MULTIPLE OPTICAL CONNECTOR AND OPTICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: electrical communications; spatial broadband switching of telephone and videophone signals, large arrays of multimedia information and data.

SUBSTANCE: spatial channel division connector forms K interconnection matrices and has K x M arrays of optical-signal point sources as well as K x N optical signal receivers disposed in cellular configuration nodes such as two-dimensional arrays of similar step for each coordinate. M + N - 1 to N groups of K x M optical switches are installed between sources and receivers. Switches are disposed on one or more panels similar in geometry to disposition of sources; placed between sources and switches is source image beam splitter incorporating M + N - 1 to N group beam-guiding elements. Optical switch image adder installed between optical switches and receiver has M + N -1 to N group beam-guiding elements. Installed in switching system between arrays of primary sources and receivers are S switching stages (multiple optical connectors); installed at input of first stage, between stages, and at output of last stage are group interstage coupling devices or transparent screens that interconnect stages so that one end of screen/amplifier of stage i + 1 is array of intermediate receivers for stage i and other end is array of intermediate receivers for stage i + 1; stage i forms K(i) interconnection matrices with M(i) inputs and N(i) outputs where either direction or d{i}integration pitchofinputs of M(i) matrix sources into single intercommunication matrix are different for all or most of stages.

EFFECT: enlarged functional capabilities.

3 cl, 5 dwg, 4 tbl