PLC-based optical add/drop switch with automatic level control

Author

Hattori, Kuninori ; Fukui, Masaki ; Jinno, Masahiko ; Oguma, Manabu ; Oguchi, Kimio

Author_Institution

NTT Network Innovation Labs., Kanagawa, Japan

Volume

17

Issue

12

fYear

1999

fDate

12/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2562

Lastpage

2571

Abstract

A novel switch configuration for an optical add/drop multiplexer is proposed. By utilizing a certain Mach-Zehnder interferometer both as a component of a double-gate switch and as a level equalizer, we reduced the number of Mach-Zehnder interferometers from five in a conventional switch configuration to three. The add/drop switch simultaneously provides high-isolation switching and polarization-independent automatic level control. The use of planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology enables this switch to be fabricated with three thermooptic switches (TOSWs) and a monitor tap. High isolation of more than 44 dB and automatic level control accuracy of better than 0.3 dB are achieved. Bit error rate (BER) measurements confirmed switch´s usability in the optical add/drop multiplexer

Keywords

Mach-Zehnder interferometers; electro-optical switches; integrated optoelectronics; level control; multiplexing equipment; optical communication equipment; thermo-optical effects; wavelength division multiplexing; Mach-Zehnder interferometers; PLC-based optical add/drop switch; automatic level control; automatic level control accuracy; bit error rate measurements; double-gate switch; h-Zehnder interferometer; high-isolation switching; level equalizer; monitor tap; optical add/drop multiplexer; planar lightwave circuit; polarization-independent automatic level control; switch configuration; thermooptic switches; Add-drop multiplexers; Bit error rate; Equalizers; Level control; Optical add-drop multiplexers; Optical interferometry; Optical polarization; Optical switches; Programmable control; Switching circuits;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.809678

Filename

809678