JP2008211517A - Wavelength routing device and wavelength routing network - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an N×N wavelength routing device used for a full-mesh WDM optical signal transmission system. <P>SOLUTION: A wavelength routing device arranges on an input side N wavelength group optical demultiplexer for dividing a wavelength multiplexing signal of M×N wavelength inputted from a single input port into M groups of N wavelength and outputting the signals, arranges on an output side N wavelength group optical multiplexer for multiplexing the wavelength multiplexing signals of N wavelength inputted from M input ports respectively into a wavelength multiplexing signal of M×N wavelength, and connects either an alley waveguide diffraction grating type optical multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit of N input N output or an N input N output optical switch in parallel in each wavelength group between optical interconnection connecting the output port of N wavelength group optical demultiplexer and the input port of N wavelength group optical multiplexer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an N × N wavelength routing device that demultiplexes or multiplexes a plurality of optical wavelength multiplexed signals for use in a full mesh wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission system. And a wavelength routing network.

  A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission system in which a plurality of optical signals are placed on light of different wavelengths and transmitted through a single optical fiber can greatly increase the capacity of the transmission line. Introduction is progressing mainly.

  Furthermore, in recent years, not only has the wavelength of optical signals been applied to increase the transmission path capacity, but also studies on wavelength routing for use in network path setting have been made. For example, multiple communication nodes are individually connected to each other. There is a full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system that creates a net-like form.

  In the conventional full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system as shown in FIG. 5, an N-input N-output (hereinafter referred to as N × N) optical wavelength multiplexer / demultiplexer 301 is installed at the center, and each of the surrounding WDM signals is provided. A plurality of communication nodes 302 including transmission / reception devices and an optical wavelength multiplexing / demultiplexing device 301 are connected by optical fibers 303, and a star-shaped physical shape centering on the N × N optical wavelength multiplexing / demultiplexing device 301 is formed. Take.

Here, when the wavelength characteristic between the input and output ports of the N × N optical wavelength multiplexing / demultiplexing device 301 having the characteristic (wavelength recurring property) shown in FIG. The same connectivity as when optical fibers are laid is obtained. In FIG. 6, for example, a signal with a wavelength of λ ₃ input from the input port 1 is output from the output port 3, and a signal with a wavelength of λ ₃ input from the input port 2 is output from the output port 2 and from the input port 3. This indicates that the input signal having the wavelength of λ ₃ is output from the output port 1. Therefore, it is possible to transmit and receive large amounts of data between communication nodes with low delay (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Conventionally, as a method of obtaining an N × N optical wavelength multiplexing / demultiplexing device 301 having wavelength recursion, an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type optical multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit (hereinafter referred to as AWG: Arrayed Waveguide Grating) as shown in FIG. There was a method of using. The operation principle of the AWG prior art will be described below.

  In FIG. 7, 501 is an arrayed waveguide having a predetermined optical path length difference, 502 is a pair of slab waveguides, 503 is N input waveguides, and 504 is N output waveguides. By appropriately designing the arrayed waveguide 501, the slab waveguide 502, and the input / output waveguides 503 and 504, the AWG multiplexing / demultiplexing characteristics can be designed. In particular, when the number of input / output waveguides of the AWG is N and the wavelength interval of the multiplexing / demultiplexing is Δλ, the wavelength recursiveness is designed by making the AWG basic period (FSR: Free Spectral Range) coincide with Δλ × N. Can be obtained.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the number of input / output waveguides 501 and 505 is four. There are 16 paths between the 4 input 4 output waveguides according to the input waveguide and the input wavelength. By using this input / output characteristic, a WDM signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 301 that transmits and receives signals of four wavelengths from λ ₁ to λ ₄ is installed in the communication node 302 of FIG. Connectivity can be obtained (see Non-Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-117283 Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-239633 K. Kato et al., “32 × 32 full-mesh (1024 path) wavelength-routing WDM network based on uniform-loss cyclic-frequency arrayed-waveguide grating”, Electronics Letters, Vol.36, No.15, pp. 1294-1296, 20th July 2000. H. Takahashi et al., “Transmission characteristics of arrayed waveguide N × N wavelength multiplexer”, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol.13, No.3, pp.447-455, March 1995. G. J. Ockenfuss et al., “Ultra-low stress coating process: an enabling technology for extreme performance thin film interference filters”, Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 2002 (OFC 2002), FA8-1-FA8-3, March 2002. S. Kamei et al., “Low-loss and flat / wide-passband CWDM demultiplexer using silica-based AWG with multi-mode output waveguides”, Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 2004 (OFC 2004), TuI2, Feb. 2004.

