optical interconnector containing a clos network multistage in which a matrix of a single step comprising a step clos network.

摘要

An optical cross-connect (OXC) comprising: a plurality (N x M) of input channels (i1 to iM) for through traffic; a plurality (N x M) of output channels (o1 to oM) for through traffic; a first group of optical switching matrices (S1-1 to S1-N) for connecting each input channel traffic step (i1 to iM) to any of 10 output channels traffic (o1 to oM), wherein each input channel traffic step (i1 to iM) is connected to an input of a switching matrix (S1-1 to S1-N) of the first group and each through traffic output channel (o1 to oM) is connected to an output of the switching matrix (S1-1 to S1-N) of the first group; 15 a third plurality (P) of input channels (a1 to aP) for traffic insertion, characterized by each input channel traffic insertion (a1 to aP) being connected to an input of a second group of switching matrices (S2-1 to S2-AD; S2'-1 to S2'-AD), wherein outputs 20 second group of switching matrices are connected to inputs of a third group of switching matrices (S3-1 to S3- 2M-1) and outputs of the third group of switching matrices are connected to inputs of the first group of switching matrices such that the switching matrices of the second, third and first groups form a Clos network 25.