Patent ID: 7130539

Claim:
An all-optical passive system for decoding, switching, demultiplexing, and routing of optical encoded data signals, the system comprising: a plurality of optical paths having first and second terminals; a splitting mechanism for directing the optical encoded data signals to each of said first terminals; and a plurality of decoding devices for producing optical decoded signals at said second terminals in response to said optical encoded data signals, wherein each of said optical paths includes, between said first and second terminals, at least one of said decoding devices, wherein each of said decoding devices includes: a splitter having an input and at least three splitting terminals; a combiner having an output and at least three combining terminals; and at least three radiation guides each having a length, an input, and an output, wherein each of said splitting terminals is associated with an input of one of said radiation guides and each of said combining terminals is associated with an output of one of said radiation guides, and wherein the lengths of said radiation guides are such that said decoding devices are able to produce an optical coincidence signal that reaches a desired intensity when the optical encoded data signal has at least three pulses separated by time periods corresponding to differences in propagation times between said radiation guides.