JP2737926B2 - Optical switch device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is used for a switch device of a communication system.

The present invention relates to an optical switch control method for improving the stability of a photoelectric converter connected to the output side of a switch device.

〔Overview〕

In an apparatus provided with an optical matrix switch of n rows and m columns, one column is a specific row, and idle light is continuously injected into the specific row to such an extent that the photoelectric converter does not react, and connected to the m optical output ports. The operation of the photoelectric converter is stabilized by controlling the switch elements in this specific row so as to give the idle light to the non-selected photoelectric converters.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of space division type optical switch device, the transient response speed to the optical level change of the photoelectric converter connected to the output side of the optical switch device is increased as much as possible, and the optical level change is absorbed. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described optical switch device, the instability of the operation of the photoelectric converter cannot be removed, and the time until this stabilization is on the order of seconds. Therefore, during that time, it is necessary to invalidate the data or provide a switching guard time, and the responsiveness of signal reception is poor. Further, there is a possibility that the leading part of the received signal is cut off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical switch device capable of solving these drawbacks and improving the operation stability of the photoelectric converter.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention provides a space division type optical matrix switch in which optical switch elements are arranged in n rows and m columns, and m optical switches connected to m optical output ports of the optical matrix switch, respectively.
An optical switch device comprising: a plurality of opto-electrical converters; and an optical switch control circuit for individually controlling the optical switch elements, wherein the opto-electrical converter is connected to any one of the n optical input ports of the optical matrix switch. Means for providing an optical idle signal having such an intensity that the device does not respond. The optical switch element of a specific row to which the means for applying the optical idle signal is connected among the optical input ports is connected to the half of the switch in addition to the conduction mode and the open mode. An element provided with a Y-branch mode that is in a conductive state and maintains a state in which the optical idle signal is applied to the photoelectric converter, wherein the optical switch control circuit is configured to control an optical output of the m photoelectric converters. A method of setting the optical switch elements in the specific row to a semi-conducting Y-branch mode so as to provide the optical idle signal to a port not selected as a port. Characterized in that it comprises a.

[Action]

An idle pattern optical signal is given to one of the opto-electric converters connected to the optical output port which is not selected and is in a standby state, and m photoelectric converters are always kept in operation.
As a result, a stable output can be immediately transmitted when an optical signal is input to the photoelectric converter in the standby state.

The optical idle signal is, by way of example, a short optical pulse signal with a very large spacing, whereby the opto-electrical converter does not respond but is kept in a hot standby state. A signal having a continuous pattern of 0 and 1 can be used as the optical idle signal.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the optical switch device 1, the n and the optical input port I ₁ ~I _n, and m-number of light output ports O ₁ ~ O _m is provided between the optical input port and optical output port M × n optical switch elements S _1.1 ... S arranged in n rows and m columns at each intersection
_1.m ... equipped with a S _n.1 ... optical matrix switch 2, including the S _nm. M optical-electrical converters OE ₁ -OE connected to _m optical output ports O ₁ -O _m of the optical matrix switch 2
_m and an optical switch control circuit 3 for controlling m × n optical switch elements. The embodiment shown in FIG.
This is an example applied to an optical switching system in which terminals T _{1 to} T _m are interconnected by an optical switch device 1.

Here, it is an aspect of the present invention, n-number of at least one optical input port I _i of the optical input port I ₁ ~I _n
To, as a means for providing an optical idle signal, and an electro-optical converter EO _i for converting the output of the idle pattern generator 4 Toko for generating an electric signal in a pattern different from the electrical data signals for communication to the idle pattern light signal provided connected to the optical input port I _i. The m optical switch elements S _{i.1 to} S _im of a specific row connected to the optical input port I _i are elements having a Y-branch mode for maintaining a semi-conductive state in addition to a conductive mode and an open mode. The switch control circuit 3 has m
There number of the optical switching elements of a particular row for those that are not selected among the photoelectric switch OE ₁ ~OE _m to be controlled to set the Y separation mode.

