Optical transmission network with a switching matrix

Details Optical transmission network with a switching matrix Optical transmission network with a switching matrix

1994-06-03

1996-07-16

Pascal, Leslie

Optical: systems and elements

Deflection using a moving element

Using a periodically moving element

359118, 359125, 359164, H04B 1020, H04J 1402

Patent

active

055372392

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to data transmission networks in which calls are made between nodes of the network by means of carrier light waves that carry data and that are guided by optical fibers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In such networks, it is usually necessary to perform routing functions making it possible to transmit to each user only that data which is addressed to the user. Such routing functions may advantageously be provided by optical switching matrices, each of which is conventionally included in a node of the network.
Such networks including such matrices are costly to make, and they may become impossible to make when the number of users increases and makes it necessary to provide higher capacities for the matrices, matrix capacity being defined by the number of inputs and the number of outputs of a matrix.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A particular object of the present invention is to enable a transmission network of that type to be made simply and cheaply, and to enable the network to be used by a higher number of users.
To this end, the invention provides a transmission network for transmitting data between call ports that can be connected to subscribers to the network by means of guided carrier light waves having a succession of carrier wavelengths, the network including: so as to route said carrier waves on command; and nodes, which data is carried by said carrier waves guided by the fibers; from another one of said nodes and/or for transmitting data to another one of said nodes via respective ones of said link fibers; includes at least one local input and/or at least one local output so as to constitute at least one of said call ports, some of said members of the nodes of the network being controlled so as to define routes for said data, each of which routes extends from an upstream end constituted by one of said local inputs receiving the data to a downstream end constituted by one of said local outputs via which the data is to be restored by the network, so that the members in question comprise a set of members constituting at least one switching matrix of the network, the matrix including: at which they emit waves carrying the data; transmits, at the output of the matrix, those waves whose wavelength is equal to the wavelength of the filter, the wavelengths of the: filters being controlled; and controlled routing can be performed by controlling the wavelengths of the filters; switching matrices of the network is a composite matrix whose distribution set includes: couplers, each of the distributors permanently connecting each of its inputs to all of its outputs, the group of passive distributors being connected to said set of emitters; and space-division switching matrices, each of which is capable of connecting each of its inputs to an output selected by the distributor being controlled, it being possible to select any one the outputs of the distributor, the group of active distributors being connected to said group of passive distributors, said set of filters being connected to the group of active distributors; comprising members that are included in two different nodes and that are connected together via one of said link fibers guiding carrier Waves that have a plurality of different carrier wavelengths.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A particular embodiment of the present invention is described below by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. When the same element is shown in more than one figure, it is designated by the same reference. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an overall view of a network of the invention; and
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are views showing three nodes of the invention.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that, in practice, such nodes include numerous members other than those which are shown and described below with the sole purpose of enabling the invention to be understood.
With the sole purpose of simplifying the description, the three nodes N1, N2

REFERENCES:
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patent: 5485297 (1996-01-01), Sotom
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H. Kobrinski et al, "Demonstration of High Capacity in the Lambdanent Architecture: a Multiwavelength Optical Network", Electronics Letters, Vol. 23, No. 16, Jul. 30, 1987 pp. 824-826.
R. P. Marsden et al, "Digital Television Routing Systems: A Survey of Optical and Electrical Techniques", BBC Research Department Report, No. 3, Mar. 1988, pp. 1-31.
H. Obara et al, "Star Coupler Based WDM Switch Employing Tunable Device with Reduced Tunability Range", Electronics Letters, Vol. 28, No. 13, Jun. 18, 1992, pp. 1268-1270.
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