JPH04322597A - Optical exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the cost, to reduce power consumption, to make the exchange small and to increase number of output ports. CONSTITUTION:A routing information optical generating section 11a consists of a laser diode array. Plural routing information lights whose wavelength differs from that of an information field light are synthesized onto the information field light of a prescribed wavelength at am information synthesis section 12a, and the resulting cell light radiates to a 1st switch section 3a. Only the information field light radiating a read face corresponding to the area in which the routing information light is written is extracted. The routing information light whose incidence into a 1st switch section is interrupted is synthesized onto the information field light. The synthesized light is made incident in a 2nd switch section 3b. Only the information field light radiating a read face corresponding to the area in which the routing information light is written radiates to desired output ports OUT1-OUT6.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switching device for exchanging high-speed asynchronous optical signals in the form of light by utilizing the high-speed and wide-band characteristics of light in the field of communications.

0002

[Prior Art] The applicant has conventionally proposed that this type of device
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-216132 (Patent Application No. 1-36363)
We proposed what is described in the following issue.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of this conventional optical switching device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the optical routing information generating section in FIG. 2.

In the figure, 1 indicates a plurality of ports IN1 to
Input port with IN4, 2 with multiple ports OUT
1 to OUT4, 3 is the information feed
This is a switch unit that switches the communication path of the optical IF.

The input port 1 includes a routing information light generating section 11 that generates routing information lights RI (λ1 to λ4) each having a different wavelength λ, and an information field that is propagated through a communication path. Routing information light RI of a predetermined wavelength is multiplexed to the optical IF and output to a predetermined port IN1 as cell light CL.
- IN4 are provided with an information synthesis unit 12 that outputs the information.

As shown in FIG. 3, the routing information light generating sections 11 are each individually provided and each has a different wavelength λ.
Laser diodes LD1 to L that oscillate at 1 to λ4
D4, and wavelength monitors WM1 to W that monitor the wavelengths of the output lights of the laser diodes LD1 to LD4, respectively.
temperature controllers TC1 to TC4 that control the laser diodes LD1 to LD4 to constantly oscillate at predetermined wavelengths λ1 to λ4, respectively, based on the monitoring results of the wavelength monitors WM1 to WM4; and a routing information modulator RM that modulates the signals LD1 to LD4.

The switch section 3 includes a spatial light modulator (SLM).
) 31, a wavelength filter group 32, and an analyzer 33.

[0008] The spatial light modulation element 31 is of a transmission type.
Information field light I with wavelength λ0 as read light input from one side (writing side) through input port 1
F is transmitted to the other side, but at this time, the information field light IF that has entered the incident area of the routing information light RI with wavelengths λ1 to λ4 as the writing light changes its polarization state. Specifically, the light is transmitted through the analyzer 33 in a polarized direction that can be transmitted. On the other hand, the information field light IF incident on the area where the routing information light RI is not incident is transmitted while maintaining its polarization state.

The wavelength filter group 32 includes the spatial light modulator 3
1 writing surface is divided into four stages, each with a different passing wavelength band (λ1
~λ4) bandpass wavelength filters 32-1 to 32
-4, and the wavelength λ1 corresponding to the pass wavelength band
The routing information light RI of ~λ4 and the information field light IF of wavelength λ0 are transmitted to the spatial light modulator 3.
A predetermined area of the writing surface of No. 1 is irradiated. Note that each of the ports OUT1 to OUT4 of the output port 2 corresponds to the arrangement position of the wavelength filters 32-1 to 32-4.

The analyzer 33 detects an information field whose polarization direction has been changed out of the light transmitted through the spatial light modulation element 31.
Each port O of output port 2 transmits only the led light IF.
It is made incident on UT1 to OUT4.

