JP2010176008A - Optical path switching type optical signal transceiver and optical path switching method for optical signal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To link a plurality of light control mode optical path switching devices by effectively exploiting an emission spectral band of a light source related to control light and an absorption spectral band of a control light absorption layer, and making a plurality of control light beams with wavelengths different from that of signal light propagate through an optical path identical to that of the signal light on the basis of a wavelength multiplexing mode. <P>SOLUTION: In the optical path switching type optical signal transceiver, an optical path of the signal light 1001 of one kind with a wavelength different from that of the control light is switched to seven different directions 1201-1207 by combining one-to-seven light control type optical path switching devices 120, 220, 320 together in three steps, by using six control light beams 1001-1016, 1021-1026, 1031-1036 with respectively different wavelengths for each stage, and by using a light control mode. In each stage, demultiplexers 110 etc. to separate the control light and the signal light, distributors 130 etc. to distribute the control light, and seven multiplexers 141-147 etc. are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is utilized in each field of optoelectronics and photonics such as optical communication and optical information processing, and switches an optical path using each of a plurality of wavelength-multiplexed control lights, The present invention also relates to an optical path switching method for optical signals.

  The present inventors previously invented an optical path switching apparatus and method based on a new principle (see Patent Document 1). In this optical path switching device or the like, with respect to the control light absorption region in the thermal lens forming element, the control light in the wavelength band that the control light absorption region absorbs and the signal light in the wavelength band that the control light absorption region does not absorb, It has the structure which can converge and irradiate so that each optical axis may correspond. According to this configuration, the control light irradiation is selectively performed with respect to the signal light irradiation to the control light absorption region in the thermal lens forming element. When the control light irradiation is not performed simultaneously with the signal light irradiation, the signal light travels straight through the hole of the mirror with a hole. On the other hand, when the control light irradiation is performed simultaneously with the signal light irradiation, The light path is changed by reflecting with a mirror with a hole provided at an angle. Patent Document 1 discloses a light control type optical path switching device capable of switching the traveling direction of control light to two directions by control light of one type of wavelength. This light control type optical path switching device is hereinafter referred to as a “one-to-two correspondence light control type optical path switching device”.

  Furthermore, the present inventors have invented a light control type optical path switching type optical signal transmission device and an optical signal optical path switching method configured by combining a plurality of thermal lens forming elements and holed mirrors (see Patent Document 2). . In this optical path switching type optical signal transmission device or the like, the wavelength band of the control light absorption region and the wavelength of the control light are in a one-to-one correspondence, and further, for example, three types using dyes having different absorption wavelength bands A total of seven thermal lens forming elements in the control light absorption region are used in combination, and by controlling the blinking of each of the control light of three types of wavelengths, for example, the server data can be controlled at eight locations. The system which switches and distributes by this is disclosed.

  In the optical path switching methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the control light is irradiated, the beam cross-sectional shape of the signal light changes into a ring shape due to the thermal lens effect. Therefore, this optical path switching method is hereinafter referred to as “ring beam method”.

  Furthermore, the present inventors then proposed an optical path changing method and an optical path switching device as disclosed in Patent Documents 3 to 6. According to these optical path changing methods and optical path switching devices, the control light absorption region in the thermal lens forming optical element has the control light in the wavelength band absorbed by the control light absorption region, and the wavelength band not absorbed by the control light absorption region. The signal light is incident, and the control light and the signal light are irradiated so as to converge in the control light collection region, and are irradiated so that the positions of the convergence points of the respective lights are different. For this reason, the control light and the signal light converge at or near the incident surface of the control light absorption region in the light traveling direction, and then diffuse. As a result, a temperature rise occurs in the control light absorption region in the control light absorption region and its peripheral region, and the structure of the thermal lens reversibly changes due to the temperature rise, the refractive index changes, and the signal changes. The traveling direction of light can be changed. In the optical path changing methods described in Patent Documents 3 to 6, even when the control light is irradiated, the beam cross-sectional shape of the signal light is maintained in a substantially circular shape. Therefore, the method of changing the optical path is hereinafter referred to as a “round beam method”.

  Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose a one-to-two light control type optical path switching device that switches the traveling direction of control light in two directions by using control light of one type of wavelength. Patent Document 6 discloses a light control type optical path switching device that switches the optical path of signal light emitted from a central fiber of a seven-core optical fiber in seven directions by control light emitted from an optical fiber provided around the central fiber. It is disclosed. This light control type optical path switching device is hereinafter referred to as a “one-to-seven correspondence light control type optical path switching device”. Further, Patent Document 7 discloses an end-surface proximity multicore optical fiber used in a one-to-seven correspondence light control type optical path switching device and a method for manufacturing the same.

Japanese Patent No. 3809908 Japanese Patent No. 3906926 JP 2007-225825 A JP 2007-225826 A JP 2007-225827 A JP 2008-083095 A JP 2008-076765 A

  In particular, according to the configuration of the optical path switching type optical signal transmission device and the like disclosed in Patent Document 2 above, the wavelength band absorbed by the control light absorption region and the wavelength of the control light are in a one-to-one correspondence. There is a problem that the control light wavelength is fine, for example, in increments of 5 nm and is difficult to use in combination.

  Therefore, in recent years, a large number of control lights whose control light wavelengths are set finely in increments of 5 nm, for example, are prepared, and a combination of these control lights is used to construct a multi-stage light control type optical path switching device. There is a need for an optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception system based on a control light wavelength multiplexing system that can switch the optical path of one or more types of signal light on the side in a plurality of different directions on the reception side.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to effectively utilize the emission spectrum band of the light source related to the control light and the absorption spectrum band of the control light absorption layer, and to control a plurality of control lights having different wavelengths from the signal light. Providing a controlled optical wavelength multiplexing optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device and an optical signal optical path switching method by propagating the same optical path as the signal light based on the multiplexing scheme and combining a plurality of optical path switching devices of the optical control scheme There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and an optical path switching method according to the present invention are configured as follows.

An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to the present invention of claim 1 comprises:
When N is an integer of 1 or more and M is an integer of 2 or more, the optical path of one or more types of signal light having a wavelength different from that of the control light by using the N control lights having different wavelengths and the light control method Is an optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device including an M-stage optical control type optical path switching device that switches to (N + 1) different directions,
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the transmitting side;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
When K is M × N, K control light sources that output control light of K types of wavelengths;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmitting / receiving device on the transmission side and the control light source via the electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer for mixing and outputting control light of K types of wavelengths and signal light;
With
At each stage of the light control type optical path switching device of M stages,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from the previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
When L is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M, the control light of the N types of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching device of the L stage is used as the light control type optical path switching device of the L stage and thereafter. A demultiplexer that separates control light and signal light having a wavelength for control;
When RL is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to (N + 1), RL reception-side optical signal transmission / reception devices connected to the optical path of the signal light whose optical path has been switched by the L-th stage optical control type optical path switching device; ,
A distributor that distributes the control light having a wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device of the L-th stage and later separated by the duplexer into ((N + 1) −RL) pieces;
The optical path is switched in (N + 1) different directions by the light control type optical path switching device in the L-th stage, and is distributed to each of the signal light traveling on the optical path from the L-th stage onward and ((N + 1) -RL). In addition, a multiplexer for mixing control light having a wavelength for controlling the light control type optical path switching device in the L-th stage and thereafter and guiding it to the optical path,
It is characterized by that.

  In the above configuration, N is 6, M is 3, K is 18, L is any integer from 1 to 3, RL is any integer from 0 to 7, and signal light is 1 When it is assumed that it is a kind, the light control type optical path switching device is composed of three stages.

  In the above configuration, when P is an integer of 2 or more, each of the M-stage light control type optical path switching devices is a one-to-P correspondence light control type optical path switching device.

  In the above configuration, P is 2 or 7.

  In the above configuration, the light control type optical path switching device corresponding to 1 to 7 includes a thermal lens forming element having a signal light transmission / control light absorption layer, and the optical paths on the control light emission side and the signal light reception side are 7-core optical fibers. It is.

  In the above configuration, the signal light is light having a wavelength included in the range of 1500 to 1600 nm, light having different wavelengths is used by wavelength multiplexing every 5 nm, and the control light is light having a wavelength included in the range of 1260 to 1400 nm. It is characterized in that light having different wavelengths every 5 nm is used in wavelength multiplexing.

An optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus according to the present invention of claim 7 is provided:
Each stage has six control lights with different wavelengths and uses a light control method to switch the optical path of one type of signal light with a different wavelength from the control light in seven different directions. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device comprising the optical control type optical path switching device of
An optical signal transmitting / receiving device arranged on the transmission side and outputting signal light;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
6 control light sources that output control light of 6 different wavelengths for each stage;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmitting / receiving device on the transmission side and the control light source via the electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs six types of wavelength control light and one type of signal light;
With
Of the three-stage light control type optical path switching device, the first stage and the second stage,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from the previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
Demultiplexing the control light of six types of wavelengths for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device at the stage from the control light and the signal light of the wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching apparatus at the stage and thereafter And
A distributor that distributes control light having a wavelength for controlling a light control type optical path switching device at a subsequent stage, separated by a duplexer, to seven;
The light control type optical path switching device at the corresponding stage switches the optical path in seven different directions, and further distributes each of the signal light traveling along the optical path to the subsequent stage and the latter seven. And 7 multiplexers for mixing the control light of the wavelength for controlling the light and guiding it to the optical path,
In the third stage of the three-stage light control type optical path switching device,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from the previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
A demultiplexer that separates control light of six types of wavelengths from the signal light for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the stage,
In the optical control type optical path switching device at this stage, the optical paths are switched in seven different directions using the control light of six types of wavelengths output from the demultiplexer, and each of these seven optical paths is switched. It is characterized in that an optical signal transmitting / receiving device is connected.

An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to the present invention of claim 8 comprises:
Two-stage one-to-two correspondence that switches the optical path of one type of signal light with a different wavelength from that of the control light in two different directions using two control lights with different wavelengths at each stage. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device comprising the optical control type optical path switching device of
An optical signal transmitting / receiving device arranged on the transmission side and outputting signal light;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
Two control light sources that output control light of two types of wavelengths for each stage;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmitting / receiving device on the transmission side and the control light source via the electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs control light of two types of wavelengths and one type of signal light;
With
At each stage of the light control type optical path switching device in two stages,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from the previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
A demultiplexer that separates control light for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the stage from control light and signal light of a wavelength for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the subsequent stage;
The optical path is switched in two different directions by the light control type optical path switching device at the stage, and further, the signal light that travels the optical path to the subsequent stage and the wavelength for controlling the distributed light control type optical path switching device at the subsequent stage And a multiplexer for mixing the control light and guiding it to the optical path,
It is characterized by that.

An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to the present invention of claim 9 comprises:
Each stage has six control lights with different wavelengths and uses a light control method to switch the optical path of one type of signal light with a different wavelength from the control light in seven different directions. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device comprising the optical control type optical path switching device of
An optical signal transmitting / receiving device arranged on the transmission side and outputting signal light;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
6 control light sources that output control light of 6 different wavelengths for each stage;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmitting / receiving device on the transmission side and the control light source via the electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs six types of wavelength control light and one type of signal light;
With
Of the three-stage light control type optical path switching device, the first stage and the second stage,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from the previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
Demultiplexing the control light of six types of wavelengths for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device at the stage from the control light and the signal light of the wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching apparatus at the stage and thereafter And
A distributor for distributing control light having a wavelength for controlling the latter-stage light control type optical path switching device separated by the demultiplexer in a number smaller than 7;
One or more receiving-side optical signal transmission / reception devices connected to a part of the optical path of the signal light whose optical path is switched by the optical control type optical path switching device;
The light control type optical path switching device switches the optical path in seven different directions, and further mixes each of the signal light traveling on the optical path to the subsequent stage and the control light of the wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device of the subsequent stage And a plurality of multiplexers for guiding to the optical path,
It is characterized by that.

