Patent EP-0741498-A2 (EP)
Inventor: MASUDA SHIGEFUMI
IPC: H04B10/27
Filed: 1989-07-14
Abstract: An optical switching system has a plurality of groups of detecting means (100-1 - 100-n) for receiving an input optical signal which is a wavelength-division multiplexed signal and detecting control information included in the input optical signal. A plurality of first optical buses (150-1 - 150-m) each coupled to a respective group of the detecting means transfers optical signals output from said respective detecting means group in a predetermined direction within the respective first optical data bus. A plurality of groups of optical bandpass filters (300-1 - 300-n), the optical bandpass filters of each group being coupled to a respective one of the first optical data buses, extract optical signals in predetermined wavelength regions based on the control information. The detecting means of each group of a plurality of groups of control information detecting means (330-1 - 330-n), are respectively coupled to the optical bandpass filters of a respective group for detecting a control information included in the optical signals output from the respective optical bandpass filters. The first shift means of each of a plurality of groups of first shift means (360-1 - 360-n) are respectively coupled to the optical bandpass filters of a respective group for delaying phases of the optical signals output from the respective optical bandpass filters by a predetermined quantity and for shifting wavelengths of the respective optical signals a predetermined quantity determined by the control information output from the respective control information detecting means. The switching means of each of a plurality of groups of switching means (390-1 - 390-n) are respectively coupled to the first shift means of a respective group for outputting the optical signals output from the respective first shift means to either a first path or a second path responsive to the control information output from the respective control information detecting means. A second optical data bus (410) is coupled to the first paths of the switching means of the plurality of groups of switching means for transferring the optical signals output from said switching means in a predetermined direction within the second optical data bus. The shift and delay means of each of a plurality of groups of shift and delay means (220-1 - 220-n) are respectively coupled to the second paths of the switching means of the group for receiving predetermined wavelength components of the optical signals output from the respective switching means determined by the control information output from the respective control information detecting means and for shifting wavelengths and delaying the predetermined wavelength components. The shift and delay means of each group output optical signals corresponding to the shifted and delayed predetermined wavelength components to the respective first optical data buses. The shift means of each of a plurality of groups of second shift means (510-1 - 510-n) are coupled to the second optical data bus (410) for extracting optical signals having wavelengths belonging to predetermined wavelength regions from the second optical data bus and for shifting wavelengths of the extracted optical signals a predetermined quantity determined by the control information output from the respective control information detecting means. A plurality of multiplexing means (550-1 - 550-p) are each coupled to the second shift means of a respective group for multiplexing the wavelengths of the optical signals output from the respective second shift means so as to output an output optical signal which is a wavelength-division multiplexed.