In such a configuration, when outputting the information field optical IF from, for example, port IN1 of input port 1 to desired port OUT2 of output port 2, the input port In the information combining unit 12 of 1, a rule is added to the information field optical IF of wavelength λ0 that has been propagated through the communication path.
Laser diode LD2 of the optical information generating section 11
The routing information light RI of wavelength λ2 generated by is multiplexed and irradiated to the wavelength filter group 32 of the switch unit 3 as cell light CL.

At this time, the wavelength λ0 constituting the cell light CL
The information field optical IF is a full wavelength filter 32-1.
.about.32-4 and enters one surface (writing surface) of the spatial light modulator 31. On the other hand, the routing information light RI having the wavelength λ2 passes only through the wavelength filter 32-2 and enters a corresponding predetermined region of the spatial light modulation element 31.

In the spatial light modulation element 31, only the information field light IF incident on the area into which the routing information light RI is incident is subjected to the polarization direction changing action, and the routing information light RI is not incident thereon. information feed incident on an area where
The led light IF is not subjected to the effect of changing the polarization direction.

The information feed transmitted through the spatial light modulation element 31
The field light IF then enters the analyzer 33, but only the information field light IF whose polarization direction has been changed is transmitted therethrough. Therefore, the wave is guided only to port OUT2 of output port 2 provided corresponding to wavelength filter 32-2.

In the configuration of FIG. 2, if the spatial light modulator 31 is of a type that maintains its state for a while after being written by the writing light, that is, one that has a so-called memory function, the routing information light RI becomes All you have to do is apply it as a pulse before the information field optical IF.
This becomes a so-called header, and together with the information field optical IF and the routing information optical RI, the cell optical CL is constructed. On the other hand, when using a spatial light modulation element that does not have a memory function, it is necessary to continue providing the routing information light RI until the information field light IF finishes passing through the spatial light modulation element.

As described above, the optical switching device shown in FIG. 2 can efficiently self-routing exchange an extremely large number of high-speed, asynchronous communication media transmitted as optical signals in an optical communication network in the form of optical signals. be able to.

[0017]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, each of the output ports 2 and OUT
Since the routing information light RI with wavelengths λ1 to λ4 corresponding to OUT4 is generated by the individually provided laser diodes LD1 to LD4, a temperature control device is required for each laser diode LD1 to LD4. TC1
~TC4 had to be installed. For this reason,
This has the drawbacks of increasing the size of the device, as well as increasing cost and power consumption.

Furthermore, each wavelength filter 32-1 to 32-4
Laser diode L that oscillates at a wavelength suitable for the set wavelength of
Since D must be selected, the laser diode L
Not only does the yield of D become extremely low, but it also has the disadvantage of imposing restrictions on the set wavelength and the production of wavelength filters. For example, even when arranging wavelengths at regular intervals to form an information field optical IF, selecting a laser diode LD becomes a big problem. It requires extremely complicated time and effort to prepare for each wavelength.

[0019] Furthermore, in the conventional device, since the communication path is exchanged by combining one routing information optical RI with respect to the information field optical IF, the output port The disadvantage is that the number is limited to the number of wavelengths of the routing information light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an optical switching device that can achieve lower cost, lower power consumption, and smaller size, as well as increase the number of output ports. Our goal is to provide the following.