An optical signal switching method of an optical signal according to the present invention of claim 11 comprises:
When N is an integer of 1 or more and M is an integer of 2 or more, the optical path of one or more types of signal light having a wavelength different from that of the control light by using the N control lights having different wavelengths and the light control method Is an optical path switching method that combines M stages of light-controlled optical path switching devices that switch (N + 1) different directions,
When K is M × N, the control light source of K types of wavelengths is blinked at a predetermined time in order to guide it to the target optical path of the signal light,
At each stage of M stage,
Propagating signal light and control light in the same optical path,
Mix control light of K types of wavelengths and guide it to the optical path.
When L is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M, control light of N types of wavelengths for controlling the L-th stage light control type optical path switching apparatus is used as the light control type optical path switching apparatus after the L stage. Demultiplexing with wavelength control light and signal light to control
By turning on the control light of any one of the N types of control lights for controlling the L-stage light control type optical path switching device, the optical path of the L-stage signal light is changed to N types of directions. Switch to one of them
Distributing the divided control light of the wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device after the L-th stage to (N + 1),
RL is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to (N + 1), and the optical path of the signal light whose optical path has been switched in the L-th stage is connected to RL optical signal transmitting and receiving apparatuses to perform transmission and reception.
Each of the signal light whose optical paths are switched in N types of directions by the light control type optical path switching device of the L stage and the light control type optical path switching of the Lth stage and thereafter distributed to ((N + 1) −RL). Combines the wavelength control light to control the device and leads it to the optical path to the next stage,
Selectively switching and connecting the optical path between the optical signal transmission / reception device on the transmission side and the optical signal transmission / reception device on the reception side,
It is characterized by that.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus and optical signal switching method according to the present invention have the following effects.

  First, the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system having a multi-stage structure using a one-to-7 correspondence optical control type optical path switching apparatus or a one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to use a large number of control lights whose control light wavelengths are set finely in increments of 5 nm, for example, and to effectively utilize the emission spectrum band of the light source related to the control light and the absorption spectrum band of the control light absorption layer. Can do.

  Secondly, each of the optical signal transmission / reception device on the control light transmission side, the control light source, the electronic control device for signal light and control light, the optical signal transmission / reception device on the termination side, etc. has connection with an electronic circuit, Other optical signal transmission paths and optical path switching device portions can perform optical path switching transmission of optical signals without using any electrical signals. In particular, when the optical signal transmitter / receiver on the termination side is a passive optical sensor or the like that does not use an electrical signal, other than the optical signal transmitter / receiver on the control light transmitter side, the control light source, the signal light and the control light electronic control unit It is possible to construct an optical signal transmission / reception system that uses no electrical signal.

  Thirdly, the time required for switching the optical path is within 10 milliseconds when the round beam type 1-to-7 correspondence light control type optical path switching device is used, and the ring beam type 1-to-2 correspondence light control type optical path switching device is used. In some cases, it can be within 250 microseconds.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing a first-stage optical path switching device in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block block diagram which shows the optical path switching apparatus of the 2nd step | paragraph in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block block diagram which shows the 3rd step | paragraph optical path switching apparatus in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the round beam type optical path switching apparatus used in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ′ in FIG. 4, schematically showing a light emission side end face of a seven-core optical fiber. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B ′ in FIG. 4, schematically showing a light receiving side end face of a seven-core optical fiber. It is a graph which shows the oscillation spectrum of the semiconductor laser of the control light source used for the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the absorption spectrum of the signal light permeation | transmission and control light absorption layer of the thermal lens formation element of the optical control type optical path switching apparatus used for the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram which shows notionally the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram which shows the 1st step | paragraph optical path switching apparatus in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram which shows the optical path switching apparatus of the 2nd step | paragraph in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a block block diagram which shows the 3rd step | paragraph optical path switching apparatus in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a block block diagram which shows the optical path switching apparatus of the 1st step | paragraph in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram which shows the optical path switching apparatus of the 2nd step | paragraph in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments (examples) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment has a multi-stage structure such as a three-stage structure by combining a plurality of optical path switching apparatuses. In this case, the number of optical path switching apparatuses through which the signal light propagating between the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus on the control light transmitting side and the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus on the other end passes is 3 in all the paths that are switched. Each of the optical path switching devices according to the first embodiment uses the above-described one-to-seven-corresponding light control type optical path switching device described in Patent Document 6, and the optical path switching device is 1 in the first stage. In the second stage, seven optical path switching devices are used, and in the third stage, 49 optical path switching apparatuses are used. The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control light wavelength multiplexing system uses a plurality of control lights having different wavelengths, for example, switches the optical path of the signal light in seven directions in the first-stage optical path switching apparatus, The second-stage optical path switching device switches to a total of 49 (7 × 7) directions, and the third-stage optical path switching device switches to a total of 343 (7 × 7 × 7) directions, thereby transmitting (starting side). And the receiving side (final stage side) transmit and receive optical signals. The multistage structure is preferably a three-stage structure, but is not limited thereto.

  1 shows the configuration of one set of first-stage optical path switching devices, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of one of the second-stage optical path switching devices in which seven sets are used, and FIG. The structure of one set of the optical path switching apparatus of the 3rd step | stage where is used is shown. The optical path switching devices from the first stage to the third stage are all 1-to-7 correspondence light control type optical path switching apparatuses. FIG. 4 shows a specific configuration example of a 1-to-7 correspondence light control type optical path switching device in which a total of 57 sets are used. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ′ in FIG. 4, and schematically shows a light emission side end face of the seven-core optical fiber. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B ′ in FIG. 4, and schematically shows the light-receiving side end face of the seven-core optical fiber. Further, FIG. 7 shows an oscillation spectrum of a semiconductor laser of a control light source used in the optical path switching type transmitting / receiving apparatus of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 shows an absorption spectrum of the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element of the light control type optical path switching device used in the optical path switching type signal transmitting / receiving device of the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, among the end-face proximity multicore optical fibers described in Patent Document 7, a plurality of one-to-seven-corresponding light control type optical path switching devices using seven-core optical fibers as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are combined. Used.

  Here, as described in Patent Document 6, the signal light is propagated to the central optical fiber core of the seven-core optical fiber, and the control light (corresponding to the case where N of the N types of control lights is 6) is propagated to the six peripheral optical fiber cores. However, it is not necessary to propagate the control light to all the six peripheral optical fiber cores, and only one specific 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the peripheral optical fiber cores can control light (N kinds of control light N is equivalent to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), respectively, by adding 1 to N, that is, 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5 and It can be operated as a 1 to 6 compatible light control type optical path switching device.

  The multi-core optical fiber near the end face described in Patent Document 7 can be configured by bundling single mode optical fibers having the same cladding diameter in a close-packed configuration such as 19 cores, 37 cores, and 61 cores. By transmitting signal light to the core and control light to the peripheral optical fiber core, a 19-core optical fiber is used for the 1-to-7 correspondence light control type optical path switching device described in Patent Document 6 It is possible to configure and operate a light control type optical path switching device corresponding to 8 to 20 and corresponding to 1 to 21 to 38 using a 37-core optical fiber and corresponding to 1 to 39 to 62 using a 61-core optical fiber.

  First, an optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and an optical path switching method thereof will be described, and then details of individual components constituting the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus will be described.

  1 to 3, the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus according to the first embodiment includes one optical signal transmission / reception apparatus 1 connected to one end on the control light transmission side of an optical path 1001 made of an optical fiber or the like, and many The connection with a plurality of optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 3301 etc. connected to the respective ends of the optical paths 3201 etc. is switched by the optical control type optical path switching devices 120, 220, 320 etc. combined in three stages.

The optical signal transmission / reception device 1 is, for example, a transmission side (starting side) optical signal transmission / reception device, and the number thereof is not limited to 1, and may be 1 or more. The plurality of optical signal transmission / reception devices 3301 and the like are, for example, optical signal transmission / reception devices on the reception side (final stage side). The above transmission side and reception side can also be reversed.
In FIG. 1, only one optical signal transmitting / receiving device 1 is shown. However, signal light of a plurality of wavelengths is transmitted from a plurality of optical signal transmitting / receiving devices as signal light 1001, and is demultiplexed at the time of reception. You may receive it. Further, after a plurality of signal lights having different wavelengths used by a plurality of optical signal transmission / reception apparatuses are demultiplexed, they may be switched and transmitted / received.

  Here, the “optical path” means an optical transmission path such as a space, an optical fiber, or an optical waveguide.

  In addition, since the "light" that propagates cannot be illustrated, the "light" that propagates the optical path is expressed by illustrating the "optical path of light that propagates in space" and "the optical path that propagates through the core of the optical fiber". It shall be expressed as “light and its optical path”.

  The control light having a plurality of wavelengths for driving the light control type optical path switching devices 120, 220, and 320 and switching the optical path of the signal light to a specific combination selected in advance is a plurality of control light sources 11 to 16, 21 to 21. 26 and 31 to 36 are selectively oscillated. From the signal light and control light electronic control device 10 to the signal light and control light electronic control device 10 so as to synchronize with the signal light exchange with the optical signal transmission / reception device 1 and the optical signal transmission / reception device 3301 at both ends of the optical path. The blinking combination of the plurality of control light sources 11-16, 21-26, 31-36 is selected according to the control electronic signal sent through. The control light sources 11 to 16 are control light sources for switching the optical path of the first stage (light control type optical path switching apparatus 120), and the control light sources 21 to 26 are the second stage (light control type optical path switching apparatus 220). The control light sources 31 to 36 are control light sources for switching the optical path of the third stage (light control type optical path switching device 320).

  Control light 1011 to 1016, 1021 to 1026, 1031 to 1036 of a plurality of wavelengths from a plurality of control light sources 11 to 16, 21 to 26, and 31 to 36, and signal light traveling in the forward direction and the reverse direction on the optical path 1001 Are multiplexed by the multiplexer 100, and then travel through a common optical path 1100. In the duplexer 110, each of the signal light 1101 and the control light 1111 to 1116 for switching the first-stage optical path, It is demultiplexed into a group 1300 of control light for switching the second-stage and third-stage optical paths.

  The signal light 1101 that is independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 110 is connected to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 shown in FIG. 5) at the center of the first-stage light control type optical path switching device 120. The Each of the control light 1111 to 1116 for switching the first-stage optical path, which is demultiplexed by the wavelength by the branching filter 110, is an optical fiber core around the first-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 120 ( (Corresponding to each of reference numerals 401 to 406 shown in FIG. 5). In response to the blinking of the control lights 1111 to 1116 corresponding to the control light sources 11 to 16 for the first-stage optical path switching, the signal light 1101 is output from the seven emission sides of the first-stage light-controlled optical path switching apparatus 120. The optical path is switched to one of the optical fiber cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and proceeds to the second stage as one of the signal lights 1201 to 1207.

  Here, the group 1300 of the control light for switching the second and third stages of the optical paths separated by the demultiplexer 110 is equally divided into seven beams of the control light groups 1301 to 1307 by the distributor 130. Further, the signal light 1201 to 1207 is multiplexed by seven multiplexers 141 to 147 and travels on the optical paths 1411, 1421, 1431, 1441, 1451, 1461, 1471 to the second stage. For the switching to the second-stage optical path, in addition to the six ways in which any one of the first-stage control light sources 11 to 16 is turned on, a total of seven ways are selected in which all are turned off.

