Abstract: The device for the phase realignment of ATM cells in an optical ATM switching node is associated with each input line (Fe) of node and includes a circuit for recognizing the beginning of a cell, a circuit for evaluating the time shift between of a cell and a reference instant and for generating an error signal (ER) depending on the amount of time difference, and a delay line for compensating the time difference, driven by the error signal (ER). The time difference compensator means includes a logarithmic optical delay line that is connected upstream of the device for recognizing the beginning of a cell and for evaluating the amount of the time difference.

Abstract: The optical switch for fast cell-switching networks comprises an optical interconnection network (CM) and an electrical control network (CT). In order to fully exploit optical component capabilities and to overcome the constraints imposed by operating speed limits of electronic components, each input (IN1 . . . INk) of the interconnection network (CM) is associated with units (PAC1 . . . PACk) forming aggregates of cells which are to follow a same path through the interconnection network and time-compressing the aggregates, and each output (OU1 . . . OUk) is associated with units (PAD1 . . . PADk) for the time expansion of the aggregates and separation of the aggregate cells.