Patent ID: 6545786
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G02B,H04Q

Abstract:
A routing address encoder for encoding routing information with optical signals in optical communication networks, comprising:a pulse generator for generating ultrashort wave pulses; an external modulator for converting the ultrashort wave pulses into optical pulses; an optical address generator for using the optical pulses as a control bit for an upper m/2 (m: a bit number of the routing address) and generating an optical address; an address selection signal generator for receiving the ultrashort wave pulses, using the ultrashort wave pulses as a control bit for a lower m/2, selecting an output of the optical address generator, and generating an address selection signal; an optical switch for switching the output of the optical address generator, the optical switch being controlled by an output of the address selection signal generator; and an optical OR gate for performing OR operation with the optical pulses and an output of the optical switch and generating routing address.