  The contents of the light traveling through the seven optical paths to the second stage are the signal light whose optical path has been switched and the control light group divided into seven, which are equivalent. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 2, a second-stage apparatus to which an optical path 1411 that is one of seven optical paths is connected will be described. With respect to the other six optical paths, the optical path switching after the second stage is performed in the same manner.

  The signal light and the control light group traveling along a single optical path 1411 are separated by the demultiplexer 210 from the signal light 2101 and each of the control light 2121 to 2126 for switching the second-stage optical path, and for switching the third-stage optical path. The control light is demultiplexed into a group 2300.

  The signal light 2101 independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 210 is connected to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 in FIG. 5) at the center of the second-stage light control type optical path switching device 220. Further, each of the second stage optical path switching control lights 2121 to 2126 demultiplexed by wavelength by the duplexer 210 is an optical fiber core around the second stage optical control type optical path switching device 220 ( (Corresponding to reference numerals 401 to 406 in FIG. 5). In response to the blinking of the control lights 2121 to 2126 corresponding to the control light sources 21 to 26 for the second-stage optical path switching, the signal light 2101 is output from the seven outgoing-side optical fibers of the second-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 220. The optical path is switched to one of the cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and proceeds to the third stage as one of the signal lights 2201 to 2207.

  Here, the group 2300 of control light for switching the third-stage optical path demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 210 is equally divided into seven beams of the control light groups 2301 to 2307 by the distributor 230, The light is combined with the signal lights 2201 to 2207 by the multiplexers 241 to 247 and travels on the optical paths 2411, 2421, 2431, 2441, 2451, 2461, 2471 to the third stage. The switching to the third-stage optical path is selected in addition to six ways in which any one of the second-stage control light sources 21 to 26 is turned on, and a total of seven ways in which all are turned off.

  A total of seven devices equivalent to the second-stage one-to-seven-corresponding light control type optical path switching device 220 are provided, and optical paths are switched in seven directions. Therefore, in the second stage following the first stage, 7 × 7, that is, 49 optical paths, are selected and switched by combinations of blinking of a total of 12 control light sources 11 to 16 and 21 to 26.

  The content of the light traveling through the 49 systems of optical paths to the third stage is the same as the signal light whose optical path has been switched and the control light group divided into a total of 49. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 3, a third-stage apparatus to which an optical path 2411 that is one of 49 optical paths is connected will be described. For the other 48 optical paths, the third-stage optical path switching is performed in the same manner.

  The signal light and the control light group traveling along the single optical path 2411 are demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 310 into the signal light 3101 and the control light 3131 to 136 for the second-stage optical path switching.

  The signal light 3101 independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 310 is connected to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 in FIG. 5) at the center of the third-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical path switching device 320. Is done. Further, each of the third-stage optical path switching control lights 3131 to 136 demultiplexed by wavelength by the demultiplexer 310 is the periphery of the third-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical control type optical path switching apparatus 320. Optical fiber cores (corresponding to reference numerals 401 to 406 in FIG. 5). In response to the flickering of the control lights 3131 to 136 corresponding to the control light sources 31 to 36 for the third-stage optical path switching, the signal light 3101 is output from the seven emission-side optical fibers of the third-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 320. The optical path is switched to one of the cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and each of the signal lights 3201 to 3207 proceeds to the terminal optical signal transmission / reception devices 3301 to 3307.

  Forty-nine devices equivalent to the light control type optical path switching device 320 in the third stage are provided in total, and optical path switching in 7 directions is performed in each. Therefore, from the first stage to the third stage, 7 to the third power, that is, 343 light paths are selected and switched by a combination of blinking of a total of 18 control light sources.

  Hereinafter, details of the individual device components will be described.

  Optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 1 provided on the same side (transmission side or starting point) as the control light sources 11-16, 21-26, 31-36, and an optical signal provided at the end (reception side or final stage) whose optical path has been switched. The specifications of the transmission / reception device 3301 and the like are determined in a complementary manner, and the following combinations can be exemplified.

(1) The optical signal transmission / reception device 1 provided on the same side as the control light source, the optical signal transmission / reception device 3301 provided at the end of which the optical path is switched, and the like all convert electrical signals into optical signals for transmission and reception. It is a device that can be performed.
Specifically, a signal light source that blinks in response to an electrical signal, a light receiving unit that converts received signal light into an electrical signal, and a signal light that is transmitted by itself and a signal light that is received are separated by a difference in wavelength. An optical signal transmitting / receiving device including a dichroic mirror, a Peltier element for controlling the temperature of a signal light source, and a control electronic circuit thereof.
(2) The optical signal transmission / reception device 1 provided on the same side as the control light source has only a function of transmitting an optical signal, and the optical signal transmission / reception device 3301 provided at the terminal whose optical path is switched receives the optical signal. Has function only.
(3) The optical signal transmitter / receiver 1 provided on the same side as the control light source has only a function of receiving an optical signal, and the optical signal transmitter / receiver 3301 provided at the terminal whose optical path is switched transmits the optical signal. Has function only.
(4) The optical signal transmission / reception device 1 provided on the same side as the control light source has a function of transmitting and receiving an optical signal, and the optical signal transmission / reception device 3301 provided at the terminal whose optical path is switched has a mirror. An optical fiber sensor provided.
In this case, the optical signal transmission / reception device 3301 and the like provided at the end of which the optical path is switched are optical passive elements, and do not require control and electric power by electric signals.

  Here, as the optical fiber sensor, for example, a diffraction grating is provided on the outer periphery of the optical fiber near the mirror portion at the end of the optical fiber, and an optical fiber temperature sensor that detects a change in the size of the diffraction grating due to a temperature change as a change in wavelength of the signal light. An optical fiber Doppler sensor that detects a change in the bending state of an optical fiber as a wavelength change due to the Doppler effect, an optical fiber type that emits fluorescence or phosphorescence having a wavelength that passes through the optical fiber by radiation inside the optical fiber near the mirror at the end of the optical fiber A scintillator or the like is used.

  The wavelength of the signal light is different from the wavelength band of the control light. Any wavelength can be used according to the transmission characteristics of the optical path as long as the wavelength transmits the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of the thermal lens forming element 47 of the light control type optical path switching device. When a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used as the optical path, the wavelength that can be transmitted in the single mode is approximately between 1260 nm and 1600 nm. For example, when 1260 nm to 1400 nm is used as the wavelength band of the control light, if a dye that absorbs light having a wavelength of 1200 nm to 1450 nm is used as the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element 47, the signal light from 1500 nm Light having a wavelength of 1600 nm can be used.

  Therefore, as the signal light, for example, light having different wavelengths every 5 nm can be used in wavelength multiplexing. As a light source for signal light, for example, a temperature-controlled semiconductor laser can be suitably used.

  The wavelength of the control light is a wavelength different from the wavelength band of the signal light. Any wavelength can be used according to the transmission characteristics of the optical path as long as the wavelength is absorbed by the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element 47 of the light control type optical path switching device. When a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used as the optical path, the wavelength that can be transmitted in the single mode is approximately between 1260 nm and 1600 nm. For example, when a wavelength band of 1500 nm to 1600 nm is used as the signal light wavelength band, if a dye that absorbs light having a wavelength of 1200 nm to 1450 nm is used as the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element 47, the control light starts from 1260 nm. Light having a wavelength of 1400 nm can be used.

  Therefore, as the control light, for example, light having different wavelengths every 5 nm can be used in wavelength multiplexing.

  As the light source of the control light, for example, an InAs / GaAs quantum dot structure semiconductor laser can be suitably used. Since the semiconductor laser oscillates at a wavelength corresponding to the size of the laser oscillation cavity in the element, it is necessary to precisely control the temperature in order to stabilize the oscillation wavelength. A temperature control device using a temperature sensor and a Peltier element can control the temperature of the control light source with higher accuracy than ± 0.1 ° C. in a temperature range from around 0 ° C. to about 50 ° C. The oscillation wavelength band of the semiconductor laser also changes depending on the current flowing through the semiconductor element. By appropriately controlling the temperature and current of the semiconductor laser of the control light source, for example, control light having a different wavelength can be transmitted every 5 nm.

Further, depending on the structure of the semiconductor laser, light of a plurality of wavelengths can be stably oscillated simultaneously. FIG. 7 shows an example of the oscillation spectrum of the semiconductor laser of the control light source. From this single semiconductor laser, four types of control light with wavelengths of 1260 nm and 1275 nm with an average output of 28 mW and wavelengths of 1265 nm and 1270 nm with an average output of 58 mW can be extracted and used at every wavelength of 5 nm. When control light with a plurality of wavelengths oscillates from one control light source, in order to blink each control light with different wavelengths, the wavelength-multiplexed control light from the control light source is demultiplexed by a wavelength selective transmission filter. Each wavelength is turned on / off by, for example, an electro-optic effect optical switch.
The intensity of the control light will be described later in connection with the duplexer 130 and the like.

  As the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of the thermal lens forming element 47 such as the light control type optical path switching device 120, for example, CIR-1081 or CIR-1085 manufactured by Nippon Carlit as a cyclohexanone solution is suitably used as an infrared absorbing dye. Can be used. An example of the absorption spectrum of the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element such as the light control type optical path switching device 120 used in the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving device of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. The relationship between the control light and signal light and the absorption spectrum is shown by white arrows and dotted lines in FIG. The four types of control light of wavelengths 1260, 1265, 1270, and 1275 nm are transmitted through the signal light of the thermal lens forming element 47 such as the light control type optical path switching device 120 as shown by the white arrow on the left side in FIG. It is in the absorption band of the absorption layer 40. On the other hand, the signal light having a wavelength of 1550 nm is in the transmission band of the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of the thermal lens forming element 47 such as the light control type optical path switching device 120 as indicated by the white arrow on the right side in FIG.

  In the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the first embodiment, as the wavelength of the signal light, for example, in order to drive one of the first-stage light control type optical path switching device 120, six types of wavelengths 1260 nm, A group of control lights of 1265 nm, 1270 nm, 1275 nm, 1280 nm, and 1285 nm are used. In order to drive a total of seven units such as the light control type optical path switching device 220 in the second stage, a group of control lights having six wavelengths 1290 nm, 1295 nm, 1300 nm, 1305 nm, 1310 nm, and 1315 nm are used. Further, a group of control lights having six wavelengths 1320 nm, 1325 nm, 1330 nm, 1335 nm, 1340 nm, and 1345 nm are used to drive a total of 49 units such as the third-stage light control type optical path switching device 320. There are a total of 18 wavelengths of control light. The first-stage, second-stage, and third-stage optical control-type optical paths used in the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus of the first embodiment according to the absorption spectrum characteristics of these three groups of control optical bands. The concentration of the dye in the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of each thermal lens forming element 47 of the switching device 120, 220, 230 is in the range of absorbance 2 to 3 depending on the wavelength of the control light group. It is preferable to adjust appropriately. For example, a light control type optical path switching device having the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of the thermal lens forming element 47 having absorption spectrum characteristics as shown in FIG. 8 is preferably used in the first stage.

  However, the absorbance is less than 2 for 1305 to 1315 nm among the six types of wavelengths for driving a total of seven units such as the light control type optical path switching device 220 in the second stage. In this case, the dye concentration of the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of the thermal lens forming element 47 in the second-stage light control type optical path switching device 220 is 1.1 to 1. It is preferable that the concentration be twice as high.

  Similarly, for the six types of wavelengths 1320 to 1345 nm for driving a total of 49 units, such as the third-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 320, the thermal lens in the third-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 320 The dye concentration of the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 of the forming element 47 is preferably 1.5 to 1.6 times higher than that in the first stage.

