公开(公告)号：US09405070B1

公开(公告)日：2016-08-02

申请号：US14713284

申请日：2015-05-15

Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.

Inventor： Guilhem de Valicourt ,  Carlo Ferrari

IPC: G02B6/28 ,  G02B6/12 ,  H01S3/067 ,  G02F1/01 ,  G11C21/00

CPC classification number: G02B6/2861 ,  G02B6/12004 ,  G11C13/04 ,  G11C21/00 ,  H01S3/06754 ,  H01S5/0625 ,  H01S5/1007 ,  H01S5/101 ,  H01S5/5027

Abstract: We disclose an optical buffer having a plurality of optical ports. In some embodiments, an optical signal to be stored may be injected into the buffer through any one of the optical ports and then may be ejected from the buffer, after being stored therein for a selectable amount of time, through any one of the optical ports as well. This feature advantageously enables the optical buffer to also function as an optical switch or router. In an example embodiment, the optical buffer comprises two optical recirculation loops, each of which can store the optical signal by causing it to circulate therein. The buffer is configured to compensate optical losses incurred by the optical signal during this circulation by transferring the optical signal from one loop to the other through an optical amplifier. Due to the latter feature, the optical buffer may be able to store an optical signal, with an acceptable OSNR, for a significantly longer time than certain conventional optical buffers.

Abstract translation: 我们公开了具有多个光学端口的光学缓冲器。 在一些实施例中，要存储的光信号可以通过任何一个光端口注入到缓冲器中，然后可以通过任何一个光端口在缓冲器中存储可选择的时间量之后从缓冲器中弹出 以及。 该特征有利地使得光学缓冲器也可以用作光学交换机或路由器。 在一个示例性实施例中，光学缓冲器包括两个光学循环回路，每个循环回路可以通过使其在其中循环而存储光学信号。 缓冲器被配置为通过光学放大器将光信号从一个环路传送到另一个环路来补偿在该循环期间由光信号引起的光学损耗。 由于后一个特征，光学缓冲器可能能够存储具有可接受的OSNR的光信号比特定的常规光学缓冲器显着更长的时间。