Abstract

The importance of optical signal processing, switching, and multiplexing/demultiplexing in future broadband communication networks has been widely recognized. The huge number of high speed optical signals will be carried by advanced fiber transmission technology such as coherent lightwave systems. Recent progress of laser amplifiers has given researchers an opportunity to exploit new architectures. The power loss due to the many passive elements required for complicated system structures can be minimized by using amplifiers. Nonlinear performances of the laser diodes such as bistability and wavelength conversion characteristics offer a variety of functions, including optical switches, gates, memories, latches, tuned timing oscillators, and wavelength converters. We have developed a photonic access node using bistable laser amplifiers for a "photonic highway" in which signals are processed optically. Drop and insert have been tested with 156-Mbit/s data from/to 622-Mbit/s data streams optically. A prototype optical digital CATV has been developed using the same concept and the desired channel is optically selected from four multiplexed video channel signals.

© 1990 Optical Society of America