  As the multiplexer 100, for example, a wavelength selective reflection mirror that transmits signal light having a wavelength of 1500 to 1600 nm and reflects control light having a wavelength band of 1260 to 1400 nm can be used.

  As the optical path 1100 connected to the multiplexer 100, an optical transmission path such as a space, an optical fiber, or an optical waveguide can be used. In the first embodiment, a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used.

  The demultiplexer 110 demultiplexes the signal light 1101 and the control light 1111 to 1116 for switching the first-stage optical path, and the group 1300 of control light for switching the second-stage and third-stage optical paths. It is. Specifically, the duplexer 110 transmits a wavelength longer than a certain wavelength and reflects a wavelength shorter than the wavelength, or reflects a wavelength selective transmission / reflection mirror (edge filter) that reflects a wavelength longer than a certain wavelength. An edge filter that reflects and transmits a wavelength shorter than the wavelength, and a mirror (bandpass filter) that selectively reflects or transmits only a specific wavelength are appropriately combined. For example, the signal light 1101 is first separated by an edge filter that selectively reflects (or transmits) a wavelength longer than 1500 nm, and then light having a wavelength of 1290 to 1400 nm is selectively reflected (or transmitted). The control light group 1300 for the second and subsequent stages is separated by the edge filter, and control lights 1111 to 1116 (for example, wavelengths 1260 to 1285 nm) for the first-stage light control type optical path switching device 120 are further separated. The signal can be demultiplexed by an edge filter corresponding to each wavelength.

  The operations of the first-stage, second-stage, and third-stage optical control type optical path switching devices 120, 220, and 230 used in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the control optical wavelength multiplexing system of the first embodiment are as follows. Since they are equivalent, the details will be described below by taking the first stage as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the first-stage light control type optical path switching device 120, the signal light 4200 is emitted from the central core 400 of the seven-core optical fiber 440 on the control light emission side when there is no control light irradiation. Then, the light travels straight and enters the central core 420 of the signal light receiving side seven-core optical fiber 450.

  In FIG. 4, an arrow 4001 indicates the traveling direction of the control light in the light control type optical path switching device 120. The control light 4010 or 4020 or the like and the signal light 4200 converge at the signal light transmission / control light absorbing layer 40 of the thermal lens forming element 47 or the vicinity thereof, and the control light 4010 or 4020 or the like and the signal light 4200 respectively. Irradiation is performed so that the positions of the converging points are different in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The wavelength of the control light 4010 or the control light 4020 is selected from the wavelength band that the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 absorbs. The wavelength of the signal light 4200 is selected from a wavelength band that the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 does not absorb. The control light 4010 or the control light 4020 or the like and the signal light 4200 are respectively converged and incident on the signal light transmitting / control light absorbing layer 40 or the vicinity thereof, and each of the one or more control lights 4010 or the control light 4020 is irradiated. Depending on the presence or absence of each and the intensity of each irradiation, the direction of signal light travel is determined by the refractive index change caused by the temperature rise in the area where the control light is absorbed in the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 and the surrounding area. Change. The signal light 4201 or the signal light 4202 whose traveling direction has been changed is selectively incident on the optical fiber cores 420 to 426 on the light receiving side in response to an optical path switching request. The signal light whose optical path has been switched may be spatially coupled to a subsequent optical element in addition to the optical fiber on the light receiving side.

  The signal lights 1201 to 1207 whose optical paths are switched in the seven directions and incident on the optical fiber cores 420 to 426 on the light receiving side of the first-stage light control type optical path switching device 120 are guided to the multiplexers 141 to 147, respectively. It is burned. The signal light guided to the multiplexers 141 to 147 may propagate through the space without using the optical fiber on the light receiving side as an optical path.

  On the other hand, the control light group 1300 to the second and subsequent stages demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 110 is equally divided into seven beams of the control light groups 1301 to 1307 by the distributor 130, and further, seven multiplexers 141 to 147 are combined with the signal lights 1201 to 1207 and travel on the optical paths 1411, 1421, 1431, 1441, 1451, 1451.1461 and 1471 to the second stage.

  A known beam splitter can be suitably used as the distributor 130. In addition to the 1: 7 branch beam splitter, an off-the-shelf 1: 8 branch beam splitter may be used for seven branches.

  In the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus of the first embodiment, the control light power supplied to the first-stage one-to-seven corresponding optical control type optical path switching apparatus 120 is a multiplexer from the control light sources 11-16. 100, the optical path 1100, and the transmission loss in the branching filter 110 are taken into consideration, and it is preferably 10 to 40 mW immediately before the first-stage one-to-seven corresponding light control type optical path switching device 120. More preferably. If the control light power is less than 10 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked.

  In the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the first embodiment, the control light supplied to the second-stage one-to-seven corresponding optical control type optical path switching apparatus 220 is transmitted from the control light sources 21 to 26 to the multiplexer 100. After passing through the optical path 1100 and the demultiplexer 110, it is divided into seven by the distributor 130, and further through the optical path 1301, etc., the multiplexer 141, etc., the optical path 1411, etc., the demultiplexer 210, etc. Thus, the control light power supplied to the second-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical path switching device 220 corresponds to the second-stage one-to-seven, taking into account the transmission loss and seven divisions in the above path. It is preferably 10 to 40 mW immediately before each of the light control type optical path switching devices 220, and more preferably 20 to 30 mW. If the control light power is less than 10 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked. If the control light power required by one control light source having a specific wavelength is insufficient, a plurality of semiconductor lasers oscillating at the same wavelength may be blinked in synchronization, and the emitted lasers may be combined and used.

  In the above optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus, the control light supplied to the third-stage one-to-seven correspondence optical control type optical path switching apparatus is transmitted from the control light sources 31 to 36 to the multiplexer 100, the optical path 1100, the splitting light. After passing through the waver 110, it is divided into seven by the distributor 130, and then passes through the optical path 2300, such as the optical path 1301, the multiplexer 141, the optical path 1411, the duplexer 210, and the like, and then the distributor 230. And further passes through the optical path 2301, etc., the multiplexer 241 etc., the optical path 2411, etc. Therefore, the control light power supplied to the third-stage one-to-seven light control type optical path switching device 320 takes into account the transmission loss in the path and two 7 divisions, that is, 49 divisions, and the 1st stage 1 It is preferably 10 to 40 mW immediately before each of the pair 7 corresponding light control type optical path switching device 320, and more preferably 20 to 30 mW. If the control light power is less than 10 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked. If the control light power required by one control light source having a specific wavelength is insufficient, a plurality of semiconductor lasers oscillating at the same wavelength may be blinked in synchronization, and the emitted lasers may be combined and used.

  As the multiplexers 141 to 147, for example, wavelength selective reflection mirrors having characteristics of transmitting signal light having a wavelength of 1500 to 1600 nm and reflecting control light having a wavelength band of 1260 to 1400 nm can be used. As the multiplexers 141 to 147, an optical fiber type multiplexer in which the core portions of two single mode optical fibers are fused can also be used.

  As described above, the contents of the light traveling on the seven optical paths 1411, 1421, 1431, 1441, 1451, 1461, 1471 to the second stage are the signal light whose path has been switched and the control light group divided into seven. Is equivalent. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 2, a second-stage apparatus to which an optical path 1411 that is one of seven optical paths is connected will be described. With respect to the other six optical paths, the optical path switching after the second stage is performed in the same manner.

  As the optical path 1411 connected to the multiplexer 141, an optical transmission path such as a space, an optical fiber, or an optical waveguide can be used. In the first embodiment, a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used.

  The demultiplexer 210 demultiplexes the signal light 2101 and the control light 2121 to 2126 for switching the second stage optical path into a group 2300 of control light for switching the third stage optical path. The same one as the stage duplexer 110 can be used. That is, the demultiplexer 210 transmits a wavelength longer than a certain wavelength and reflects a wavelength shorter than the wavelength, or reflects a wavelength longer than a certain wavelength. An edge filter that transmits a wavelength shorter than the wavelength and a mirror (bandpass filter) that selectively reflects or transmits only a specific wavelength are appropriately combined. For example, the signal light 2101 is first separated by an edge filter that selectively reflects (or transmits) wavelengths longer than 1500 nm, and then the light of wavelengths 1320 to 1400 nm is selectively reflected (or transmitted). ), The control light group 2300 to the third stage is separated by the edge filter, and the control lights 2201 to 2206 (for example, wavelengths 1290 to 1315 nm) for the second-stage light control type optical path switching device 220 are further separated. The signal can be demultiplexed by an edge filter corresponding to each wavelength.

  The operation of the second-stage optical control type optical path switching device 220 used in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device is exactly the same as that of the first-stage optical control type optical path switching device 120, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Optical path switching in seven directions incident on the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numerals 420 to 426 in FIG. 6) on the light receiving side of the second-stage optical control optical path switching apparatus 220 used in the optical path switching optical signal transmission / reception apparatus The signal lights 2201 to 2207 thus guided are guided to the multiplexers 241 to 247, respectively. The signal light guided to the multiplexers 241 to 247 may propagate through the space without using the optical fiber on the light receiving side as the optical path.

  On the other hand, the control light group 2300 to the third stage demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 210 is equally divided into seven beams of the control light groups 2301 to 2307 by the distributor 230, and further, seven multiplexers 241. ˜247 are combined with the signal lights 2201 to 2207 and travel on the optical paths 2411, 2421, 2431, 2441, 2451, 2461, 2471 to the second stage.

  A known beam splitter can be suitably used as the distributor 230. In addition to the 1: 7 branch beam splitter, an off-the-shelf 1: 8 branch beam splitter may be used for seven branches.

  As the multiplexers 241 to 247, for example, wavelength selective reflection mirrors having characteristics of transmitting signal light having a wavelength of 1500 to 1600 nm and reflecting control light having a wavelength band of 1260 to 1400 nm can be used. As the multiplexers 241 to 247, an optical fiber type multiplexer in which the core portions of two single mode optical fibers are fused can also be used.

  As described above, the contents of the light traveling on the seven optical paths 2411, 2421, 2431, 2441, 2451, 2461, 2471 to the third stage are the signal light whose path has been switched and the control light group divided into seven. Are equivalent. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 3, a third-stage apparatus to which 2411 which is one of seven optical paths is connected will be described. For the other six optical paths, the third-stage optical path switching is performed in the same manner.

  As the optical path 2411 connected to the multiplexer 241, an optical transmission path such as a space, an optical fiber, or an optical waveguide can be used. In the first embodiment, a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used.

  The demultiplexer 310 demultiplexes each of the signal light 3101 and the control light 3131 to 136 for the third-stage optical path switching. That is, the demultiplexer 310 transmits a wavelength longer than a certain wavelength and reflects a wavelength shorter than the wavelength, or reflects a wavelength longer than a certain wavelength. An edge filter that transmits a wavelength shorter than the wavelength and a mirror (bandpass filter) that selectively reflects or transmits only a specific wavelength are appropriately combined. For example, the control light 2101 is first separated by an edge filter that selectively reflects (or transmits) wavelengths longer than 1500 nm, and then selectively reflects (or, for example, light having a wavelength of 1345 to 1320 nm). The control light 3131 to 136 (for example, 1345, 1340, 1335, 1330, 1325, and 1320 nm) to the third stage are sequentially separated by the edge filter that transmits.

  The operation of the third-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 320 used in the optical-path-switching optical signal transmitting / receiving device is exactly the same as that of the first-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 120, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The signal lights 3201 to 3207 whose optical paths are switched in the seven directions by the third-stage light control type optical path switching device 320 propagate through the respective optical paths and are guided to the optical signal transmission / reception devices 3301 to 3307.

