A photonic wavelength-division switching system using tunable laser diode filters

A photonic wavelength-division switching system using semiconductor tunable wavelength filters is proposed. Wavelength switches and multistage switching networks are used. The potential of 100 wavelength-division channel achievement in switching systems is estimated, based on InP optical integrated circuits. A wavelength network synchronization method is proposed, which will enable the network to utilize such a large number of wavelength-division channels without wavelength misalignment and drift. An eight-channel wavelength-division switching experiment, using phase-shift controlled distributed-feedback laser diodes as tunable wavelength filters, is reported.<
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