An Improved All-Fiber Cross-Connect Node for Future Optical Transport Networks

In this paper, we briefly review the current state-of-the-art in fiber devices for communication systems and propose some modifications to a previously reported all-fiber optical cross-connect node. These modifications seek to improve the node’s spectral characteristics, modularity, and optical spectral efficiency. Similar recommendations are also made for optical add–drop multiplexers to be used in optical ring topologies. Using the added features, the transmission performance of the modified 2×2 node is analyzed and comparisons are made with the previously reported nodes of the same dimensions. The results indicate a significant improvement in node cascadability performance over the latter case. Further comparisons were carried out to include other types of all-fiber cross-connect nodes, with the modified node again proving to be an overall competitive solution. c © 2001 Academic Press