Patent ID: 6809846
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising:a first optical amplifier which includes: a first impurity-doped fiber, a first optical pumping source connected to said first impurity-doped fiber with a first optical branch, a second optical amplifier connected in cascade to said first optical amplifier, which includes: a second impurity-doped fiber, a second optical pumping source connected to said second impurity-doped fiber with a second optical branch, a first optical coupler inserted between said first optical amplifier and said second optical amplifier an optical transmission line connected to an input-side of said second optical amplifier, and a first control circuit connected to said first optical pumping source and said second optical pumping source, wherein said first control circuit instructs said first optical pumping source whether a pumping light is supplied to said first impurity-doped fiber or is stopped, and inserts a signal from said optical transmission line to said second optical amplifier when said pumping light is stopped.