Optical transmitting apparatus, method of increasing the number of paths of the apparatus, and optical switch module for increasing the number of paths of the apparatus

摘要

An optical transmitting apparatus is configured such that K pieces of output ports of optical path switching units (11-1 to 11-K) whose input port is connected to k-th input transmission path (#K) are connected to first to K-th output transmission paths except for the k-th output transmission path and to the k-th input port of a dropping unit, and the optical path switching units (11-1 to 11-K) and the dropping unit outputs light of wavelength which is part or all of WDM light received from said input port from a specific output port, and can output light having a wavelength different from that of the light output from said specific output port from an output port different from said specific output port. Accordingly, while largely reducing the number of optical fiber patch cords necessary in an optical transmitting apparatus and largely reducing the number of spare ports, the flexible expansion of apparatus function can be realized.