WEST 120-Gbit/s 3/spl times/3 wavelength-division multiplexed cross-connect

Summary form only given. The emergence of dense wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) networks is stimulating interest in the development of WDM cross-connects. The WEST cross-connect is an optical four wavelength per fiber 3/spl times/3 WDM cross-connect that utilizes high-speed electronics and optoelectronics to implement the core switching function, the transmitters, and the receivers. Applications of this system element include: WDM network cross-connect, OC-48 or OC-192 add/drop network access, bi-directional SONET ring interconnection, large ATM switch synthesis, and distributed computing. The asynchronous electronic switch allows for arbitrary wavelength translation, remote monitoring/control and data regeneration, making it well-suited for application in WDM networks particularly for interexchange cross-connection. This electronic approach reduces problems posed by all optical approaches including erbium-doped fiber amplifier gain flatness, network monitoring, optical nonlinearities, and chromatic dispersion. The WDM cross-connect is divided into two main modules: the transmitter/receiver and the 12/spl times/12 crosspoint switch.