[0021]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 provides an optical switching device for exchanging communication paths of information field light using routing information light.
a routing information light generating section configured by a diode array and generating a plurality of routing information lights having different wavelengths from the information field light and mutually different wavelengths; an information combining section that combines the routing information light generated by the section with the information field light and emits it as cell light; A spatial light modulation element that changes the polarization state of the information field light and reflects or transmits it, and a cell light routing device that changes the polarization state of the information field light. Information on the state of polarization when the routing information light is irradiated onto a predetermined region of the writing surface of the element, the information field light is made incident on the readout surface of the spatial light modulator, and the writing surface is irradiated with the information field light. and a switch section consisting of means for emitting only field light.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical switching device for exchanging communication paths of information field light using routing information light, which comprises a laser diode array;
a routing information light generation unit that generates a plurality of routing information lights having different wavelengths from the information field light and different wavelengths from each other; an information combining section that combines at least two different routing information lights with an information field light and emits it as a cell light; A spatial light modulation element that changes the polarization state of the information field light and reflects or transmits it, and a cell light routing device that changes the polarization state of the information field light. Information on the state of polarization when the routing information light is irradiated onto a predetermined region of the writing surface of the element, the information field light is made incident on the readout surface of the spatial light modulator, and the writing surface is irradiated with the information field light. a first switch section comprising a means for emitting only field light along a predetermined optical path; and a routing information light whose incidence on a predetermined area of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator in the first switch section is blocked. change the optical path of the first
an optical path changing/combining means for combining the information field light emitted from the switch section, and a polarization state of the information field light irradiated onto the reading surface according to the irradiation state of the routing information light onto the writing surface. A spatial light modulation element that changes reflection or transmission, and routing information of the multiplexed light by the optical path changing/multiplexing means, passes through a predetermined area that is different for each wavelength, and a predetermined area on the writing surface of the spatial light modulation element. At the same time, the information field light is made incident on the readout surface of the spatial light modulation element, and only the information field light in the polarization state when the routing information light is irradiated onto the writing surface is irradiated with a predetermined polarization state. and a second switch section consisting of means for emitting light along an optical path.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the spatial light modulator is constituted by a spatial light modulator whose input surface has a PIN structure of GaAs and whose light modulating section is made of ferroelectric liquid crystal.

Further, in claim 4, the laser diode
The door array was composed of an image-emitting laser diode array.

[0025]

[Operation] According to claim 1, in the information combining section, the information field light of a predetermined wavelength propagated through the communication path is
The routing information light generated by one of the laser diodes of the laser diode array constituting the routing information light generation section and having a wavelength different from that of the information field light is combined to generate the cell light. The light is irradiated onto the switch section. At this time, the information field light constituting the cell light is guided to the readout surface.

On the other hand, the routing information light having a predetermined wavelength is irradiated and written onto a predetermined region of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator, which is set corresponding to the wavelength. As a result, only the information field light irradiated onto the readout surface corresponding to the area where the routing information light has been written is subjected to the effect of changing the polarization state and is emitted to the communication path corresponding to the writing area.

According to claim 2, the information combining section uses a laser diode array constituting the routing information light generating section for the information field light of a predetermined wavelength propagated through the communication path. A plurality of routing information lights, each having a different wavelength, generated by a plurality of laser diodes are combined and irradiated to the first switch portion as cell light. At this time, the information field light that makes up the cell light is
guided to the readout surface.

On the other hand, the routing information light having a predetermined wavelength is irradiated and written onto a predetermined region of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator, which is set corresponding to the wavelength. As a result, only the information field light irradiated onto the reading surface corresponding to the region where the routing information light has been written is subjected to the effect of changing the polarization state and is emitted onto the optical path corresponding to the writing region.

On the other hand, the routing information light whose incidence on the writing surface of the spatial light modulator in the first switch section is blocked is changed, and the optical path is changed and the routing information light is emitted from the first switch section. The combined light is combined with the information field light that has been generated, and this combined light is input to the second switch section.

In the second switch section, the information field light constituting the combined light is guided to the readout surface. On the other hand, the routing information light having a predetermined wavelength is irradiated and written onto a predetermined region of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator, which is set corresponding to the wavelength. As a result, only the information field light irradiated onto the readout surface corresponding to the area where the routing information light is written is subjected to the effect of changing the polarization state and is emitted to the desired communication path.

Further, according to claim 3, the spatial light modulation element is constructed as a transmission type, and the spatial light modulation element is provided with a routing information light as a writing light and an information field as a readout light. The light is incident from the same surface side, and the information field light that has entered the incident area of the routing information light is subjected to the effect of changing the polarization state and is emitted from each switch section.

