OPTICAL SWITCH FOR ROUTING SIGNALS AND A NETWORK INCORPORATING SAME

摘要

An optical switch for routing optical signals is disclosed. The optical switch has an optical signal path for routing said optical signals between at least a first port and at least a second port, wherein said optic al signal path is divided into two portions with one portion being defined by a t least two switch expansion modules; and the other portion being defined by a distribution backplane for operatively connecting the switch expansion modules together. An optical switching network is also disclosed having optical signal paths which intersect in at least two switch nodes, the netwo rk having at least two switches for switching optical signals, wherein one of t he switches is located at each of the switch nodes and each of the switches includes at least two switch expansion modules and an optical backplane for connecting the switch expansion modules together. The switch modules from each of the switches are configured to permit the switch modules from either switch to be used interchangeably to complete optical switching in th e other.