OPTICAL SPECTRAL MULTIPLEXER FOR INSERTING AND EXTRACTING

摘要

For extracting a multiplex (MT) from an incoming multiplex (ME) and for inserting a multiplex (MI) to be inserted in an outgoing multiplex (MS), the multiplexer comprises: a distributor (D1) for distributing on N outputs the incoming multiplex (ME); a combiner-distributor for distributing on N circuits the multiplex to be inserted (MI); a first set of N tuneable filters (F1, ..., FN) for selecting the signal carriers which are going to be used for modulating the carriers of the outgoing multiplex (MS); a second set of tuneable N filters (F1, ..., FN) for selecting the carriers which will constitute the extracted multiplex (MT); N wavelength converting devices (CL1, ..., CLN) capable of supplying N carriers of the outgoing multiplex (MS); N optical switches (SW1, ..., SWN) with two inputs and two outputs for selectively connecting each distributor output (D1, D2) to the input of a filter of the first set and/or transmitting to the input of a filter of the second set; and/or transmitting the carriers of the multiplex to be inserted (MI) to a filter 0f the first set, and/or a filter of the second set. The invention is in particular useful to optical transmission networks according to synchronous digital hierarchy.