  However, in the full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system realized by using the conventional technology as described above, the physical shape is limited to the star type, so when constructing a plurality of full mesh WDM optical signal transmission systems, There was a need to build multiple independent systems.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to integrate all the systems and operate as a single system when constructing a plurality of full mesh WDM optical signal transmission systems. An object of the present invention is to provide a wavelength routing device incorporating a necessary N × N optical wavelength multiplexing / demultiplexing device.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a wavelength routing network capable of integrating a plurality of full mesh WDM optical signal transmission systems by applying the wavelength routing device.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when M and N are each an integer of 2 or more, an optical signal having N input ports and N output ports and wavelength division multiplexed is multiplexed / demultiplexed. A wavelength group demultiplexer that divides an M × N wavelength wavelength division multiplexed signal input from one input port into a group of M N wavelengths and outputs N wavelength groups on the input side. N wavelength group optical multiplexers that multiplex the N wavelength multiplexed signals that are input from the M input ports into the M × N wavelength optical wavelength multiplexed signals are arranged on the output side, Between the output ports of the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers and the optical wiring connecting the input ports of the N wavelength group optical multiplexers, the output ports of the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers and the Between the optical wires connecting the input ports of the N wavelength group optical multiplexers, N input N outputs are connected to each wavelength group. One of the force arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit and the N-input / N-output optical switch is connected in parallel.

  Here, the N-input N-output arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is input from the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers, or is output to the N wavelength group optical multiplexers. The N-wavelength optical switch having an N-wavelength optical signal with respect to any N-wavelength optical signal in the M sets is input from the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers, or It has a switching function with respect to optical signals of any N wavelengths of the M sets output to the N wavelength group optical multiplexers.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of communication nodes comprising a plurality of wavelength routing devices according to claim 1 and a wavelength division multiplexing signal transmitting / receiving device of M × N wavelengths. In the wavelength routing network, each input / output port paired with each wavelength routing device is an input / output port paired with another wavelength routing device, or an input / output port of the transmission / reception device of the communication node It is connected to either of these through an optical transmission line.

  With the above configuration, according to the present invention, when constructing a plurality of full mesh WDM optical signal transmission systems, the N × N optical wavelength alignment required for integrating all the systems and operating them as a single system. A wavelength routing device incorporating a demultiplexing device can be provided.

  Furthermore, with the above configuration, according to the present invention, a wavelength routing network capable of integrating a plurality of full mesh WDM optical signal transmission systems can be provided by applying the wavelength routing device.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the wavelength routing apparatus and wavelength routing network which concern on one Embodiment of this invention are demonstrated.

  The wavelength routing device of the present invention includes a 1-input M-output wavelength group optical demultiplexer (M is an integer of 2 or more), an M-input 1-output wavelength group optical multiplexer, and an N-input N-output optical switch. (N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) and an N-input N-output arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type optical multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit, one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 has N = 4 and M = 2. Is shown as an example.

  The wavelength routing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes four 1-input 2-output wavelength group optical demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4, and a 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer / demultiplexer (AWG). 102, a four-input four-output optical switch (SW) 103, and four two-input one-output wavelength group optical multiplexers 104-1 to 104-4. The configuration example and wavelength input / output characteristics of the 4-input / 4-output arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 102 are the same as those shown in FIGS. The 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 is a known N × N light such as a PLC type 4 × 4 optical matrix switch comprising a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) using a silica glass waveguide and a thin film heater. Switch is applicable.