Furthermore, according to claim 4, routing information light having equally spaced wavelength differences can be stably and easily obtained.

[0033]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an optical switching device according to the present invention, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 showing a conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals.

In other words, 1a is the input port, 2a is the port
3a is a first switch section, 3b is a second switch section, 4 is an optical path branching section, 5 is a reflected return light optical path changing section (hereinafter referred to as an optical path changing section); 6 is an optical multiplexing section. In this configuration, from the input port 1a toward the output port 2a, the optical path branching section 4, the optical path changing section 5, the first switch section 3a, the optical multiplexing section 6, and the second switch section 3b are arranged in this order. It is placed. below,
The configuration and functions of each part will be explained in order according to the order of arrangement.

In this embodiment, a combination of lights of a plurality of wavelengths is used as the routing information light RI. That is, there is not one routing information light RI, but in this example, two wavelengths λi and λj are combined. Also, Figure 1 shows only one input port as seen from the side; in reality, similar to Figure 2, several identical ports are lined up in the direction perpendicular to the drawing, depending on the number of input ports. There is.

The input port 1a has a plurality of ports IN in the vertical direction of the drawing, and has routing information for generating routing information lights RI (λ1 to λ4) each having a different wavelength λ. A plurality of different wavelengths λi, λj (
The information combining section 12a combines and multiplexes the routing information lights RI of i, j=1 to 4, i≠j, and outputs the combined signals to a predetermined port IN as a cell light CL.

The routing information light generating section 11a is shown in FIG.
As shown in , a laser diode array LDA in which semiconductor lasers LD1 to LD4 oscillating at different wavelengths λ1 to λ4 are monolithically constructed on the same substrate BD;
A wavelength monitor WM monitors the wavelength of the output light of the laser diode LD1, and a substrate is installed so that the laser diodes LD1 to LD4 always oscillate at predetermined wavelengths λ1 to λ4, respectively, based on the monitoring results of the wavelength monitor WM. It is composed of a temperature control device TC that controls the temperature of the BD, and a routing information modulation device RM that modulates each laser diode LD1 to LD4.

In such a configuration, by controlling the temperature of the entire substrate BD, all the laser diodes LD1
~LD4 changes wavelength in almost the same way. Therefore, if each LD matches the set wavelength in the reference temperature state, if the wavelength of some of the light (λ1 in Fig. 4) is monitored and controlled, all the laser diodes can be used. LD1 to LD4 are controlled.

FIG. 5 also shows the routing information light generating section 1.
It is a figure which shows the other structural example of 1a. In this configuration, a semiconductor laser LDc is separately provided for monitoring on the same substrate BD. Normally, when manufacturing a monolithic laser array or the like, it is easy to increase the number of lasers by one. Therefore, by providing a laser diode LDc, monitoring the wavelength λc of its output light, and controlling the temperature of the substrate BD, a stable output can be obtained, and the routing information light RI has no loss in light quantity. This is advantageous in terms of device manufacturing conditions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a surface emitting laser diode array that can be applied as a laser diode array LDA. Note that this example shows the case of three wavelengths.

In this device, the quantum active region QWA (QW AC) is slightly oblique to the SBS surface of the GaAs substrate.
This technique utilizes the fact that the cavity length (CAVITY LENGTH), which determines the oscillation wavelength, changes depending on the spatial position. As a result, each wavelength of the array laser element differs by a value Δλ corresponding to (proportional to, in this configuration) the positional interval Δx.

