Patent ID: 6195187
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04Q

Abstract:
A wavelength-division-multiplexed routing network comprising:(a) a plurality of N cascaded optical matrix switches connected together in optical series, where N is an integer, each matrix switch including a number of light waveguides and an array of active micro-sized lightwave micro-resonator cross-point light-switching elements associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions, and wherein said light-switching elements of each matrix switch are responsive to a particular wavelength of light .lambda..sub.i, where i=1 . . . N, assigned to a particular matrix of the N-wavelength routing network and are unresponsive to other wavelengths assigned to other matrices of the network; and(b) switching element control means for causing selected light-switching elements to assume a cross state for switching resonant light across associated cross-points, or a bar state for forwarding light without traversing cross-points.