  Wavelength group optical demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4 for demultiplexing wavelength division multiplexed optical signals in units of predetermined wavelength groups provided for each input port, wavelength division multiplexed optical signals The wavelength group optical multiplexers 104-1 to 104-4, which combine each predetermined wavelength group provided for each output port, can be realized by using, for example, a dielectric multilayer film or an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating. The realization means is not limited (see Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4 and Patent Documents 1 and 2).

The optical signal input to the wavelength routing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is a signal obtained by wavelength division multiplexing signals of up to 8 wavelengths. The wavelength-division multiplexed optical signal is input to any one of the input / output wavelength group demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4, and each of the two output ports has a 4-wavelength optical signal. Is demultiplexed into a wavelength division multiplexed signal and output. FIG. 1 shows an example in which signals of wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ ₈ are input and demultiplexed into signals including wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ ₄ and signals including wavelengths λ _{5 to} λ _8. With respect to the waves, there is no particular limitation on how to divide them, such as splitting into odd and even wavelengths. Further, the present invention includes a demultiplexing method in which the wavelengths λ ₄ , λ _{8 and the} like are assigned to the guard band when the filter has a wide guard band and the wavelength is not used.

The optical signals demultiplexed by the wavelength group demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4 are a four-input four-output optical switch (SW) 103 and a four-input four-output arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit. (AWG) 102 is input. In Figure 1, it receives a signal including a wavelength lambda ₁ to [lambda] ₄ of the 4-input 4-output to the array waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing and demultiplexing circuit 102, an optical signal of four inputs and four outputs including a wavelength lambda ₅ to [lambda] ₈ Input to the switch 103. Here, the wavelength routing device of the present invention is provided for each wavelength group by the arrayed waveguide diffraction multi / demultiplexing circuit 102 "function for distributing the input wavelength group signals to separate output ports for each wavelength" Or the “switching function of sending the input wavelength group signal as it is to the output port” provided by the optical switch 103. Accordingly, the 4-input 4-output array waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 102 and the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 may be reversed, or both of them may be 4-input 4-output optical switches. Alternatively, both of them may be a 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit.

The output of the 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide grating type multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit 102 and the output of the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 are four 2-input 1-output wavelength group optical multiplexer / demultiplexers 104-1 to 104. -4, the signals of 8 wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ ₈ are converted into a wavelength division multiplexed signal and output as an output signal of the wavelength routing device.

  FIG. 2 shows a wavelength routing network of the present invention to which the wavelength routing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is applied. The wavelength routing device to be used is shown by taking the case of N = 4 and M = 2 as an example, as in the description so far.

The wavelength routing network shown in FIG. 2 includes three four-input four-output wavelength routing devices 201-1 to 201-3, and wavelength-division multiplexed optical signal transmission / reception devices of eight wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ _8. And eight communication nodes 202.

  The first four-input four-output wavelength routing apparatus 201-1 has three sets (ports A, B, D) of the four sets of input / output ports built in the first to third communication nodes 202. A wavelength routing device 201-connected to the first to third WDM transmission / reception devices for transmitting / receiving the optical signals multiplexed by wavelength division multiplexing of 8 wavelengths, and the remaining one set (port C) is the second 4-input 4-output wavelength routing device 201-. 2 is connected.

  The second 4-input 4-output wavelength routing apparatus 201-2 includes 8 wavelengths in which 2 sets (ports B and D) of the 4 sets of input / output ports are built in the fourth and fifth communication nodes 202. Are connected to the fourth and fifth WDM transmitter / receivers for transmitting / receiving the wavelength division multiplexed optical signals, and the remaining one set (port A) is the first four-input / four-output wavelength routing device 201- 1, the other remaining pair (port C) is connected to the third 4-input 4-output wavelength routing apparatus 201-3.

  In the third 4-input 4-output wavelength routing device 201-3, three sets (ports B, C, D) of the four sets of input / output ports are built in the sixth to eighth communication nodes 202. 8th wavelength division multiplexed optical signal transmission / reception is connected to the 6th to 8th WDM transmission / reception apparatuses, and the remaining one set (port A) is the second 4-input 4-output wavelength routing apparatus. 201-2.