By using this element, wavelengths λ1, λ2 to λn of each routing information light RI can be set at intervals of Δλ, and wavelength settings for port addresses and wavelengths can be set at intervals of Δλ.
Controlling the diode LD becomes extremely easy. In other words, by using an element with such a configuration, for example, a plurality of laser diodes L that oscillate at certain equally spaced wavelengths can be used.
Since D can be obtained monolithically in an array on the same substrate by almost the same process, it can be applied as the laser diode array LDA in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 also show the information synthesis section 12.
An example of the configuration of a is shown. In the example of FIG. 7, the information synthesis unit 12
a is the wavelength λ1 ~ emitted from each laser diode LD1 ~ LD4 of the routing information light generating section 11a.
One element 12 in which a routing information light RI of λ4 and an information field light IF of wavelength λ0 are provided corresponding to ports.
The configuration is such that the waves are combined at 1. As this multiplexing element 121, a combination of wavelength filters, a diffraction grating, a microlens array, a holography element, etc. can be applied.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 8, the information synthesis section 12a is
A first optical multiplexer 122 that multiplexes each routing information light RI emitted from each laser diode LD1 to LD4 of the routing information light generator 11a, and a first optical multiplexer 122 that multiplexes each routing information light RI emitted from each laser diode LD1 to LD4 of the routing information light generator 11a, and the multiplexed routing information. It consists of a second multiplexing section 123 that multiplexes the optical RI and the information field optical IF.

As the first multiplexing section 122, for example, similar to the above multiplexing element 121, a combination of wavelength filters, a diffraction grating, a microlens array, a holography element, etc. can be applied. 2 combining section 12
As the filter 3, for example, an interference film filter can be applied.

Wavelength λ0 of information field light IF and rule
When the wavelength bands of the information lights λ1 to λ4 are different, it is often difficult to design elements uniformly for light of different wavelengths, so it is desirable to adopt the configuration shown in FIG. .

The optical path branching section 4 is arranged vertically in the drawing so that the cell light CL from the input port 1 can be irradiated over the entire writing surface of the first switch section 3a or the second switch section 3b. For example, it branches into eight parts. In addition, in the drawing, it seems that when the optical path is split into four and transmitted through the optical path changing part 5, each part is divided into two, making a total of eight pieces, but these are finally divided into six parts of the second switch part 3b, which will be described later. The wavelength filters 32b-1 to 32b-6 may be irradiated uniformly including the middle.

The optical path changing unit 5 converts the cell light CL branched by the optical path branching unit 4 into a wavelength filter group 32a attached to the writing surface of the spatial light modulator 31a of the first switch unit 3b.
The routing information light is uniformly irradiated over the entire wavelength filter group 32a, and the routing information light reflected by each of the wavelength filters 32a-1 to 32a-4 of the wavelength filter group 32a is guided to the optical multiplexer 6.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of the optical path changing section 5. FIG. In the example of FIG.
a polarizing beam splitter 51 that reflects the routing information light (return light) with wavelengths λi and λj reflected by the cell light CL in a direction perpendicular to the incident direction of the cell light CL; The transmitted cell light CL is transmitted while maintaining its polarization state and is incident on the wavelength filter group 32a, and the light reflected by the wavelength filter group 32a is
For example, a Faraday rotation element or a ferroelectric liquid crystal element 52 and a polarizing beam splitter 51 rotate the polarization direction of the polarizing information light by 90 degrees and make it enter the polarizing beam splitter 51.
The total reflection mirror 53 makes the routing information light, which is the return light reflected by the mirror, enter the optical multiplexing section 6.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 10, the optical path changing section 5 is
The wavelength filter group 3 of the first switch section 3a can be used without using a polarizing beam splitter or a Faraday rotation element.
The light incident surface of each wavelength filter 32a-1 to 32a-4 of 2a is arranged at a predetermined angle, for example, 45 degrees, with respect to the direction of incidence, and the reflected routing information light is transferred to an optical multiplexing section. A total reflection mirror 53 is provided to make the light incident on the light beam 6.

The first switch section 3a, like the switch section 3 in FIG. The analyzer 33a is arranged on the transmission side of the light modulation element 31a.

