OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE SPECTRAL SWITCH Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC G02B6/35 

FIELD: laser engineering; fiber-optic communication systems; laser systems used in information technology, sensory and managerial aids, and in medicine.

SUBSTANCE: optical waveguide spectral-selective switch has optical spectral demultiplexer and output optical waveguide spatial switch. Any waveguide output of demultiplexer is connected with one waveguide input of switch. Additional input waveguide spatial switch provided with waveguide outputs is disposed at output of demultiplexer. Any switch is connected with one waveguide input of demultiplexer. Output spatial switch has a set of waveguide inputs each of which inputs are connected with inputs of group of waveguide outputs of demultiplexer. Group of selected carrier wavelengths with equidistant spectral lines with interval being multiple of minimal interval in spectrum of carrier wavelengths enters waveguide outputs of demultiplexer. Group of input waveguides of demultiplexer is chosen in such a manner that at switching of spectral-multiplexed light signal from one selected input of demultiplexer to another one, the other group of selected carrier wavelengths enters input waveguides of output switch.

EFFECT: reduced number of switches in selector; reduced light losses; lower heat demands; larger number of selected spectral signals.

2 cl, 4 dwg, 1 tbl