SYNCHRONOUS PACKET SWITCHES

摘要

A synchronous packet switch comprises output modules (12), input modules (16), optical connections (26) and a switch control unit (28). The output modules comprise optical receivers (14) each configured to receive optical signals at a different wavelength. The input modules receive electric signals carrying data cells to be routed. Each input module comprises optical transmitters (18), each configurable to generate an optical signal at a different wavelength, and routing apparatus (20) comprising output ports (22). Each output module has at least one output port allocated to it. The routing apparatus is configurable to route a received optical signal to a selected output port. The optical connections are arranged to couple output ports to respective output modules. The switch control unit controls routing of the optical signals from the transmitters to the output modules and generates a routing control signal (36) for configuring the routing apparatus to route an optical signal from a transmitter to a selected output port.