The spatial light modulator 31a transmits the information field light IF of wavelength λ0 as read light input from one surface (writing surface) side through the optical path changing section 5 to the other surface side. , wavelength λi as writing light,
The information field light IF that has entered the incident region of the routing information light RI of λj is changed to a polarization direction that can be transmitted through the analyzer 33a, and is transmitted therethrough. On the other hand, the information field light IF incident on the area where the routing information light RI is not incident is transmitted while maintaining its polarization state.

FIG. 11 shows the spatial light modulator 31a (31b).
) shows an example of the configuration. In FIG. 11, GLS is a glass substrate, ITO1 to ITO3 are transparent electrodes, and FLC
is a ferroelectric liquid crystal. This element is a transmissive spatial light modulator, and the writing light WL (routing information light RI) and the reading light RL (information field light IF) are transmitted from the same surface.
is incident, and if writing light is present, the polarization of the read light is modulated and output. in particular,
The GaAs PIN portion serves as a light receiving section, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal FLC serves as a modulation element. The wavelength band that GaAs absorbs and reacts with is used for routing information light, and GaAs
By allocating the wavelength band in which s is transparent to information field light, it can be used as a transmission type.

The wavelength filter group 32a is attached to the writing surface of the spatial light modulator 31a so as to divide the writing surface into four stages, each having a different pass wavelength band (
λ1 to λ4) band-pass wavelength filters 32a-1 to
32a-4, the routing information light RI with wavelengths λ1 to λ4 corresponding to the passing wavelength band and the wavelength λ
Transmits information field light IF of 0, and non-transparent rule
Teing information reflects light.

Of the light transmitted through the spatial light modulation element 31a, the analyzer 33a transmits only the information field light IF whose polarization direction has been changed, and makes it enter the optical multiplexing section 6. The optical multiplexing unit 6 multiplexes the information field light IF with the wavelength λ0 that has passed through the first switch unit 3a and the routing information light RI with wavelengths λi and λj guided through the optical changing unit 5. and enters the second switch section 3b. Since the wavelengths to be combined are different, this optical multiplexing section 6 can be configured using a wavelength filter, and can also be configured using a polarization beam splitter using polarized light.

The second switch section 3b, like the first switch section 3a, includes a spatial light modulator 31b, a wavelength filter group 32b consisting of six stages of wavelength filters 32b-1 to 32-6, and an analyzer. 33b, and by a predetermined switch operation, the information field light IF of wavelength λ0 is transmitted to each port OUT1 to OUT6 of the predetermined output port 2a.
emit to.

Among these, the wavelength filter group 32b is
The reason why the 6-stage configuration is used instead of the 8-stage configuration is when λi=λj as a combination of wavelengths of the routing information light RI, that is, (λ1, λ1), (λ2, λ2
), (λ3, λ3), and (λ4, λ4) are impossible. Each wavelength filter 32b-
The transmission wavelengths of 1 to 32-6 are λ2, λ4, λ3 in order.
, λ1 , λ4 , λ1 . In addition,
Each port OUT1 to OUT6 of the output port 2a is
This corresponds to the arrangement position of the wavelength filters 32b-1 to 32b-6.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described as a combination of wavelengths of the routing information light RI (λ2, λ3
) is used to guide the information field optical IF from a certain input side port to the output side port OUT3.

First, in the information combining section 12 of the input port 1a, the routing information light generating section 11a converts the information field light IF of wavelength λ0 propagated through the communication path into
Routing information light R with wavelengths λ2 and λ3 generated by laser diodes LD2 and LD3
I is multiplexed and input into the optical path branching section 4 as cell light CL. The light is branched into eight parts by the optical path branching part 4, enters the optical path changing part 5, and is further irradiated onto the wavelength filter group 32a of the first switch part 3a.

At this time, the wavelength λ0 constituting the cell light CL
The information field optical IF is a full wavelength filter 32-1.
~ 32-4 and enters one surface (writing surface) of the spatial light modulator 31. On the other hand, the routing information light RI with the wavelength λ2 is transmitted only through the wavelength filter 32-2, and the routing information light RI with the wavelength λ3 is transmitted through the wavelength filter 32-2.
A spatial light modulator 31a that transmits only 3 and corresponds to
is incident on a predetermined area of .

In the spatial light modulation element 31a, only the information field light IF incident on the region into which the routing information light RI is incident is subjected to the polarization direction changing action, and the routing information light RI is not incident thereon. The information field light IF that has entered a region where there is no polarization is not affected by the change in polarization direction. The information field light IF that has passed through the spatial light modulator 31 then enters the analyzer 33, and only the information field light IF that has undergone the action of changing the polarization direction is transmitted therethrough.

On the other hand, among the wavelength filter group 32a of the first switch section 3a, the routing information light of the wavelength λ3 incident on the wavelength filter 32a-2 and the routing information light of the wavelength λ2 incident on the wavelength filter 32a-3 The information light is reflected by each wavelength filter and guided to the optical multiplexing section 6 via the optical path changing section 5.

In the optical multiplexing section 6, the wavelength λ0 transmitted through the arrangement position of the wavelength filter 32a-2 of the first switch section 3a is
Routing information light of wavelength λ3 via the information field light IF and the optical path changing unit 5 and the first switch unit 3
The information field light IF with the wavelength λ0 and the routing information light with the wavelength λ2 transmitted through the arrangement position of the wavelength filter 32a-3 of a are combined, and these combined lights are combined with the wavelength of the second switch section 3b. The filter group 32b is irradiated with light.

Of the multiplexed light that has entered the second switch section 3b, only the multiplexed light that has entered the wavelength filter 32b-3, while both the information field light and the routing information light have entered the spatial light modulation element 31b. incident. Therefore, only this information field light passes through the second switch section 3b, and is output to the output port 2 provided corresponding to the wavelength filter 32b-3.
The wave will be guided to port OUT3 of a.

As explained above, according to this embodiment,
Since the routing information light generating section 11a is constituted by the laser diode array LDA fabricated on the same substrate BD, by simply controlling the temperature of this substrate BD, the laser diodes LD1 to LD1 on the substrate BD can be The wavelength of all LD4s can be controlled in the same way. Therefore, the temperature control device T
In addition to being able to greatly simplify Class C, it is also possible to achieve lower prices, lower power consumption (for temperature control), and smaller size.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a surface-emitting laser array as shown in FIG. easy to use. Furthermore, a wavelength monitor that can faithfully monitor wavelength conditions can be easily installed. This is because, as shown in FIG. 5, it is easy to add a laser diode LD for wavelength monitoring and control as a manufacturing process. Substantially all of the wavelengths of the routing information light RI can be monitored and controlled at this single wavelength point, and the routing information light RI can be monitored without reducing the amount of light, which is advantageous for loss design of optical systems such as switch parts. That is, it becomes easy to set the wavelength used for the routing information optical RI and to manufacture the laser diode LD.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since a switching operation is performed by combining a plurality of (two in this embodiment) routing information light RIs each having a different wavelength with respect to the information field light IF, Compared to the conventional system in which one optical information beam is multiplexed, the number of output ports can be increased, and efficiency can be improved.

In this embodiment, four wavelengths λ1 to λ4 are used as the wavelengths of the routing information light RI, and six ports OUT1 to OUT6 are set as the output ports 2a. The number 6 is determined from the combination of selecting two (the number of wavelengths assigned to the information field optical IF) out of four: 4C2 = 6. However, it may be difficult to use when you want to output to multiple ports at the same time. For example, if you want to send signals from output ports OUT1 and OUT5 at the same time, the wavelength for port OUT1 (λ1,
λ2 ) and the wavelength for port OUT5 (λ3 , λ4
), the wavelength (
λ1, λ2, λ3, λ4), which includes all combinations and is output to all ports. In such a case, there is a problem with this configuration as it is, but in any case, if the one-to-one ratio is the main one and wavelengths are used effectively, such multiple (two in this example) Multi-stage configurations with switches are available. In this case, it is important to prepare a plurality of wavelengths at the same time, so the configuration of the present invention is particularly effective.

