An experimental photonic ATM switching system using an InP semiconductor optical switch

A prototype of a photonic ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switching system is fabricated and evaluated. It uses a space-division-type optical switch array for switching optical signals. Each of its highways contains two 1.2-Gb/s signals (wavelength division multiplexed), and it has 4*4 optical switch ports. It can realize a total capacity of 9.6 Gb/s. An optical signal format and retiming architecture for bit and cell synchronization are proposed. Measurements of basic characteristics have been made.<
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