Abstract: An optical packet network system of a ring type, capable of preventing degradation of an optical signal, can be implemented by providing a mechanism relatively simple in structure, capable of erasing light noise if the optical packet signal does not exists. In the optical packet network system made up by interconnecting respective nodes adjacent to each other, and connecting a sending source of an optical packet signal to a ring, a light noise removal function block is provided between the respective nodes adjacent to each other.

Abstract: An optical communication apparatus includes an erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier for amplifying a modulated optical signal, wherein a light which is not modulated is inputted to the erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier together with the optical signal.

Abstract: An address recognition apparatus may include a first normalizing unit, a second normalizing unit and an address determination unit. The first normalizing unit normalizes a first electric signal and generates a first normalized signal, wherein the first electric signal is associated with a first divided set of optical packet signals. The second normalizing unit normalizes a second electric signal and generates a second normalized signal, wherein the second electric signal is associated with a second divided set of optical packet signals. The address determination unit refers to the first and second normalized signals and determines whether a destination address of a set of optical packet signals is identical to or different from an address allocated to a self-station associated with the address recognition apparatus, wherein the set of optical packet signals has been divided into the first and second divided sets of optical packet signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical switch may include an optical waveguide, a first electrode, and a first reflector. The optical waveguide may include a branching point, a first incoming path and first and second outgoing paths. The first electrode is provided at the branching point to give carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point reflects an optical signal that is propagating through the first incoming path so that the reflected optical signal propagates through the second outgoing path. The first electrode may give no carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point allows the optical signal to transmit through the branching point and propagate through the first outgoing path. The first reflector is provided on the first outgoing path. The first reflector reflects a leakage of light that has propagated from the branching point.

Abstract: Disclosed is a repeater including: a recognizing unit to recognize a destination address of an optical packet from the optical packet which includes the destination address assigned in unit of bit and a bit indicating whether or not a plurality of destination addresses are assigned; an optical splitting unit to split the optical packet into a plurality of optical packets; and selecting units to select transmission channels for the split optical packets on the basis of recognition results by the recognizing units, respectively.

Abstract: An optical amplification apparatus includes an optical amplification medium which has an input end and an output end, and amplifies an optical signal by a predetermined amplification rate; a first light source for launching excited light which excites the optical amplification medium; an isolator connected to the output end of the optical amplification medium; and a second light source for launching idle light which has a predetermined wavelength and is launched into the optical amplification medium from a point between the optical amplification medium and the isolator. The optical amplification medium, the first light source, the isolator, and the second light source are contained in the package of the optical amplification apparatus. The apparatus may further include a set of an optical absorption member for absorbing the idle light and an circulator connected to the input end of the optical amplification medium, or an input-side isolator connected to the input end of the optical amplification medium.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical switch may include an optical waveguide, a first electrode, and a first reflector. The optical waveguide may include a branching point, a first incoming path and first and second outgoing paths. The first electrode is provided at the branching point to give carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point reflects an optical signal that is propagating through the first incoming path so that the reflected optical signal propagates through the second outgoing path. The first electrode may give no carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point allows the optical signal to transmit through the branching point and propagate through the first outgoing path. The first reflector is provided on the first outgoing path. The first reflector reflects a leakage of light that has propagated from the branching point.

Abstract: There is provided a light signal processing device. The light signal processing device includes a label recognition circuit and an electro-absorption optical switch. The label recognition circuit includes: a plurality of photodiodes coupled to each other in parallel; a resonant tunneling diode coupled in series with the photodiodes; and a data buffer coupled to a connection point between the photodiodes and the resonant tunneling diode. The label recognition circuit is adapted to latch an optical bit signal inputted into the photodiodes. The electro-absorption optical switch is driven directly by an output signal outputted from the label recognition circuit.

Abstract: An optical logic device performs a logic operation on a plurality of input light signals. The optical logic device has a photoelectric conversion portion, in which photoreceivers for receiving input light signals are provided in parallel, that outputs an electric signal obtained by adding up outputs of the photoreceivers, and a comparator that compares a voltage level of the electric signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion portion with a predetermined voltage level.