That is, FIG. 1 shows a case where the values of m and n are n = m + 1, and m terminals T _{1 to} T _m communicate with each other. Of the m × n optical switch elements S _{1.1 to} S _nm , those other than the optical switch elements S _{i.1 to} S _{im in the} specific row are for communication. The m optical switch elements S _{i.1 to} S _{im in} the specific row _insert idle pattern light into an unselected photoelectric converter. Control signals C ₁ -C _n is the optical switching element is delivered of the optical switch from the optical switch control circuit 3 is controlled. electrical data signals output from the n-1 terminals T ₁ through T _m is converted into the input to the electro-optic converter EO ₁ ~EO _n (EO _i is excluded) optical data signal, an optical input port
Is input to the I ₁ ~I _n. The idle pattern electric signal output from the idle pattern generator 4 is an electro-optical converter EO _i
It is input to and converted into an idle pattern light signal is input to the optical input port I _i. The input optical data signal is exchanged by an optical switch element for communication, and output ports O ₁ to
Of O _m is output to the selected output port, optical communication is performed. The idle pattern optical signal is sent out from each optical output port by performing the Y branch mode control on the photoelectric converter not selected as the communication output by the optical switch element of the specific row. The opto-electric converters not selected in this way are supplied with the idle pattern optical signal and maintain the hot state. Therefore, the optical switch element for communication is switched, and the optical switch operates stably even when the optical signal for communication is rapidly input to the photoelectric converter.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the above embodiment. In this figure,
In three terminals T ₁ through T ₃ of the optical switching system, showing a case where communication is performed between the terminal T ₁ and the terminal T _3. In each of the optical switch elements shown in the figure, a parallel terminal state in a broken-line circle indicates a Y-branch mode. The optical switching element S _1.3 and S _3.1 for communication with bar mode, the other switching elements to the cross mode.
Accordingly type optical data signal light input port I ₃ is the optical electrical converter OE _1, optical data signal light input port I ₁ to the optical electrical converter OE ₃ is input can communicate. Inputting the optical input port optical signal converted into an idle pattern light signal by I _i is generated by the idle pattern generator 4 from the electrical-optical converter EO _i. At this time, the optical switch element S _{i.2 is set} to Y
Idle pattern optical signal to the optical electrical converter OE ₂ is input by a split mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of this embodiment. In this figure, the switch control circuit is omitted, and the solid line indicates the flow of the optical data signal or the idle pattern optical signal.

Figure 3 (a), the terminal T ₁ as shown in Figure 2 and T ₃
DOO is in a call state, are sent to the destination by each optical data signal to be sent to the terminal T ₁ and T ₃ are the optical switch S _1.3 and S _3.1 the cross mode. The optical switch element S is provided in the photoelectric converter OE ₂ which is not selected.
_i.2 is controlled to a Y-branch mode, and an idle pattern optical signal generated from the idle pattern generator 4 and optically converted so as to have a pattern different from the optical data signal is input.

FIG. 3 (b) shows a state where all terminals have stopped communication. In this case, all of the optical switch elements except for S _{i.1 to} S _i.3 are in the bar mode, and the optical switch elements S _i.1
To S _i.3 are in the Y-branch mode, respectively.
Idle pattern optical signal is sent to the E ₁ ~OE _3.

The Figure 3 (c) shows a case where the terminal T ₁ and T ₂ has to communicate.

As described above, all of the optical electrical converter OE ₁ ~OE _3, since constantly optical data signal or idle pattern light signal is always input, when starting communication, switching of the optical switch there is no attenuation of light power due without unstable operation, also stable in the optical data communication operation without the reception signal terminal T ₁ through T ₃ is disordered is performed.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the operation of an opto-electrical converter that is not required to communicate can be stabilized and disturbance of a received signal in a terminal can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the configuration of the above embodiment. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of the above embodiment. 1 ... optical switch device, 2 ... optical matrix switch,
3 ...... optical switch control circuit, 4 ...... idle pattern generator, C ₁ -C _n ...... control signal, EO ₁ ~EO _n ...... electrooptic converter, I ₁ ~I _n ...... input port, O ₁ ~ O _m …… Output port, OE
_{1 to} OE _m ··· photoelectric converter, S _{i.1 to} S _{im ···} optical switch element to be in a mode including Y branch mode, S _{1.1 to} S _nm excluding S _{i.1 to} S _{im ···} optical communication Optical switch element for signal,
T _{1 to} T _m ... terminals.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A space division type optical matrix switch in which optical switching elements are arranged in n rows and m columns, and m photoelectric converters respectively connected to m optical output ports of the optical matrix switch. An optical switch device comprising: an optical switch control circuit for individually controlling the optical switch elements. An optical switch device having an intensity such that the photoelectric converter does not react to any one of the n optical input ports of the optical matrix switch. Means for providing an optical idle signal of the optical input port, the optical switch element of a specific row to which the means for applying the optical idle signal is connected is in a semi-conductive state in addition to the conductive mode and the open mode, and An element provided with a Y-branch mode for maintaining a state in which an idle signal is given to the photoelectric converter; and the optical switch control circuit includes the m photoelectric converters. Means for setting the optical switch elements in the specific row to a semi-conducting Y-branch mode so as to provide the optical idle signal to a switch not selected as an optical output port among the optical switches. Optical switch device.