APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOGNIZING MODULATED LIGHT SIGNAL, OPTICAL DISTRIBUTOR AND OPTICAL DISTRIBUTION METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a modulated light signal recognizing apparatus and a modulated light signal recognition method by which 1 Tb/s class modulated light signals is recognized and to provide an optical distributor and an optical distribution method using the apparatus and the method. SOLUTION: The apparatus and the method for recognizing modulated light signals are provided. The apparatus is provided with a paralleling means 2 which enlarges modulated light signals and converts the signals into parallel signal light beams 18, a spatial optical switch 4 which the beams 18 irradiate, a control light beam irradiating means 6 which irradiates the switch 4 with control light beams 20, that are synchronized with the beams 18, have a longer period than the modulated light signals and have a spread in the surface normal to the advancing direction, at a prescribed angle with respect to the beams 18 and forms parallel signal light beams 22 having prescribed number of bits by selectively passing or reflecting the beams 18 and optically signal recognizing means 8 whose number is the same as the number of bits above and recognize the optical signals for each bit of the beams 22. The apparatus is capable of recognizing all or a portion of the modulated light signals and the optical distributor and the optical distribution method employ the above apparatus and the method are also provided.