Patent ID: 7298976

Claim:
An optical cross-connect device for communication between first and second optical networks communicating with each other using forward and backward optical signals each comprising a plurality of channels, said optical cross-connect device comprising: a first circulating part having first through fourth ports that are configured to output an optical signal, which is input to a higher-order port thereof, from a lower-order port thereof arranged adjacent to the higher-order port, the first circulating part being connected at the first and third ports thereof to a first optical network; a second circulating part having first through fourth ports that are configured to output an optical signal, which is input to a higher-order port thereof, from a lower-order port thereof arranged adjacent to the higher-order port, the second circulating part being connected at the first and third ports thereof to a second optical network while being connected at the second and fourth ports thereof to the second and fourth ports of the first circulating part, respectively; a first reflecting part being connected to respective second ports of the first and second circulating parts, being configured to input the forward optical signal, being configured to reflect at least one channel of the forward optical signal, and being configured to allow at least one channel that is not reflected to pass therethrough; and a second reflecting part being connected to respective fourth ports of the first and second circulating parts, being configured to input the backward optical signal, being configured to reflect at least one channel of the backward optical signal, and being configured to allow at least one channel that is not reflected to pass therethrough, wherein the first circulating part comprises: a first circulator having a plurality of ports including the first and second ports of the first circulating part being configured to output an optical signal, which is input to a higher-order port thereof, from a lower-order port thereof arranged adjacent to the higher-order port; and a second circulator having a plurality of ports including the third and fourth ports of the first circulating part being configured to output an optical signal, which is input to a higher-order port thereof, from a lower-order port thereof arranged adjacent to the higher-order port, and wherein the first and second circulators are connected to each other in a double-port-connected configuration.