  The wavelength routing network of the present invention has various system configurations depending on the arrangement of the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 and the 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide grating type multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit 102 built in the wavelength routing apparatus. However, the following arrangement is assumed here as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first 4-input 4-output wavelength routing apparatus 201-1 has signals of wavelengths λ ₁ -λ ₄ of the 1-input 2-output wavelength group demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4. Is connected to a 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide grating type multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit 102, and the wavelengths of the 1-input 2-output wavelength group demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4 are output. A second output port that outputs signals of λ _{5 to} λ ₈ is connected to the optical switch 103 with 4 inputs and 4 outputs.

On the other hand, the second 4-input 4-output wavelength routing device 201-2 outputs signals of wavelengths [lambda] _1- [lambda] _{4 from} the 1-input 2-output wavelength group demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4. The first output port is connected to the optical switch 103 with 4 inputs and 4 outputs, and outputs signals of wavelengths λ _{5 to} λ ₈ of the wavelength group optical demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4 with 1 input and 2 outputs. Two output ports are connected to a four-input four-output arrayed waveguide grating type multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit 102.

Similarly to the first 4-input 4-output wavelength routing device 201-1, the third 4-input 4-output wavelength routing device 201-3 is a 1-input 2-output wavelength group optical demultiplexer 101-1. A first output port that outputs signals of wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ ₄ of ˜101-4 is connected to a 4-input / 4-output arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 102, and a wavelength group of 1 input and 2 output A second output port that outputs signals of wavelengths λ _{5 to} λ ₈ of the optical demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4 is connected to the optical switch 103 with 4 inputs and 4 outputs.

  Since the wavelength routing network of the present invention described above does not include a wavelength conversion function, the wavelength group optical demultiplexers 101-1 to 101-4 and the wavelength group optical multiplexers 104-1 to 104-4 are multiplexed / demultiplexed. The connection relationship between communication nodes can be set independently for each wavelength group. Below, the connection relationship is demonstrated for every wavelength group.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the wavelength routing network shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A shows a connection relationship regarding signals of wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ ₄ , and FIG. The connection relation regarding signals of wavelengths λ _{5 to} λ ₈ is shown.

With respect to signals of wavelengths λ _{1 to} λ _4, a 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit 102 is provided in each of the first wavelength routing device 201-1 and the third wavelength routing device 201-3. Therefore, a full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system centering on the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 102 is formed. For example, in FIG. 3A, in the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 provided in the second wavelength routing apparatus 201-2,
The signal input from the input port A is output from the output port B,
The signal input from the input port B is output from the output port A,
The signal input from the input port C is output from the output port D,
By setting the signal input from the input port D to be output from the output port C, the communication nodes # 1, # 2, # 3, # 4 and the communication nodes # 5, # 6, # 7, # 8 A case where a full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system is formed between them is shown.

With respect to signals of wavelengths λ _{5 to} λ ₈ , the second wavelength routing device 201-2 includes a 4-input / 4-output array waveguide diffraction grating type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 102. A full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system centering on the type multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 102 is formed. In FIG. 3B, in the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 provided in the first wavelength routing apparatus 201-1,
The signal input from the input port A is output from the output port C,
Set the signal input from input port C to output from output port A,
In the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 provided in the third wavelength routing device 201-3,
The signal input from the input port A is output from the output port B,
A case where a full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system is formed between the communication nodes # 1, # 4, # 5, and # 6 by setting the signal input from the input port B to be output from the output port A. Show.

