JPH0265524A - Switching device for optical signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a conventional mechanical moving part and to realize high switching speed, long service life and high reliability by converting plural optical signals into electric signals once, selecting one of them and converting the selected and outputted into an optical signal. CONSTITUTION:Optical signals propagated through four incoming side optical fibers 1a-1d and radiated from the ends of the fibers are converted into electric signals by relevant optoelectric conversion sections 2a-2d each comprising a photodetector APD and an amplifier circuit AMP and fed respectively to switches 3a-3d in an electric signal selection section 3. A control circuit 3e in the electric signal selection section 3 selectively closes only one of the four switches 3a-3d according to the combination of binary signals fed respectively to each of input terminals 3f, 3g, 3h of 3 selection commands, the passing electric signal is fed to an electrooptic conversion section 4 comprising driving circuit 4a and a light emitting diode 4b via a post-stage wired-OR connection part, converted into an optical signal and radiated to an outgoing optical fiber 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical signal switching device used in optical communication systems and the like.

(Prior art) In an optical communication system, when selecting any one of multiple optical signals transmitted through multiple optical fibers on the input side and inputting it into the optical fiber on the output side. , a mechanical light switch is used. Such mechanical optical switches are composed of optical elements such as prisms and reflectors, and electromagnets that drive them.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The conventional mechanical optical switch described above has a problem in that the response speed is limited by the mechanically movable parts, making it difficult to increase the speed of networks such as optical LANs.

Another problem is that the mechanically movable parts inevitably wear out, resulting in a shortened lifespan.

Further, there is a problem that reliability is low because dust is likely to adhere to mechanically moving parts, malfunction or damage occurs due to vibration or impact, and increase in passing loss occurs due to fogging or staining of optical elements.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An optical signal switching device according to the present invention includes a plurality of systems of optical/electrical converters that convert optical signals incident from each of a plurality of optical paths on the input side into electrical signals, and an electrical signal selection section that selects and outputs one of the plurality of electrical signals output from each of the optical/electrical conversion sections; It is equipped with an electrical/optical converter that emits light into the optical path, and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, switches it, and then converts it back into an optical signal, eliminating the need for conventional mechanical moving parts and improving response speed. It is configured to achieve high speed, long life, and high reliability.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be explained in detail together with examples.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical signal switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing its appearance, with la, lb, and lc.

1d is the input optical fiber, 2a, 2b, 2c
.

2d is an optical/electrical converter, 3 is an electrical signal selector, 4 is an electrical/optical converter, 5 is an output optical fiber, 6 is an input terminal of a DC power supply, and 7 is a housing.

4 optical fibers on the input side], the optical signals propagated through a to ld and emitted from each end are connected to corresponding optical/electrical conversion circuits each consisting of a photodetector APD and an 11M amplifier circuit AMP. The signals are converted into electrical signals in the sections 2a to 2d, and supplied to the switches 33 to 3d in the electrical signal selection section 3, respectively.

The control circuit 3e in the electric signal selection section 3 selects four switches 33 to 3d according to the combination of binary signals supplied to the three selection command input terminals 3f, 3g, and 3h, respectively.
selectively conducts only one of them. The electrical signal that has passed through one of the four switches 3a to 3d is supplied to the electrical/optical converter 4, which is comprised of a drive circuit 4a and a light emitting diode 4b, via a wired-OR connection section at a subsequent stage. This electrical signal is converted into an optical signal in this electrical/optical converter 4, and is input into the optical fiber 5 from the end thereof on the output side.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, the optical signal switching device according to the present invention includes a plurality of optical/electrical conversion units that convert optical signals entering from each optical path on the input side into electrical signals; An electrical signal selection section that selects and outputs one of the plurality of electrical signals output from each of these optical/electrical conversion sections, and an output section that converts the selected and output electrical signal into an optical signal. Since the structure includes an electric/optical converter that emits light onto the optical path, conventional mechanically movable parts are not required.

As a result, faster switching speed, longer device life, and higher reliability are realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical signal switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing its appearance. l a, l b, l c, l d ・-・
Input side optical fibers, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d;
・Optical/electrical conversion section, 3... Electrical signal selection section, 3a-3
d...Electric switch, 3e...M control circuit, 3f~3
h... Input terminal for selection command, 4... Electrical/optical converter, 5... Output optical fiber, 6... Input terminal for DC power supply, 7... Housing. Patent applicant: Nippon Electric Engineering Co., Ltd. Representative: Patent attorney: Toshihiko Sakurai

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of systems of optical/electrical converters that convert optical signals incident from each of a plurality of optical paths on the input side into electrical signals, and a plurality of systems that output from each of these optical/electrical converters. It includes an electrical signal selection section that selects and outputs one of the electrical signals, and an electrical/optical conversion section that converts the selected and output electrical signal into an optical signal and outputs it to an output optical path. An optical signal switching device characterized by: