US3628022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonblocking selective switching system for optical communication
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-08
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Granted: 1971-12-14
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Expires: 1989-10-08
Abstract
Abstract Carrier beams of coherent light are directed around a closed coupling loop having n terminals coupled thereto by selective light deflectors which divert a different beam from the loop at each terminal. The loop includes n X n spatially dedicated beam paths. Each terminal modulates its carrier beam and directs the modulated beam by way of the terminal deflector to one of n- 1 different paths in the loop for one of the n-1 other terminals. Likewise, the deflector at each terminal directs to its terminal the modulated carrier beams from the n-1 other terminals.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry J Schulte Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/52; H04Q3/526
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In combination, n X n electromagnetic energy beam paths for providing communication channels, n paths for carrier beams for each of n terminals and n(n-1) paths for communication from each terminal to each other terminal, means supplying n electromagnetic energy carrier beams to n predetermined ones of said paths, n beam deflector means, one at each of said terminals, interposed across said n X n paths for diverting different ones of said carrier beams, respectively, to such terminals, means at each of said terminals arranged for modulating such deflected carrier beam and diverting the modulated beam back to the deflector means for such terminal, the latter deflector means including means diverting said modulated carrier beam into a selectable one of n-1 of remaining ones of said paths for transmission to another one of said terminals, and means in each of said deflector means diverting to the corresponding one of said terminals a modulated beam from at least one of the other ones of said terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In combination, n X n electromagnetic energy beam paths for providing communication channels, n paths for carrier beams for each of n terminals and n(n-1) paths for communication from each terminal to each other terminal, means supplying n electromagnetic energy carrier beams to n predetermined ones of said paths, n beam deflector means, one at each of said terminals, interposed across said n X n paths for diverting different ones of said carrier beams, respectively, to such terminals, means at each of said terminals arranged for modulating such deflected carrier beam and diverting the modulated beam back to the deflector means for such terminal, the latter deflector means including means diverting said modulated carrier beam into a selectable one of n-1 of remaining ones of said paths for transmission to another one of said terminals, and means in each of said deflector means diverting to the corresponding one of said terminals a modulated beam from at least one of the other ones of said terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
In combination, n communication terminals each having n-1 spatially dedicated incoming communication paths from other terminals, n-1 spatially dedicated outgoing communication paths to other terminals, and one electromagnetic energy carrier beam path, means at each of said terminals arranged for modulating a carrier beam for such terminal, and means at each of said terminals for deflecting the resulting modulated carrier beam into a selectable one of the n-1 outgoing paths for said terminal for each of said other terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
In combination, n communication terminals each having n-1 spatially dedicated incoming communication paths from other terminals, n-1 spatially dedicated outgoing communication paths to other terminals, and one electromagnetic energy carrier beam path, means at each of said terminals arranged for modulating a carrier beam for such terminal, and means at each of said terminals for deflecting the resulting modulated carrier beam into a selectable one of the n-1 outgoing paths for said terminal for each of said other terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 in which means direct beams in said communication paths into parallel paths in a closed loop in which projections of said paths on a cross section of said loop form a rectangular array of rows and columns of beam path locations, and means couple said carrier beams into said loop in respective additional beam path locations in said array and comprising a diagonal of said array of rows and columns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 in which an optical beam divider is provided to produce multiple beams in a predetermined pattern in response to an incident beam, said multiple beams comprising said electromagnetic energy carrier beams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 in which laser means supply a beam of coherent light to an input of said beam divider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 in which each of said terminals comprises means deflecting said carrier beam for such terminal to an input of said modulation means, and said modulated carrier beam deflecting means comprises means for directing output beams from said modulating means to selectable ones of predetermined beam positions, means controlling said directing means to select one of said positions, and means intersecting all of said positions for directing said output beams therethrough to predetermined ones of said n-1 outgoing paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 in which said directing means are galvanometric means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 in which said means for directing a modulated beam into an outgoing path comprises lens means of cylindrical section format having its concave face toward said deflection means and having its focal point at said deflection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 which comprises in addition, means providing n X n beam communication paths in parallel in a closed loop, and selective beam deflector means at each of said terminals directing a carrier beam and incoming modulated beams from said loop to such terminal and directing said outgoing beams from such terminal into said loop in a single predetermined direction therearound.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination in accordance with claim 9 in which each of said deflector means comprises a member which is transparent to said beams arranged to intersect said loop so that beams in any of said n X n paths are projected thereon at discrete locations, and beam-reflecting means secured to said member at said locations for the carrier beam for such terminal, the n-1 incoming paths, and the n-1 outgoing paths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination in accordance with claim 10 in which adjacent ones of said deflecting means intersect said loop at angles which differ by 90* to compensate for beam refraction in said members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
The combination in accordance with claim 10 in which said member is a gLass sheet, said locations are in a rectangular array of n rows and n columns of locations, and said reflecting means comprises a first strip of reflecting material secured to said sheet over the column of locations having a numerical position in said array corresponding to the numerical position of such station along said loop and a second strip of reflecting material secured to said sheet over the row of said locations having a numerical position in said array corresponding to the numerical position of said terminal along said loop.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination in accordance with claim 12 in which both sides of said glass sheet, with said reflecting means secured thereto, are covered with an antireflective coating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 in which there is provided in addition modulator means for supplying said incident beam, and means for supplying modulating signals to said modulator means for thereby making said modulating signals available to all of said terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 in which each of said communication paths and carrier beam path has transmission characteristics of substantially the same frequency band and bandwidth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 in which each of said n-1 incoming paths is available for communication from only a different one of said other terminals of said n terminals, respectively, each of said n-1 outgoing paths is available for communication to only a different one of said other terminals of said n terminals, respectively, and said one carrier beam path in each terminal is separate from said incoming and outgoing path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-13 | 1975-06-14 | 1975-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-13 | 1979-06-14 | 1979-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-13 | 1983-06-14 | 1983-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |