Hi Pat,..Re:.trying to figure out is whether this is a market SDL will enter, or if it's one they'll augment.
SDLI already has a tunable laser as I understand close to release. Also, since they bought Queensgate, it looks like a good match for having tunable filters as well.
It looks like the use of tunable lasers and filters will allow changes to dedicated channel transmissions without physical reconfiguration. I would guess that SDLI wants to be a major player, especially if it's more cost effective due to less use of optical switches or cross connects. <g>
From the article you posted,
To enable this growth without repeatedly hitting bottlenecks, service providers must be able to assign, and re-assign, wavelengths as needed throughout the network. Laser transmitters that can tune wavelengths to any desired channel are a key element in these future network architectures.
And
In particular, the physical route taken by an optical signal can be altered at the transmitter by simply changing the wavelength and using either passive or tunable WDM filters at each node to determine the signal route.
Assuming there are downstream filters that selectively allow specific wavelengths to pass, then if that wavelength is changed, either the changed signal has to be switched somewhere to another route or the filter has to be changed. Ergo, tunable filters?
This would fit in with the statement below.
Finally, optical switches that allow dynamic rerouting of separate wavelength channels are now being announced
aps.org
So, if dynamic rerouting of a wavelength can be accomplished with a tunable laser, but it can't pass through the fixed filter, or needs an optical switch, a tunable filter seems a perfect solution.
techweb.com
filter
(1) A process that changes data, such as a sort routine that changes the sequence of items or a conversion routine (import or export filter) that changes one data, text or graphics format into another. See also image filter.
(2) A pattern or mask through which only selected data is passed. For example, certain e-mail systems can be programmed to filter out important messages and alert the user. In dBASE, set filter to file overdue, compares all data to the matching conditions stored in OVERDUE.
The interesting part is the possible cost improvement over all optical switches. <g>
Now, I hope you realize I'm probably way off base but that's the way I see it. <g>
Cheers,
Lee |