  Control signal transmission side optical signal transmission / reception device 1 and termination connected selectively by a combination of optical path switching of first-stage, second-stage, and third-stage optical control-type optical path switching apparatuses 120, 220, and 320 When an optical path between one of the 343 optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 3301 and the like is opened, bidirectional optical transmission / reception is possible.

  The timing to transmit a request for opening an optical path from the 343 optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatuses 3301 on the termination side to the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 1 on the control light transmitting side is limited to when the optical path to the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 1 is opened. In the case of a passive optical element such as an optical fiber sensor in which the 343 optical signal transmission / reception devices 3301 and the like on the termination side are provided with a mirror, the control system of “time division multiplexing” by the electronic control device 10 of signal light and control light, The connection with 343 optical signal transmission / reception devices 3301 and the like can be switched at regular intervals, and optical signals can be exchanged periodically. For example, assuming that the time required for optical path switching is 10 milliseconds and the time required for optical signal transmission / reception is 20 milliseconds, optical signals can be transmitted / received to / from all 343 optical signal transmission / reception devices on the termination side in 10.29 seconds. It is.

The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and optical path switching method according to the first embodiment described above have the following effects.
First, the optical signal transmission / reception device on the control light transmission side, the control light source, the electronic control device for signal light and control light, and the optical signal transmission / reception device on the termination side are connected to electronic circuits. The optical signal transmission path and the optical path switching device portion can perform optical path switching transmission of an optical signal without using any electrical signal.
In particular, when the optical signal transmitter / receiver on the termination side is a passive optical sensor or the like that does not use an electrical signal, other than the optical signal transmitter / receiver on the control light transmitter side, the control light source, the signal light and the control light electronic control unit It is possible to construct an optical signal transmission / reception system that uses no electrical signal.
Second, the time required for optical path switching is within 10 milliseconds when using a round beam type 1-to-7 optical control type optical path switching device, and a ring beam type 1-to-2 optical control type optical path switching device is used. In some cases, it can be within 250 microseconds.

[Second Embodiment]
With reference to FIG. 9, a description will be given of an optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of a control light wavelength multiplexing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention and an optical path switching method thereof. The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus according to the second embodiment is based on the ring beam method described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, or the round beam method described in Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5 described above. A plurality of one-to-two optical control type optical path switching devices are used in combination, and control lights having a plurality of wavelengths are multiplexed, and each one-to-two optical control type optical path switching device is connected to one optical signal transmission / reception device. Alternatively, the connection to the subsequent stage is selected and switched to transmit / receive optical signals. In the second embodiment, the distributor used for distributing the control light group to the subsequent stage used in the first embodiment is not necessary.

  In FIG. 9, in the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus of the second embodiment, two control light sources 51 and 52 and two one-to-two correspondence light control type optical path switching apparatuses 512 and 522 are used. The optical paths between the transmission-side optical signal transmission / reception device 5 and the three optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524 are switched and opened. The definition of terms is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  First, an outline of the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and the optical path switching method of the second embodiment will be described, and then individual components constituting the apparatus will be described in detail.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a signal light 5001 propagating through an optical path connected to one optical signal transmission / reception apparatus 5 and a plurality (for example, 2 in the case of the second embodiment). The control light 5011 and 5012 from the base control light sources 51 and 52 are combined by the multiplexer 500 and propagated in the optical path 5100. The next stage includes a unit device 55. The unit device 55 includes optical paths 5100, 5101, 5110, 5111, 5112, 5151, 5200, a demultiplexer 511, a one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching device 512, a multiplexer 513, and an optical signal transmission / reception device 514. It is a repeating unit device of an optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving device. The combined light output from the multiplexer 500 passes through the unit device 55. In the case of the second embodiment, only one stage is allowed to pass. The optical path 5200 from the unit device 55 is connected to the termination unit of the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus including the demultiplexer 521, the optical paths 5201, 5211, 5212, and 5252, and the optical signal transmission / reception apparatuses 523 and 524. The control signal from the electronic control device 50 for signal light and control light is transmitted and received by the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 on the control light source side through the electronic control wiring 501 for signal light and control light, and the control light source 51 or 52 blinks. , The connection destination optical path of the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 on the control light source side is switched to any one of the switching destination optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524, and the optical signal is transmitted / received. It is what you want to do.

  As can be easily understood, the optical paths 5100, 5101, 5110, 5111, 5112, 5151, 5200, the demultiplexer 511, the one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching device 512, the multiplexer 513, and the optical signal transmission / reception device The number of optical signal transmission / reception devices connected to the system is increased by one by adding one unit each of the repeating unit device 55 of the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device consisting of 514, the control light source 51, etc. Can do. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the number of unit devices 55 of the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device is one.

  Control light 5011 and 5012 having a plurality of wavelengths from the plurality of control light sources 51 and 52 and signal light traveling in the forward and reverse directions along the optical path 5001 are combined by the multiplexer 500. Thereafter, the control light and the signal light travel along a common single optical path 5100, and in the demultiplexer 511, the signal light 5101, the first stage optical path switching control light 5151, and the second stage optical path. It is demultiplexed into control light 5110 for switching. In the case where more repeating unit devices 55 and control light sources 51, 52, etc., of the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus are provided than in the second embodiment, the control light for switching the optical path after the second stage is provided. As a result, control light having a plurality of wavelengths propagates along the optical path 5110.

  The signal light 5101 and the first-stage optical path switching control light 5151 independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 511 include the signal light port of the first-stage one-to-two facing light control type optical path switching device 512 and Each is connected to a control light port. In response to the blinking of the control light 5151 corresponding to the control light source 51 for switching the first-stage optical path, the signal light 5101 travels straight through the first-stage one-to-two correspondence light control type optical path switching device 512. Alternatively, the optical path is switched to one of the optical paths 5112 whose optical path has been changed. When the control lights 5011 to 5151 are turned on and the optical path is switched, the signal light is connected to the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 514 through the optical path 5112, and the optical signal is transmitted / received between the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 5 and the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 514. Is done.

  When the control lights 5011 to 5151 are not turned on, the signal light is guided to the multiplexer 513 through the optical path 5111, is combined with the control light 5110 for second-stage optical path switching, propagates through the optical path 5200, and is sent to the demultiplexer 521. To reach.

  The signal light 5201 and the second-stage optical path switching control light 5252 that are separately demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 521 are the signal light ports of the second-stage one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching device 522 and Each is connected to a control light port. In response to the blinking of the control light 5252 corresponding to the control light source 52 for second-stage optical path switching, the signal light 5201 travels straight in the second-stage one-to-two corresponding light control type optical path switching device 522. Alternatively, the optical path is switched to one of the optical paths 5212 whose optical path has been changed. When the control light 5252 is turned on and the optical path is switched, the signal light is connected to the optical signal transmission / reception device 524 through the optical path 5212, and transmission / reception of the optical signal is performed between the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 and the optical signal transmission / reception device 524. Is called.

  When the control lights 5012 to 5252 are not turned on, the signal light is connected to the optical signal transmission / reception device 523 through the optical path 5211, and the optical signal is transmitted / received between the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 and the optical signal transmission / reception device 523.

  Next, details of individual device components will be described.

  The specifications of the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 provided on the same side as the control light source and the optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524 provided at the optical path switching terminal are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The wavelengths of the signal light and the control light and the specifications of the light source are the same as in the first embodiment. For example, a laser having a wavelength of 1550 nm and a laser having wavelengths of 1265 nm and 1270 nm, for example, from a semiconductor laser having an oscillation characteristic as shown in FIG. 7 can be used as the signal light.

  As the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element of the light control type optical path switching device 512, 522, as in the case of the first embodiment, for example, as IR absorbing dye, CIR-1081 manufactured by Nippon Carlit And CIR-1085 can be suitably used as a cyclohexanone solution, as in the first embodiment. In the case of the second embodiment, since the light control type optical path switching device is used in two stages, the light control type optical path switching devices 512 and 522 may have the same dye concentration.

  As the multiplexer 500, for example, a wavelength selective reflection mirror that transmits signal light with a wavelength of 1500-1600 nm and reflects control light with a wavelength band of 1260-1400 nm can be used.

  As the optical path 5100 connected to the multiplexer 500, a space, an optical fiber, or an optical transmission path such as an optical waveguide can be used. In the second embodiment, a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used. .

  The demultiplexer 511 includes signal light 5101 (for example, wavelength 1550 nm), control light 5151 for switching the first stage optical path (for example, wavelength 1265 nm), and control light 5110 for switching the second stage optical path (for example, wavelength 1270 nm). Is to demultiplex. Specifically, the demultiplexer 511 is configured by combining two types of wavelength selective transmission / reflection mirrors (edge filters) that transmit wavelengths longer than a certain wavelength and reflect wavelengths shorter than the wavelength. it can. The operation is, for example, separating the control light 5101 (wavelength 1550 nm) by an edge filter that selectively reflects (or transmits) wavelengths longer than 1500 nm, and then selectively selects light having a wavelength longer than 1270 nm. When the control light 5110 (wavelength 1270 nm) to the second stage is separated by the reflecting (or transmitting) edge filter, the control light 5110 (wavelength 1265 nm) for the first-stage light control type optical path switching device 522 is separated. Can wave.

  In the case of using the ring beam optical control type optical path switching device described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the second embodiment, the first-stage one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path The control light power supplied to the switching device takes into account the transmission loss in the multiplexer 500, the optical path 5100, and the demultiplexer 511 from the control light source 51, and the first-stage one-to-two light control type optical path It is preferably 2 to 40 mW immediately before the switching device, and more preferably 5 to 10 mW. If the control light power is less than 2 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked.

  In the case of using the ring beam type optical control type optical path switching device described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the second embodiment, the second-stage one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path The control light supplied to the switching device considers transmission loss in the multiplexer 500, the optical path 5100, the demultiplexer 511, the optical path 5110, the multiplexer 513, the optical path 5200, and the demultiplexer 521 from the control light source 52. In addition, it is preferably 2 to 40 mW, more preferably 5 to 10 mW immediately before the second-stage one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching device. If the control light power is less than 2 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked.

  In the case of using the round beam type optical control type optical path switching device described in Patent Documents 4 and 5, in the control optical wavelength division multiplexing type optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the second embodiment, The control light power supplied to the corresponding light control type optical path switching device takes into account the transmission loss from the control light source 51 in the multiplexer 500, the optical path 5100, and the demultiplexer 511, and is one-to-two in the first stage. It is preferably 10 to 40 mW immediately before the corresponding light control type optical path switching device, and more preferably 20 to 30 mW. If the control light power is less than 10 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked.

  In the case of using the round beam type optical control type optical path switching device described in Patent Documents 4 and 5, in the control optical wavelength division multiplexing type optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the second embodiment, The control light supplied to the corresponding light control type optical path switching device includes a multiplexer 500, an optical path 5100, a demultiplexer 511, an optical path 5110, a multiplexer 513, an optical path 5200, and a demultiplexer 521 from the control light source 52. In consideration of the transmission loss, it is preferably 10 to 40 mW immediately before the second-stage one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching device, and more preferably 10 to 30 mW. If the control light power is less than 10 mW, sufficient optical path switching cannot be performed. When the control light power exceeds 40 mW, the solvent of the dye solution constituting the signal light transmission / control light absorption layer 40 boils and the signal light is blocked.

  As the multiplexer 513, for example, a wavelength selective reflection mirror that transmits signal light having a wavelength of 1500 to 1600 nm and reflects control light having a wavelength band of 1260 to 1400 nm can be used. As the multiplexers 141 to 147, an optical fiber type multiplexer in which the core portions of two single mode optical fibers are fused can also be used.

