Patent ID: 6362905
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: H04B,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical crossconnect apparatus having one terminal connected to a transmission path from one optical transmission terminal station and an other terminal connected to a transmission path from another optical transmission terminal station, and capable of switching said transmission paths when an optical signal is transmitted between the one optical transmission terminal station and the other optical transmission terminal station, comprising:a first optical signal switching means having â€œM1 (M1 being an integer larger than, or equal to 2)â€  number of ports and â€œN1 (N1 being an integer larger than, or equal to 1)â€  number of ports, through which optical signals in a predetermined range of wavelength can pass; a second optical signal switching means having â€œM2 (M2 being larger than, or equal to 2)â€  number of ports and â€œN2 (N2 being an integer larger than, or equal to 1)â€  number of ports, through which the optical signals in a predetermined range of wavelength can pass; and â€œL (L being an integer larger than, or equal to 1)â€  number of optical signal repeaters, one end of which is connected to the â€œN1â€  number of ports of said first optical signal switching means, and the other end of which is connected to the â€œN2â€  number of ports of said second optical switching means, wherein said â€œN1â€  number of ports and said â€œN2â€  number of ports are larger than said â€œLâ€  number of the optical signal repeaters, and wherein said â€œM1â€  number of ports of said first optical signal switching means connected to said one terminal, and said â€œM2â€  number of ports of said second optical signal switching means connected to said the other terminal are larger than, or equal to 2.