Wavelength division switching system with reduced optical components using optical switches

Abstract From the Canadian patent

In a wavelength division switching system having m1 inlet highways and m2 outlet highways, m1 splitters are coupled respectively to the inlet highways to split each multiplex signal into m2 x n output signals for coupling to respective inputs of m2 x n optical switches. Each optical switch is responsive to a switching control signal for coupling one of its inputs to one of m2 x n tunable wavelength filters capable of passing one of n different wavelengths, in response to a wavelength selecting signal, to one of m2 x n fixed wavelength converters which are organized into m2 groups. These wavelength converters provide conversion of the input signals so that the converted wavelength is unique …