OPTICAL SWITCHING MEANS

摘要

Optical Switching Means A node of an optical transmission network, for example a local area network, has a combined by-pass switch and optical modulator. The by-pass switch and modulator comprises an optical switching matrix with two non-intersecting waveguides connected by a further waveguide. The junctions between the non-intersecting waveguides and the further waveguide perform both modulation of an optical carrier signal and re-routeing of the transmission path along the network.