  As the optical path 5200 connected to the multiplexer 513, a space, an optical fiber, or an optical transmission path such as an optical waveguide can be used. In the second embodiment, a single mode optical fiber for optical communication is used.

  The demultiplexer 521 demultiplexes the signal light 5201 (for example, wavelength 1550 nm) and the second stage optical path switching control light 5252 (for example, wavelength 1270 nm). Specifically, the duplexer 521 can be configured by using one type of wavelength selective transmission / reflection mirror (edge filter) that transmits wavelengths longer than a certain wavelength and reflects wavelengths shorter than the wavelength. For example, when the control light 5201 (wavelength 1550 nm) is separated by an edge filter that selectively reflects (or transmits) a wavelength longer than 1500 nm, the operation for the second-stage light-controlled optical path switching device 522 is performed. The control light 5252 (wavelength 1270 nm) can be demultiplexed.

  The signal lights 5211 to 5212 whose optical paths are switched in two directions by the second-stage one-to-two optical control type optical path switching apparatus 522 propagate through the respective optical paths and are guided to the optical signal transmission / reception apparatuses 523 to 524.

  The control signal transmission side optical signal transmission / reception device 5 and the termination side optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, which are selectively connected by a combination of optical path switching of the first-stage and second-stage optical control type optical path switching devices. When the optical path to 524 is opened, bidirectional optical transmission / reception is possible.

  The timing for transmitting a request for opening an optical path from the optical signal transmission / reception device 514, 523, 524 on the termination side to the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 on the control light transmission side is limited to when the optical path to the optical signal transmission / reception device 5 is opened. In the case where the optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524 on the end side are passive optical elements such as optical fiber sensors provided with mirrors, the signal light and control light electronic control device 50 uses a "time division multiplexing" control method, The connection with the three optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524 is switched at regular intervals, and optical signals can be exchanged periodically. For example, assuming that the time required for optical path switching is 10 milliseconds and the time required for optical signal transmission / reception is 20 milliseconds, optical signals can be transmitted / received to / from all three optical signal transmission / reception apparatuses on the termination side in 90 milliseconds. is there.

The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and optical path switching method according to the second embodiment described above have the following effects.
First, the control light transmission side optical signal transmission / reception device 5, the control light sources 51 to 52, the signal light and control light electronic control device 50, and the termination side optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524 are electronic. Although there is a connection with the circuit, the optical signal transmission path and the optical path switching device portion can perform optical path switching transmission of the optical signal without using any electrical signal.
In particular, when the termination-side optical signal transmission / reception devices 514, 523, and 524 are passive optical sensors that do not use electrical signals, the control-light transmission-side optical signal transmission / reception device 5, the control light sources 51 to 52, the signal light, and the control An optical signal transmission / reception system that does not use any electrical signal can be constructed except for the portion of the optical electronic control unit 10.
Secondly, the time required for optical path switching is within 10 milliseconds when using a round beam type one-to-two optical control type optical path switching device, and a ring beam type one-to-two optical control type optical path switching device is used. In some cases, it can be within 250 microseconds.

[Third Embodiment]
With reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, a description will be given of an optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus and its optical path switching method of the control light wavelength multiplexing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to the third embodiment is the same as the one-to-seven correspondence optical control type optical path of the first stage and the second stage in the device described in the first embodiment of the present invention. A part of the connection destination of the optical path selected by the switching device is not directly connected to the next stage but directly connected to the optical signal transmitting / receiving device.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of the first-stage optical path switching device in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 shows the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the third embodiment. An example of the configuration of one set of the second-stage optical path switching device used in the number of groups less than 7 is shown, and FIG. 12 shows the number of groups less than 49 in the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving device of the third embodiment. The configuration of one set of third-stage optical path switching devices used is shown.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and the optical path switching method thereof according to the third embodiment will be described below. Note that details of the individual components constituting the apparatus are exactly the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the third embodiment includes one optical signal transmission / reception apparatus 6 connected to one end of an optical path 6001 made of an optical fiber or the like, and a large number of optical paths 6206, 6207, 7205, 7206, 7207, 8201. The connection with a plurality of optical signal transmission / reception devices 646, 647, 745, 746, 747, 8301-8307, etc. connected to the end of ˜8207, etc. is switched by a plurality of light control type optical path switching devices combined in multiple stages. .

  Here, the “optical path” means an optical transmission path such as a space, an optical fiber, or an optical waveguide. A plurality of control light sources 61 to 66, 71 to 76, 81 are used as the control light having a plurality of wavelengths for driving the light control type optical path switching device described above to switch the optical path of the signal light to a specific combination selected in advance. ~ 86 are selectively oscillated. From the optical control device 60 for signal light and control light so as to be synchronized with the exchange of signal light between the optical signal transmission / reception device 6 and the optical signal transmission / reception devices 646, 647, 745, 746, 747, 8301-8307, etc. at both ends of the optical path. A combination of blinking of the plurality of control light sources 61 to 66, 71 to 76, 81 to 86 is selected by a control electronic signal sent through the electronic control wiring 601 of the signal light and the control light.

  Control light 6061 to 6066, 7071 to 7076, and 8081 to 8086 having a plurality of wavelengths from the plurality of control light sources 61 to 66, 71 to 76, and 81 to 86, and signal light traveling in the forward direction and the reverse direction on the optical path 6001 Are multiplexed by a multiplexer 600. The combined signal light and control light travel on a common optical path 6100, and in the demultiplexer 610, each of the signal light 6101 and the control light 6161 to 6166 for switching the first-stage optical path, The light beams are demultiplexed into a group 6300 of control light for switching the optical paths of the second and third stages.

  The signal light 6101 separately demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 610 is connected to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 in FIG. 5) in the center of the first-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical control type optical path switching device 620. Is done. In addition, each of the first-stage optical path switching control lights 6161 to 6166 that are demultiplexed by the wavelength by the demultiplexer 610 is the vicinity of the first-stage one-to-seven corresponding light control type optical path switching apparatus 620. It is connected to an optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numerals 401 to 406 in FIG. 5). In response to the flickering of the control lights 6161 to 6166 corresponding to the control light sources 61 to 66 for the first stage optical path switching, the signal light 6101 is 7 of the light control type optical path switching apparatus 620 corresponding to the first stage 7. The optical path is switched to one of the two outgoing-side optical fiber cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and the second-stage or first-stage optical signal is used as one of the signal lights 6201 to 6207. Proceed to the transmitting / receiving device, for example, two optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 646, 647.

  Here, a group 6300 of control light for switching the second- and third-stage optical paths demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 610 is supplied to the first-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical path by the distributor 630. In the third embodiment, for example, the number obtained by subtracting 2 from the optical path switching number 7 of the switching device 620, that is, the number obtained by subtracting 2, for example, in the case of the third embodiment, for example, the number is branched to 5. Is done.

  A group 6300 of control light for switching optical paths of the second and third stages demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 610 is equally divided into, for example, five beams of control light groups 6301 to 6305 by the distributor 630. Further, for example, the signal beams 6201 to 6205 are multiplexed by five multiplexers 641 to 645, and travel along the optical paths 6411, 6421, 6431, 6441, 6451 to the second stage. The optical path to the second stage or the switching to the first stage optical signal transmission / reception device is 1 in which all of the control light sources 61 to 66 of the first stage are turned on, and all are turned off. A total of 7 streets are selected.

  The contents of the light that travels along the optical path to the second stage, for example, the optical paths 6411 to 6451, are the signal light whose optical path has been switched and the control light group that is divided into five, for example, and is equivalent to each other. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, a second stage apparatus to which 6411 which is one of five optical paths is connected will be described. The other optical paths are switched in the same way for the second and subsequent stages.

  The signal light and the control light group traveling along a single optical path 6411 are separated by the branching filter 710 from the signal light 7101 and each of the second-stage optical path switching control lights 7171 to 7176 and the third-stage optical path switching. It is demultiplexed into a group of control lights 7300.

  The signal light 7101 independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 710 is supplied to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 in FIG. 5) at the center of the second-stage one-to-seven corresponding light control type optical path switching device 720. Connected. In addition, each of the second-stage optical path switching control lights 7171 to 7176 that are demultiplexed by the wavelength by the demultiplexer 710 is provided around the second-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical control type optical path switching apparatus 720. It is connected to an optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numerals 401 to 406 in FIG. 5). In response to the blinking of the control lights 7171 to 7176 corresponding to the control light sources 71 to 76 for the second stage optical path switching, the signal light 7101 is seven of the light control type optical path switching device 720 corresponding to the second stage one-to-seven. The optical path is switched to any one of the output side optical fiber cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and any one of the signal lights 7201 to 7207 is a multiplexer to the third stage, for example, 741 to 741 It progresses to 4 units | sets of 744, or 3 units | sets of the optical signal transmission / reception apparatus 745-747 of a 2nd step | stage.

  Here, the group 7300 of control light for switching the third stage optical path demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 710 is equally divided into, for example, four beams of control light groups 7301 to 7304 by the distributor 730, and further 4 The optical signals are combined with the signal lights 7201 to 7204 by the basic multiplexers 741 to 744 and travel on the optical path to the third stage, for example, the signal lights 7411, 7421, 7431 and 7441. Switching to the third-stage optical path or the second-stage optical signal transmission / reception devices 745 to 747 is all in the off state in addition to six ways in which any of the second-stage control light sources 71 to 76 is turned on. A total of 7 types are selected.

  For example, five devices equivalent to the second-stage one-to-seven-corresponding light control type optical path switching device 720 are provided, and optical paths are switched in seven directions each. Accordingly, in the second stage following the first stage, for example, 5 times, that is, 35 optical paths multiplied by 7, are selectively switched by a combination of blinking of a total of 12 control light sources.

  The content of the light that travels through, for example, 35 optical paths to the third stage is the control light group divided into a total of 35 with the signal light whose optical path has been switched, and is equivalent. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 12, a third-stage apparatus to which 7411 which is one of a plurality of optical paths is connected will be described. For the other optical paths, the third-stage optical path switching is performed in the same manner.

  The signal light and control light group traveling along a single optical path 7411 are demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 810 into the signal light 8101 and the control light 8181 to 8186 for switching the third-stage optical path.

  The signal light 8101 independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 810 is connected to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 in FIG. 5) in the center of the third-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical control type optical path switching device 820. Is done. In addition, each of the third-stage optical path switching control lights 8181 to 8186 that are demultiplexed by the wavelength by the demultiplexer 810 is provided around the third-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical control type optical path switching apparatus 820. It is connected to an optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numerals 401 to 406 in FIG. 5). In response to the blinking of the control lights 8181 to 8186 corresponding to the control light sources 81 to 86 for the third stage optical path switching, the signal light 8101 is seven of the third-stage one-to-seven corresponding light control type optical path switching device 820. The optical path is switched to any one of the output-side optical fiber cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and each of the signal lights 8201 to 8207 proceeds to the terminal optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 8301 to 8307, respectively. .

