The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Adrian P Sparks, Essex, GB;
Duncan J Forbes, Herfordshire, GB;
Assignee:
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/26 ; G02B 6/42 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/26 ; G02B 6/42 ;
Abstract
In optical communication switching equipment there is a need to set up optical paths through the switch before there is an optical signal present. The present invention provides an optical switching apparatus comprising: an optical switch having a number of optical paths for switching optical channels; a demultiplexer coupled to said switch; a broadband light source coupled to said demultiplexer which distributes said light in said channels to enable correct alignment of said optical paths.