[0069]

As explained above, according to claim 1, the optical routing information generating section, which was impractical due to the high price, high power consumption, and large size in the conventional device configuration, can be replaced with a low-cost, low-power consumption system. Can be realized with low power and small size.

Further, in claim 2, since the switching operation is performed by combining a plurality of routing information lights each having a different wavelength with respect to the information field light, one routing information light is multiplexed. The number of output ports can be increased compared to the conventional one, and efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to claim 3, a transmission type switch section can be constructed, high-speed switching operation can be realized, the drive system can be simplified, and the device can be downsized.

Further, according to claim 4, it becomes easy to set the wavelength to be used for the routing information light and manufacture the laser diode, thereby reducing the cost, and the control system of the routing information light generating section can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an optical switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of a conventional optical switching device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional optical routing information generating section.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a routing information light generation section according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the optical routing information generating section according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a laser diode array according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information synthesis section according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the information synthesis section according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an optical path changing section according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the optical path changing section according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a spatial light modulation element according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a...Output port 11a... Routing information light generation section 12a...Information synthesis section 2a...Output port 3a...first switch section 3b...Second switch section 4...Optical path branching part 5... Optical path changing section 6...Optical multiplexing section

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: An optical switching device for exchanging communication paths of information field light using routing information light.
a routing information light generating section configured by a diode array and generating a plurality of routing information lights having different wavelengths from the information field light and mutually different wavelengths; an information combining section that combines the routing information light generated by the section with the information field light and emits it as a cell light; A spatial light modulation element that changes the polarization state of the information field light and reflects or transmits it, and a cell light routing device that changes the polarization state of the information field light. Information on the state of polarization when the routing information light is irradiated onto a predetermined region of the writing surface of the element, the information field light is made incident on the readout surface of the spatial light modulator, and the writing surface is irradiated with the information field light. 1. An optical switching device comprising: a switch section comprising means for emitting only field light. 2. In an optical switching device for exchanging communication paths of information field light using routing information light,
a routing information light generating section configured by a diode array and generating a plurality of routing information lights having different wavelengths from the information field light and mutually different wavelengths; an information combining section that combines at least two routing information beams having different wavelengths generated by the section with an information field beam and emits the cell beam as a cell beam; A spatial light modulator that changes the polarization state of the information field light irradiated onto the readout surface and reflects or transmits it, and a cell light routing device by the information combining section.The information light passes through a predetermined region that is different for each wavelength. and irradiate a predetermined region of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator, and at the same time, the information field light is made incident on the readout surface of the spatial light modulator, and the routing information light is irradiated onto the writing surface. a first switch section comprising a means for outputting only the information field light in the polarization state along a predetermined optical path; and a means for blocking the light from entering a predetermined area of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator in the first switch section; The rule that was
an optical path changing/combining means for changing the optical path of the routing information light and combining it with the information field light emitted from the first switch section; A spatial light modulator that changes the polarization state of the irradiated information field light and reflects or transmits it, and the routing of the combined light by the optical path changing/combining means. ,
A predetermined region of the writing surface of the spatial light modulator is irradiated, information field light is made incident on the readout surface of the spatial light modulator, and the polarization when the routing information light is irradiated onto the writing surface is determined. 1. An optical switching device comprising: a second switch section comprising means for emitting only information field light in a wave state along a predetermined optical path. 3. The spatial light modulation element has an input surface of Ga.
3. The optical exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the optical switching device has an As PIN structure and the optical modulating section is constituted by a spatial light modulator made of ferroelectric liquid crystal. 4. The optical exchange device according to claim 1, wherein said laser diode array is constituted by an image-emitting laser diode array.