  According to the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and the optical path switching method according to the third embodiment described above, the same effects as in the case of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Fourth Embodiment]
With reference to FIGS. 13 to 14, a description will be given of an optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus and its optical path switching method of the control light wavelength multiplexing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is selected by the first-stage one-to-seven corresponding optical control type optical path switching apparatus in the apparatus described in the first embodiment of the present invention. Each of the optical paths is switched in two directions by a one-to-two correspondence optical control type optical path switching device in the second stage, and connected to a total of 14 optical signal transmission / reception devices. In the fourth embodiment, a case where a 1-to-7 correspondence light control type optical path switching device is provided in the first stage and a 1-to-2 correspondence light control type optical path switching device is installed in the second stage is illustrated. There is no particular limitation on the number of optical path switching directions in each stage. For example, a 1 to 2 compatible light control type optical path switching device is provided in the first stage, a 1 to 7 compatible light control type optical path switching device is provided in the second stage, and a 1 to 2 compatible light is provided in the third stage. A control type optical path switching device may be provided.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of the first-stage optical path switching device in the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 14 shows the optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device of the fourth embodiment. An example of the configuration of one set of second-stage optical path switching devices used in seven sets is shown.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and the optical path switching method thereof according to the fourth embodiment will be described below. Note that details of the individual components constituting the apparatus are exactly the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus of the fourth embodiment includes one optical signal transmission / reception apparatus 9 connected to one end of an optical path 9001 made of an optical fiber and the like, and a plurality of optical signal transmission / reception apparatuses connected to the ends of a large number of optical paths 9611 to 9612 and the like. The optical signal transmission / reception devices 971 to 972 and the like are switched by a plurality of light control type optical path switching devices combined in multiple stages.

  Here, the “optical path” means an optical transmission path such as a space, an optical fiber, or an optical waveguide. The control light sources 91 to 96 for switching the first-stage optical path are used as the control light having a plurality of wavelengths for driving the light control type optical path switching device described above and switching the optical path of the signal light to a specific combination selected in advance. The light is selectively oscillated from the control light source 97 for switching the second stage optical path. Signal light and control light electronic control wiring 901 from the signal light and control light electronic control device 90 so as to be synchronized with the exchange of signal light with the optical signal transmission / reception device 9 and the optical signal transmission / reception devices 971 to 972 at both ends of the optical path. The blinking combination of the plurality of control light sources 91-96 and 97 is selected by the control electronic signal sent through.

  The control light 9011 to 9016 and 9021 having a plurality of wavelengths from the control light sources 91 to 96 and 97 and the signal light traveling in the forward direction and the reverse direction on the optical path 9001 are combined by the multiplexer 900. The combined signal light and control light travel on a common optical path 9100, and in the demultiplexer 910, each of the signal light 9101 and the control light 9111 to 9116 for switching the first-stage optical path, It is demultiplexed into the control light 9300 for switching the optical path in the second stage.

  The signal light 9101 separately demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 910 is connected to the optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numeral 400 in FIG. 5) at the center of the first-stage one-to-seven-corresponding optical path switching device 920. Is done. In addition, each of the first-stage optical path switching control lights 9111 to 9116 demultiplexed according to the wavelength by the demultiplexer 910 is provided around the first-stage one-to-seven corresponding light control type optical path switching apparatus 920. It is connected to an optical fiber core (corresponding to reference numerals 401 to 406 in FIG. 5). In response to the flickering of the control lights 9111 to 9116 corresponding to the control light sources 91 to 96 for the first stage optical path switching, the signal light 9101 is 7 of the 1 to 7 correspondence light control type optical path switching apparatus 920 of the first stage. The optical path is switched to one of the two outgoing-side optical fiber cores (corresponding to reference numerals 421 to 426 and 420 in FIG. 6), and proceeds to the second stage as one of the signal lights 9201 to 9207.

  Here, the second-stage optical path switching control light 9300 demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 910 is equally divided into seven beams of the control light groups 9301 to 9307 by the distributor 930, and further, seven combined lights are combined. The signal beams 9201 to 9207 are combined by the wavers 941 to 947 and travel on the optical paths 9411, 9421, 9431, 9441, 9451, 9461 and 9471 to the second stage. For the switching to the second-stage optical path, in addition to six ways in which any one of the first-stage control light sources 91 to 96 is turned on, a total of seven ways are selected in which all are turned off.

  The contents of the light that travels along the optical path to the second stage, for example, the optical paths 9411 to 9471, are the signal light whose optical path has been switched and the control light that has been divided into seven, for example, which are the same. Therefore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 14, a second-stage apparatus to which 9411 that is one of seven optical paths is connected will be described. For the other optical paths, the second-stage optical path switching is performed in the same manner.

  The signal light and control light traveling along a single optical path 9411 are demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 950 into signal light 9501 and control light 9511 for second-stage optical path switching.

  The signal light 9501 and the second-stage optical path switching control light 9511 that are independently demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 950 are the signal light ports of the second-stage one-to-two facing light control type optical path switching device 960 and Each is connected to a control light port. In response to the blinking of the control light 9511 corresponding to the control light source 97 for switching the second stage optical path, the signal light 9501 travels straight in the one-to-two correspondence light control type optical path switching device 960 in the second stage. Alternatively, the optical path is switched to one of the optical paths 9612 whose optical path has been changed. When the light source 97 of the control light 9511 is turned on and the optical path is switched, the signal light is connected to the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 972 through the optical path 9612, and the optical signal is transmitted between the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 9 and the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus 972. Transmission / reception is performed.

  When the light source 97 of the control light 9511 is not turned on, the signal light is connected to the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 971 through the optical path 9611, and the optical signal is transmitted / received between the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 9 and the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 971.

  In this way, in response to the blinking of the control light sources 91 to 96 for the first stage, the signal light whose optical path has been switched in seven directions by the first-stage one-to-seven corresponding light control type optical path switching device 910 is used. Each of the optical paths 9411 to 9471 is switched in two directions by the second-stage one-to-two light control type optical path switching device 950 or the like according to the blinking of the control light source 97 for the second stage, and the light The optical path between the signal receiving device 9 and a total of 14 optical signal transmission / reception devices 971, 972 and the like is switched, and optical signals are transmitted and received.

  According to the optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus and the optical path switching method according to the fourth embodiment described above, the same effects as in the case of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  The configurations and arrangement relationships described in the above embodiments are merely schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be understood and implemented, and the composition (material) and the like of each configuration are merely examples. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

  The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device or the like of the control light wavelength multiplexing system according to the present invention is attached in close contact with a temperature sensing system or a structure that switches and measures a plurality of optical fiber sensors provided in a factory, for example. Switch between multiple fiber optic Doppler sensors to measure deformation and breakage of a specific position of the structure, switch between multiple fiber optic scintillators installed at predetermined locations in the radioactive material handling or storage location It is used in optical fiber sensing systems that monitor the radiation intensity at a specific location, optical information transmission systems that transmit and receive information between a computer server and a client machine with all light, etc.

1, 5, 6, 9 optical signal transmitting and receiving device,
10 Electronic control device for signal light and control light,
11-16 Control light source for first stage optical path switching,
21-26 control light source for second stage optical path switching,
31-36 Third-stage optical path switching control light source,
40 Signal light transmission / control light absorption layer,
43 Holes provided in the optical flat plate 44,
44 optical plate,
45-49 condenser lens,
47 thermal lens forming element,
50. Electronic control device for signal light and control light,
51 control light source for first stage optical path switching,
52 control light source for second stage optical path switching,
55 Optical path switching unit optical signal transmitter / receiver unit device,
60 Electronic control device for signal light and control light,
61-66 control light source for first stage optical path switching,
71-76 control light source for second stage optical path switching,
81-86 Third-stage optical path switching control light source,
90 Electronic control device for signal light and control light,
91-96 Control light source for first stage optical path switching,
97 control light source for second stage optical path switching,
100, 141-147, 241-247 multiplexer,
101 Electronic control wiring of signal light and control light,
110, 210, 310 duplexer,
120, 220, 320 light control type optical path switching device,
130,230 distributor,
400 7 core optical fiber 440 central core,
401-406 Peripheral core of 7-core optical fiber 440,
410 Cladding of the central core 400,
411 to 416 7-core optical fiber 440 peripheral cladding,
420 The central core of a seven-core optical fiber 450,
421-426 peripheral cores of 7-core optical fiber 450,
430 Cladding of the central core 420,
431-436 Perimeter cladding of 7-core optical fiber 450,
440 control light exit side 7-core optical fiber,
441 Ferrule of 7-core optical fiber 440,
442, 452 adhesive,
450 Signal light receiving side 7-core optical fiber,
451 Ferrule of 7-core optical fiber 450,
500,513 multiplexer,
501 Electronic control wiring for signal light and control light,
511, 521 duplexer,
512, 522 light control type optical path switching device,
514, 523, 524 signal light transmitting and receiving device,
600, 641-645, 741-744 multiplexer,
601 Electronic control wiring for signal light and control light,
610, 710, 810 duplexer,
620, 720, 820 light control type optical path switching device,
630,730 distributor,
646, 647, 745-747 optical signal transmitting / receiving device,
900, 941-947 multiplexer,
901 Electronic control wiring for signal light and control light,
910, 950 duplexer,
920 1-to-7 correspondence light control type optical path switching device,
930 distributor,
960 light control type optical path switching device corresponding to 1 to 2,
971, 972 signal light transmission / reception device,
1001 Signal light and its optical path,
1011-1016 Control light for switching the first stage optical path and its optical path,
1021 to 1026 Control light for second-stage optical path switching and its optical path 1031 to 1036 Control light for third-stage optical path switching and its optical path 1100 Light combined with signal light and all control light and its optical path,
1101 Signal light before optical path switching in the first stage after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
1111 to 1116 Individual control lights for switching the first-stage optical path that are demultiplexed for different wavelengths and the optical paths thereof,
1201-1207 The first stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
Control light for the second and subsequent stages separated by 1300 and its optical path,
1301-1307 Control light for the second and subsequent stages distributed and its optical path,
1411, 1421, 1431, 1441, 1451, 1461, 1471 Light obtained by combining the signal light whose optical path has been switched in the first stage and the control light for switching the optical path after the second stage, which has been demultiplexed and distributed, and Its optical path,
2101 signal light before optical path switching in the second stage after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
2121 to 2126 Individual control light for switching the second stage optical path, which is demultiplexed for each different wavelength, and its optical path,
2201 to 2207 Second-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
Control light for the third and subsequent stages after 2300 demultiplexing and its optical path,
2301 to 2307 distributed control light for the third and subsequent stages and its optical path,
2411, 2421, 2431, 2441, 2451, 2461, 2471 Light obtained by combining the signal light switched in the second stage with the control light for switching the third stage optical path separated and distributed, and Optical path,
3101 signal light before the optical path switching in the third stage demultiplexed and its optical path,
3131-3136 Control light for switching the third-stage optical path that has been demultiplexed and its optical path,
3201 to 3207 Third-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
3301-3307 optical signal transmitting / receiving device,
4001 Direction of travel of control light,
4010, 4020 The control light emitted from the peripheral cores 401, 402 of the control light emission side seven-core optical fiber 440,
4100 Signal light emitted from the central core 400 of the control light emission side seven-core optical fiber 440,
4200 Signal light which is emitted from the central core 400 of the control light emitting side seven-core optical fiber 440, goes straight and enters the central core 420 of the signal light receiving side seven-core optical fiber 450,
4201, 4202 Signal light whose optical path is changed by the thermal lens forming element 47,
5001 Signal light and its optical path,
5011 control light for first-stage optical path switching and its optical path,
5012 Control light for switching the second stage optical path and its optical path,
5100 Light obtained by combining signal light and all control light and its optical path;
5101 signal light before optical path switching in the first stage after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
5110 Control light for the second and subsequent stages after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
5111 signal light that goes straight through the one-to-two light control type optical path switching device and its optical path,
5112 signal light whose optical path has been changed by the one-to-two optical control type optical path switching device and its optical path,
5151 demultiplexed first stage optical path switching control light and its optical path,
5200: light in which the optical path is switched in the first stage (straight forward) and the optical path switching control light in the second and subsequent stages separated and distributed, and its optical path;
5201 signal light before optical path switching in the second stage after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
5252 demultiplexed second stage (final stage) control light and its optical path,
5211 Second-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path (straight),
5212 Second-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path (optical path change),
6001 Signal light and its optical path,
6061-6066 control light for first stage optical path switching and its optical path,
6100 Light obtained by combining signal light and all control light and its optical path;
6101 signal light before optical path switching in the first stage after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
6161-6166 Individual control light for switching the first-stage optical path that is demultiplexed for each different wavelength and its optical path,
6201-6207 First-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
6300 Control light for the second and subsequent stages after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
6301 to 6305 distributed control light for the second and subsequent stages and its optical path,
6411, 6421, 6431, 6441, 6451 Light in which the optical path is switched in the first stage and the signal light traveling to the second stage is combined with the control light for switching the optical path after the second stage that has been demultiplexed / distributed And its optical path,
7071 to 7076 Control light for second-stage optical path switching and its optical path 7101 Signal light before optical path switching in the second stage demultiplexed and its optical path,
7171-7176 Individual control light for switching the second stage optical path, which is demultiplexed for each different wavelength, and its optical path,
7201-7207 Second-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
7300 Control light for the third and subsequent stages separated and its optical path,
7301-7304 Control light for the third and subsequent stages distributed and its optical path,
7411, 7421, 7431, 7441 Light in which the optical path is switched in the second stage and the advance signal light and the demultiplexed / distributed control light for switching the third stage optical path are combined to the third stage, and the optical path ,
8081, 8082, 8083, 8084, 8035, 8036 Control light for switching the third stage optical path and its optical path 8101 The signal light before the optical path switching in the third stage divided and its optical path,
8181-8186 demultiplexed third stage optical path switching control light and its optical path,
8201-8207 Third-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
8301-8307 Optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus,
9001 Signal light and its optical path,
9011 to 9016 Control light for first-stage optical path switching and its optical path,
9021 Control light for switching the second stage optical path and its optical path,
9100 Light obtained by combining signal light and all control light and its optical path;
9101 signal light before optical path switching in the first stage after being demultiplexed and its optical path,
9111 to 9116 Individual control light for switching the first-stage optical path, which is demultiplexed for each different wavelength, and its optical path,
9201 to 9207 The first-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path,
9300 Control light for the second and subsequent stages separated and its optical path,
9301 to 9307 The distributed control light for the second and subsequent stages and its optical path,
9411, 9421, 9431, 9441, 9451, 9461, 9471 Light obtained by combining the signal light whose optical path has been switched in the first stage and the control light for switching the optical path after the second stage, which has been demultiplexed and distributed, and Its optical path,
9501 signal light before the optical path switching in the second stage, and its optical path,
9511 Control light for second-stage optical path switching that has been demultiplexed and its optical path,
9611 Second-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path (straight),
9612 Second-stage optical path switched signal light and its optical path (optical path change).

