OPTICAL SWITCHING DEVICE, CONCERNED WITH REALIZING A SIMPLIFIED CONFIGURATION WHILE MINIMIZING THE NUMBER OF ELEMENTS

摘要

PURPOSE: An optical switching device is provided to consist of circulators and reflectors only, and to set paths of optical signals by using the circulators and the reflectors. CONSTITUTION: Each of circulators(401-404) has the first to fifth ports, and outputs lights inputted in upper ports to adjacent lower ports. The first ports of the first to fourth circulators(401-404) are connected to the first to fourth input ports(IN1-IN4) one to one. The fifth ports of the circulators(401-404) are connected to the first to fourth output ports(OUT1-OUT4) one to one. Middle ports of the circulators(401-404) are connected to middle ports of other circulators. Each of reflectors(411-423) is interposed every two middle ports of different two circulators. Each reflector(411-423) operates according to on/off signals of a controller, reflects an inputted light in on-state, and passes the inputted light in off-state.