Patent ID: 6185021
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A cross-connecting optical translator array, comprising:N optical converters for converting optical signals, received at at least one input wavelength, to electrical signals;an electronic space switch fabric coupled to said N optical converters for cross-connecting said electrical signals from an input side to an output side, said electronic space switch fabric including K space fabric layers, ones thereof being operative to process portions of an input signal to at least one of said N optical converters at a lower bit rate than a bit rate for said input signal, wherein K represents a factor by which said K space fabric layer bit rate is reduced from said input signal bit rate;modulo K dis-interleavers, one dis-interleaver coupled to a corresponding one of said N optical converters and outputs of each of said dis-interleavers coupled to inputs of each of said K space fabric layers;modulo K interleavers coupled to outputs of each of said K space fabric layers;an input of one of said N optical transmitters being coupled to an output of one of said modulo K interleavers; andN optical transmitters for transmitting optical signals at at least one output wavelength in response to output electrical signals received from said electronic space switch fabric.