Abstract: There is provided a PD-TIA module that can be used for recognition of an address of an optical packet signal in a system having variation in mark rate all the time, such as an optical packet communication system. An optical communication module comprises a photoelectric converter for converting an optical signal into a current signal, a current/voltage conversion means connected to the photoelectric converter, for converting the current signal into a voltage signal, and a limiting amplifier for receiving and amplifying an electric signal subjected to voltage conversion by the current/voltage conversion means while comparing the electric signal as amplified with a predetermined threshold value, thereby outputting a signal for “0” or “1”.

Abstract: An optical switch changes over transmission paths of an optical signal by a refractive index change. The optical switch has an optical waveguide layer having an optical waveguide whose output path of an optical signal branches into two, and reflection diffusing ditches which are provided in a portion outside the optical waveguide in the optical waveguide layer, wherein the portion is closed to a branch portion of the optical waveguides. The reflection diffusing ditches extend in a direction crossing a traveling direction of the optical signal.

Abstract: A light signal switching apparatus has an input port and output ports, and outputs an output light from a desired output port. The apparatus has a splitter polarizing an input light into first and second polarized light whose polarization planes are different mutually by 90 degrees, a first polarization controller rotating a polarization plane of the second polarized light by 90 degrees to output a third polarized light, a first optical switch switching a path of the first polarized light to the desired output port side, a second optical switch switching a path of the third polarized light to the desired output port side, a second polarization controller rotating a polarization plane of the first polarized light by 90 degrees to output a fourth polarized light, and a combiner combining the third polarized light with the fourth polarized light, to output a combined light to the desired output port.

Abstract: An optical switch in which the adverse effect of heating can be restrained is realized.

Abstract: There is provided a PD-TIA module that can be used for recognition of an address of an optical packet signal in a system having variation in mark rate all the time, such as an optical packet communication system. An optical communication module comprises a photoelectric converter for converting an optical signal into a current signal, a current/voltage conversion means connected to the photoelectric converter, for converting the current signal into a voltage signal, and a limiting amplifier for receiving and amplifying an electric signal subjected to voltage conversion by the current/voltage conversion means while comparing the electric signal as amplified with a predetermined threshold value, thereby outputting a signal for “0” or “1”.

Abstract: An optical communication apparatus includes: an erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier for amplifying a modulated optical signal, wherein a DC (direct current) light which is not modulated is inputted to the erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier together with the optical signal.

Abstract: An address recognition apparatus may include a first normalizing unit, a second normalizing unit and an address determination unit. The first normalizing unit normalizes a first electric signal and generates a first normalized signal, wherein the first electric signal is associated with a first divided set of optical packet signals. The second normalizing unit normalizes a second electric signal and generates a second normalized signal, wherein the second electric signal is associated with a second divided set of optical packet signals. The address determination unit refers to the first and second normalized signals and determines whether a destination address of a set of optical packet signals is identical to or different from an address allocated to a self-station associated with the address recognition apparatus, wherein the set of optical packet signals has been divided into the first and second divided sets of optical packet signals.

Abstract: An optical packet network system of a ring type, capable of preventing degradation of an optical signal, can be implemented by providing a mechanism relatively simple in structure, capable of erasing light noise if the optical packet signal does not exists. In the optical packet network system made up by interconnecting respective nodes adjacent to each other, and connecting a sending source of an optical packet signal to a ring, a light noise removal function block is provided between the respective nodes adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a repeater including: a recognizing unit to recognize a destination address of an optical packet from the optical packet which includes the destination address assigned in unit of bit and a bit indicating whether or not a plurality of destination addresses are assigned; an optical splitting unit to split the optical packet into a plurality of optical packets; and selecting units to select transmission channels for the split optical packets on the basis of recognition results by the recognizing units, respectively.

Abstract: An optical AND element includes a semiconductor laser having a plurality of saturable absorption regions on an optical waveguide, electrodes of the saturable absorption regions being separated from each other, and a light inputting section for inputting light into the respective saturable absorption regions.

Abstract: An optical switch has an input port, output ports, optical waveguides whose output path of an optical signal branch into two. A first stage optical switch section is provided in a branching portion of the optical waveguide, which switches a propagating path of an optical signal to a path leading to the desired output port. A subsequent stage optical switch section is provided in a branching portion of the optical waveguide subsequent to the first stage optical switch section, which switches a propagating path of a leakage light, which is leaked from the first stage optical switch section, to a path which does not propagates the leakage light to any of the output ports. The first stage optical switch section and the subsequent stage optical switch section switch a path of an optical signal according to a refractive index change caused by a carrier injection.