Problem 1

Below is an architecture of an optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM). Assume that

there are 4 wave- length channels in a fiber. The OADM shown consists of an optical
multiplexer (MUX), an optical demultiplexer (DMUX), a 66 optical switch, and 2
tunable trans- ponders. (Each transponder contains a tunable transmitter and a
tunable receiver.) Note that this OADM allows the node to drop and add any set of 2
wavelengths.

DMUX MUX
1 1
2 66 2
Input fiber 3 optical 3 Output fiber
4 switch 4

Tunable
transponders 1 2

Suppose that, instead of a 66 optical switch, you only have available 44 switches.
Indicate how you can construct an OADM with the same functionality by drawing a
diagram of your OADM architecture.

Problem 2
Consider a construction of a transparent optical switching node with 3 input fibers and 3 output
fibers shown below. Each fiber has 2 wavelengths. In addition to performing the switching
function, this switching node can also drop and add any single wavelength from any fiber.

DMUX MUX
1 1
Input fiber 2 2 Output
fiber
1 1
optical
2 switch 2
1 1
2 2

Tunable
transponder
Suppose that you only have available 44 switches. Indicate how you can construct a
switch with the same functionality by drawing a diagram of your switching node
architecture. More specifically, draw the structure inside the area with the dashed
boundary in the above diagram.
Problem 3
Consider aconstruction of a transparent optical switching node with 2 input fibers and 2
output fibers as shown below. Each fiber has 2 wavelengths. In addition to performing
the switching function, this switching node can also drop and add any single
wavelength from any fiber.

DMUX
1 1
2 2
1 1
optical
2 switch 2

Fixed transponder 2

(a) Suppose you only have available the following components: fixed optical filters for
1 and 2, passive splitters and combiners (made from optical couplers), 22 optical
switches, and fixed transponders (transmitter and receiver units) for 1 and 2.
Note that you do not have MUXs and DMUXs.

Indicate how you can construct a switch with the same functionality by drawing a
diagram of your switching node architecture. More specifically, draw the structure
inside the area with the dashed boundary in the above diagram. HINT:
Demultiplexing can be done using a splitter followed by optical filters.

(b) What is the drawback of this alternative implementation?

Solution 1

An alternative switching architecture based on 44 switches is shown below. Note that
each tunable transponder can be connected to any wavelength.

The second diagram shows another switching architecture, which actually uses
fewer 44 switches than the first solution!

DMUX MUX
1 1
44
2 2
optical
switch
3 3
Input fiber Output fiber
4 44 4
optical
switch

44 44
optical optical
switch switch

Tunable
transponders 1 2 1st solution

DMUX  MUX
1
2 44 44
3 optical optical
Input fiber Output fiber
4 switch switch

44
optical
switch
Tunable 2nd solution
transponders 1 2
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Solution 2

The node withthe same switching function can be constructed from 44 switches as
follows:

1

optical

2

optical

optical

Tunable
transponder
Solution 3

(a) The node with the same switching function can be constructed from 44 switches as
follows.

Filter 2×2 switch

 1
Splitte 
1
Combine
r 2 2 r
Input Output
fiber 1 1 fiber

2 2

1

2

Fixed transponder

(b) One drawback of the architecture in part (a) is the high power loss resulting from
using splitters and combiners instead of DMUXs and MUXs. Each time the signal
travels through a splitter/combiner, there is at least a 3-dB power loss due to the
property of optical couplers.
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