Modular optical patch panel

摘要

A scalable, modular optical mesh patch panel includes a multi-slot receptacle configured to receive at least one of a first modular optical interconnect block and a second modular optical interconnect block that enable connectivity among one or more add-drop modules and/or respective degrees of a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer node (ROADM).

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a multi-slot receptacle; a first modular optical interconnect block, disposed in one slot of the multi-slot receptacle, comprising a plurality of optical ports, wherein each one of the optical ports of the first modular optical interconnect block is, respectively, in optical communication with each of the other optical ports of the first modular optical interconnect block; and a second modular optical interconnect block, disposed in a second slot of the multi-slot receptacle, comprising a plurality of optical ports, wherein the plurality of optical ports of the second modular optical interconnect block are divided into a first group of optical ports and a second group of optical ports, wherein each one of the optical ports in the first group of optical ports is in communication with each one of the optical ports in the second group of optical ports, and each one of the optical ports in the second group of optical ports is in communication with each one of the optical ports in the first group of optical ports.