Operating multi-stage N by N spatial coupling arrangement

摘要

The invention concerns a multi-stage integrated-optical NxN space-switching arrangement with N = 2<n> (n being 1, 2, 3, ...) input pyramids of integrated-optical 1x2 switches capable of two connection states, the input pyramids each following a space-switching arrangement input, and with N = 2<n> output pyramids of integrated-optical 1x2 switches which are capable of two connection states, the output pyramids each preceding a space-switching arrangement output, and with a (perfect shuffle) intermediate line network running between input and output pyramids, said network comprising N<2> intermediate lines in which light of the same wavelength is generated at each input of the NxN space-switching arrangement, the wavelengths of the individual inputs being repeated at intervals of M = 2<m> inputs in each case (m being 1, 2, ..., n-1). When there is a direct connection between two intermediate lines at each of the 2<n-1> pyramid-base-side 1x2 switches of n-stage pyramids of 1x2 switches, in the input pyramid, the 1x2 switches, which lie between the pyramid input and the pyramid output connected to the output pyramid and of which a maximum m are not simultaneously included in a connection path, are switched into the switching state directed away from the crosstalk path in each case, and in the output pyramid m 1x2 switches which are not simultaneously included in a connection path and lie between the pyramid input connected to the input pyramid and the pyramide output are always switched into the switching position directed away from the crosstalk path in each case, in order to form a connection path running from an i-th input pyramid to an output pyramid in each case in a crosstalk path running from a j-th (¦i - j¦ being v.2<m>, v being 1, 2, ...) input pyramid to said output pyramid.