The wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to claim 6, wherein K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4. 9. An optical wavelength selector comprising: a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer; K ₀ optical gate switches connected to respective output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer; A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, wherein an input port is connected to each of said optical gate switches, wherein i = 0,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively. , I = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number)
N N stages of optical gate switches and K _N × 1 each having an input port connected to the preceding stage optical gate switch
, And K ₀ , K ₁ ,
7. The wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to claim 6, wherein K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4. 10. An optical wavelength selector comprising: a 1 × K ₀ optical wavelength demultiplexer; K ₀ optical gate switches connected to respective output ports of the optical wavelength demultiplexer; A K _i × K _{i + 1} optical wavelength router, wherein an input port is connected to each of said optical gate switches, wherein i = 0,
N-stage optical wavelength routers for 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number), and K _{i + 1} optical gate switches connected to output ports of the optical wavelength routers, respectively. , I = 0, 1, 2,..., N−1 (N is an arbitrary natural number)
N N stages of optical gate switches and K _N × 1 each having an input port connected to the preceding stage optical gate switch
, And K ₀ , K ₁ ,
7. The wavelength division multiplexing optical network according to claim 6, wherein K ₂ ,..., K _N is one of 2, 3, and 4.