Claims (15)

When N is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2, N control lights having different wavelengths are used to control one or more types of signal light having different wavelengths from the control light by an optical control method. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception apparatus including an M-stage optical control type optical path switching apparatus that switches an optical path to (N + 1) different directions,
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the transmitting side;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
When K is M × N, K control light sources that output the control light of K types of wavelengths;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmission / reception device on the transmission side and the control light source via an electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs the control light of K types of wavelengths and the signal light;
With
At each stage of the light control type optical path switching device of M stages,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from a previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
When L is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M, the control light of N types of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching device of the L stage is used as the light control type optical path switching of the L stage and thereafter. A wavelength control light for controlling the device and a branching filter that separates the signal light;
When RL is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to (N + 1), the RL reception-side optical signals connected to the optical path of the signal light whose optical path has been switched by the light control type optical path switching device in the L-th stage A transceiver device;
A splitter that splits the control light having a wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device in the L-th stage and later separated by the duplexer into ((N + 1) −RL) pieces;
The optical path is switched in the (N + 1) different directions by the light control type optical path switching device in the L-th stage, and each of the signal lights traveling on the optical path to the L-th stage and thereafter is distributed to ((N + 1) -RL). A multiplexer for mixing the control light having a wavelength for controlling the light control type optical path switching device in the L-th stage and thereafter and guiding it to the optical path,
An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device.   N is 6, M is 3, K is 18, L is any integer from 1 to 3, RL is any integer from 0 to 7, and the signal light is one kind 2. The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical control type optical path switching apparatus comprises three stages.   3. The optical path switching type according to claim 1, wherein when P is an integer of 2 or more, each of the M-stage optical control type optical path switching apparatuses is a one-to-P compatible optical control type optical path switching apparatus. Optical signal transmitter / receiver.   4. The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein P is 2 or 7.   The light control type optical path switching device corresponding to 1: 7 includes a thermal lens forming element having a signal light transmission / control light absorption layer, and the optical paths on the control light emitting side and the signal light receiving side are 7-core optical fibers. The optical path switching type optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus according to claim 4. The signal light is light having a wavelength included in a range of 1500 to 1600 nm,
The control light is light having a wavelength included in a range of 1260 to 1400 nm, and light having a different wavelength is used in wavelength multiplexing every 5 nm.
The optical path switching type light level signal transmitting / receiving apparatus according to claim 1.
At each stage, six control lights having different wavelengths are used, and a three-stage one-to-seven method for switching the optical path of one type of signal light having a wavelength different from that of the control light in seven different directions by an optical control method. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device comprising a corresponding optical control type optical path switching device,
An optical signal transmitting / receiving device arranged on the transmission side and outputting the signal light;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
6 control light sources that output the control light of 6 different wavelengths for each stage;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmission / reception device on the transmission side and the control light source via an electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs the six types of control light and one type of the signal light;
With
Among the three stages of the light control type optical path switching device, in the first stage and the second stage,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from a previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
The control light of six types of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the stage, the control light and the signal light of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching apparatus at the stage and thereafter. A duplexer that separates
A distributor for distributing the control light having a wavelength for controlling the light control type optical path switching device in the subsequent stage, separated by the branching filter, to seven;
The light control type optical path switching device at the relevant stage switches the optical path in seven different directions, and further distributes the signal light that travels along the optical path to the subsequent stage, and the light control type at the relevant stage. 7 multiplexers for mixing the control light having a wavelength for controlling the optical path switching device and guiding it to the optical path,
Of the three-stage light control type optical path switching device, in the third stage,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from a previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
A demultiplexer for separating the control light of six types of wavelengths from the signal light for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the stage,
In the optical control type optical path switching device at this stage, the optical paths are switched in seven different directions by using the control light of six types of wavelengths output from the duplexer, and these seven optical paths The optical signal transmitting / receiving device is connected to each of
An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device. Two-stage one-to-two correspondence that switches the optical path of one type of signal light having a wavelength different from that of the control light in two different directions using two control lights having different wavelengths for each stage. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device including an optical control type optical path switching device,
An optical signal transmitting / receiving device arranged on the transmission side and outputting the signal light;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
Two control light sources that output the control light of two types of wavelengths for each stage;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmission / reception device on the transmission side and the control light source via an electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs the control light of two types of wavelengths and one type of the signal light,
At each stage of the light control type optical path switching device in two stages,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from the previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
A demultiplexer for separating the control light for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the stage from the control light and the signal light having a wavelength for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the subsequent stage; ,
In order to control the light control type optical path switching device in the subsequent stage, and the signal light that is switched in the two different directions by the light control type optical path switching apparatus in the stage and further travels the optical path to the subsequent stage. A multiplexer for mixing the control light having a wavelength of
An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device. At each stage, six control lights having different wavelengths are used, and a three-stage one-to-seven method for switching the optical path of one type of signal light having a wavelength different from that of the control light in seven different directions by an optical control method. An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device comprising a corresponding optical control type optical path switching device,
An optical signal transmitting / receiving device arranged on the transmission side and outputting the signal light;
One or more optical signal transmitting and receiving devices arranged on the receiving side;
6 control light sources that output the control light of 6 different wavelengths for each stage;
An electronic control device for controlling the operation of the optical signal transmission / reception device on the transmission side and the control light source via an electronic control wiring;
A multiplexer that mixes and outputs the six types of control light and one type of the signal light;
With
Of the three-stage light control type optical path switching device, the first stage and the second stage,
An optical path for propagating the signal light and the control light output from a previous-stage multiplexer on the same path;
The control light of six types of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching device at the stage, the control light and the signal light of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching apparatus at the stage and thereafter. A duplexer that separates
A distributor for distributing the control light having a wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device in the subsequent stage, separated by the duplexer, in a number smaller than 7;
One or more receiving-side optical signal transmitting and receiving apparatuses connected to a part of the optical path of the signal light whose optical path is switched by the optical control type optical path switching apparatus;
The optical path is switched in seven different directions by the light control type optical path switching device, and further, the control of the wavelength for controlling each of the signal light traveling on the optical path to the subsequent stage and the optical control type optical path switching device in the subsequent stage A plurality of multiplexers for mixing light and guiding it to the optical path,
An optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device. The signal light is light having a wavelength included in a range of 1500 to 1600 nm, and the control light is light having a wavelength included in a range of 1260 to 1400 nm, and light having different wavelengths is used in a wavelength multiplexing manner every 5 nm.
The optical path switching type optical signal transmission / reception device according to any one of claims 7 to 9. When N is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2, N control lights having different wavelengths are used to control one or more types of signal light having different wavelengths from the control light by an optical control method. An optical path switching method that combines light control type optical path switching devices that switch an optical path in (N + 1) different directions in M stages,
When K is M × N, the control light source of K types of wavelengths is blinked in a predetermined time in order to guide the signal light to the target optical path of the signal light,
In each of the M stages,
Propagating the signal light and the control light in the same optical path,
Mixing control lights of K types of wavelengths and introducing them to the optical path,
When L is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M, control light of N types of wavelengths for controlling the light control type optical path switching device in the L stage is used as the light control type optical path after the L stage. Demultiplexing the control light of the wavelength for controlling the switching device and the signal light,
By turning on the control light of any one of the N types of control lights for controlling the light control type optical path switching device of the L stage, the optical path of the L stage signal light is changed to N types of directions. Switch to one of the
Distributing the control light having a wavelength for controlling the optical control type optical path switching device after the L-stage after the demultiplexing to (N + 1) pieces,
RL is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to (N + 1), and the optical path of the signal light whose optical path has been switched in the L-th stage is connected to RL optical signal transmitting and receiving apparatuses to perform transmission and reception.
Each of the signal light whose optical paths are switched in N types of directions by the light control type optical path switching device of the L stage and the light control type after the L stage distributed to ((N + 1) −RL). Combining the control light of the wavelength for controlling the optical path switching device and leading it to the optical path to the next stage,
Selectively switching and connecting the optical path between the optical signal transmission / reception device on the transmission side and the optical signal transmission / reception device on the reception side,
An optical signal switching method for an optical signal.   N is 6, M is 3, K is 18, L is any integer from 1 to 3, RL is any integer from 0 to 7, and the signal light is one kind The method of claim 11, wherein the light control type optical path switching device has a three-stage configuration.   13. The optical path switching of an optical signal according to claim 11 or 12, wherein each of the M-stage optical control type optical path switching devices switches an optical path in a one-to-P correspondence relationship when P is an integer of 2 or more. Method.   14. The optical signal path switching method according to claim 13, wherein P is 2 or 7. The signal light is light having a wavelength included in a range of 1500 to 1600 nm,
The control light is light having a wavelength included in a range of 1260 to 1400 nm, and light having a different wavelength is used in wavelength multiplexing every 5 nm.
12. The method of switching an optical path of an optical signal according to claim 11.

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