N x N wavelength router and associated optical routing method and communication network

摘要

The router (1) has input signals (11,2,16,17,21,22,6,27) which are fed to optical couplers (10,15,20,25). The optical couplers pass the signals to an optical switch (30, 40). Switching of the incoming signals to an output (35-38,45-48) is performed dependent on the optical wavelength of the incoming signals. An n*n optical matrix router is produced, with each comb of wavelength responses being different to the next. The "teeth" of the combs are included in inserted wavebands.