Optical fiber cross connect with active routing for wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing

摘要

In accordance with the invention a multiwavelength optical fiber cross connect is provided with an active all-fiber optical router for multiplexing/demultiplexing. The router is comprised of one electronic component-a phase controller-and four fiber components: 1) a fiber directional coupler, 2) a fiber reflective grating filter, 3) a fiber tap, and 4) a fiber phase modulator. The application describes how to make optical routers from these components ranging in complexity from a single wavelength drop router to an N-port, N-wavelength router for add/drop multiplexing. The application also describes how optical wavelength routers can be combined to create optical fiber Cross connect (OXCs), ranging in complexity from 2x2 single wavelength OXCs to NXN, M-wavelength OXCs.