Large optical switches

摘要

Abstract: Capacity growth in networks requires optical crossconnect switches that can be assembled incrementally, probably to large ultimate sizes, preferably using identical submodules of small size. Continued strict-sense nonblocking operation must be ensured during expansion, and expandability should have minimal impact on the initial cost. Large ultimate sizes mandate multistage architectures which impose difficulties in the expansion. We discuss the design of optical switching matrices for $GRT 100 $MUL 100 ports using a new modular multistage architecture that focusses on expandability.!3