  Further, if the setting of the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 is changed, it is possible to incorporate a full-mesh WDM optical signal transmission system with different combinations of participating nodes.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 provided in the second wavelength routing apparatus 201-2,
The signal input from the input port A is output from the output port D,
The signal input from the input port B is output from the output port C,
The signal input from the input port C is output from the output port B,
By changing the setting so that the signal input from the input port D is output from the output port A, the communication nodes # 1, # 2, # 3, # 5 and the communication nodes # 4, # 6, # 7, A full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system can be formed between # 8.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 provided in the first wavelength routing apparatus 201-1,
The signal input from the input port C is output from the output port D,
Change the setting so that the signal input from the input port D is output from the output port C.
In the 4-input 4-output optical switch 103 provided in the third wavelength routing device 201-3,
The signal input from the input port A is output from the output port C,
By setting the signal input from the input port C to be output from the output port A, a full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system can be formed between the communication nodes # 3, # 4, # 5, and # 8. .

  As described above, in the wavelength routing network formed by using the wavelength routing device of the present invention, a plurality of full mesh WDM optical signal transmission systems can be integrated as a single system. .

(Other embodiments)
The present invention has been specifically described above. However, in view of many possible embodiments to which the principle of the present invention can be applied, the examples of the embodiments described here are merely examples, and It does not limit the range. For example, for the arrangement of the above arrayed waveguide grating type multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit and optical switch, the arrangement of the wavelength routing device, and the setting of the optical switch, without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims, Its configuration and details can be changed. In addition, the constituent elements for explanation may be changed in various order such as replacement, change, supplement, increase / decrease in number, change in shape design, or the order thereof without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the wavelength routing apparatus which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the structure of the wavelength routing network which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the operation | movement of the wavelength routing network which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the operation | movement of the wavelength routing network which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention in the setting from which an optical switch differs. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the conventional full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system. It is a figure explaining the wavelength input / output characteristic of the optical wavelength multiplexer / demultiplexer used for the conventional full mesh WDM optical signal transmission system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the conventional array waveguide diffraction grating type | mold multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit. It is a figure explaining the wavelength input-output characteristic of the conventional arrayed-waveguide diffraction grating type | mold multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit.

Explanation of symbols

101-1 to 101-4 1-input 2-output wavelength group demultiplexer 102 4-input 4-output arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit 103 4-input 4-output optical switch 104-1 to 104-4 2 Wavelength group optical multiplexer with input 1 output 201-1 through 201-3 Wavelength routing device 202 with 4 inputs 4 outputs Communication node 301 comprising 8 wavelength wavelength division multiplexed optical signal transmission / reception device 301 N × N light Wavelength multiplexing / demultiplexing device 302 Multiple communication nodes provided with WDM signal transmitting / receiving device 303 Optical fiber 501 Array waveguide having predetermined optical path length difference 502 Slab waveguide 503 N input waveguides 504 N output waveguides

Claims (3)

In a wavelength routing device that has N input ports and N output ports, and multiplexes and demultiplexes wavelength division multiplexed optical signals, where M and N are integers of 2 or more,
N wavelength group optical demultiplexers that divide and output M × N wavelength wavelength division multiplexed signals input from one input port into groups of M N wavelengths, are arranged on the input side, and N
N wavelength group optical multiplexers for multiplexing the wavelength multiplexed signals of N wavelengths each from the M input ports and the M × N wavelength optical wavelength multiplexed signals are arranged on the output side,
An arrayed waveguide diffraction grating having N inputs and N outputs in each wavelength group between optical wirings connecting the output ports of the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers and the input ports of the N wavelength group optical multiplexers. A wavelength routing device in which either an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer circuit and an optical switch with N inputs and N outputs are connected in parallel. The N-input N-output arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is input from the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers or output to the N wavelength group optical multiplexers. A wavelength recursion with respect to any N-wavelength optical signal in the set;
The N-input N-output optical switch is input from the N wavelength group optical demultiplexers, or is output to the N wavelength group optical multiplexers. The wavelength routing device according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength routing device has a switching function with respect to an optical signal having a wavelength. A wavelength routing network comprising a plurality of communication nodes comprising a plurality of wavelength routing apparatuses according to claim 1 or 2 and a transmission / reception apparatus for wavelength division multiplexed signals of M × N wavelengths,
Each of the paired input / output ports of the wavelength routing device is either an input / output port to be paired with another wavelength routing device or an input / output port of the transmitting / receiving device of the communication node. A wavelength routing network characterized by being connected via a path.

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