Time/wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (twpon)

Abstract

The present invention discloses a time/wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWPON), which has an optical splitter ( 21 ) and a waveguide grating router (WGR) ( 22 ) disposed at a remote node (RN) ( 20 ). The optical splitter ( 21 ) and the WGR ( 22 ) can be connected in a cascade or in a parallel such that the present invention can use less number of wavelengths to increase transmission capacity or increase the number of users. The TWPON of the present invention can provide TDM-PON, WDM-PON, and Hybrid PON co-existing platform with less wavelengths channel fault monitoring mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A time/wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWPON), which is divided into an optical line terminal, a remote node, and a plurality of optical network units in structure, characterized in that the TWPON comprises:
 an optical splitter for splitting a mixed optical signal, comprising a set of wavelengths that are different from each other, received from the optical line terminal to form multi-way mixed optical signals; and   a multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, coupled to the optical splitter, having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, wherein the input ports respectively receive the multi-way mixed optical signals, and the output ports respectively output wavelength components of each mixed optical signal of the multi-way mixed optical signals to the optical network units, wherein at least two optical network units receive optical signals, which are coded and transmitted with a time-division manner, having the same wavelength component.   
     
     
         2 . The TWPON according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the input ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router receives another mixed optical signal, the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router respectively outputs component signals of said another mixed optical signal to predetermined optical network units. 
     
     
         3 . The TWPON according to  claim 2 , further comprising a wavelength band filter coupled to the optical splitter and the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, the wavelength band filter is utilized to allow merely the mixed optical signal to enter the optical splitter and allow merely said another mixed optical signal to enter one of the input ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router. 
     
     
         4 . The TWPON according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical splitter and the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router are located at the remote node. 
     
     
         5 . A time/wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWPON), which is divided into an optical line terminal, a remote node, and a plurality of optical network units in structure, characterized in that the TWPON comprises:
 a first-stage optical splitter for splitting a received time-division optical signal to form multi-way time-division optical signals;   a multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, coupled to outputs of the optical splitter, having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, wherein the input ports respectively receives the multi-way time-division optical signals, the output ports respectively outputs the multi-way time-division optical signals, and each output port outputs a single time-division optical signal;   a plurality of second-stage optical splitters respectively coupled to the output ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, wherein each second-stage optical splitter is utilized to split the single time-division optical signal outputted from each output port of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router again, and the time-division optical signals split and obtained from the second-stage optical splitters are respectively transmitted to the optical network units; and   a wavelength band filter disposed at a front end of the first-stage optical splitter, wherein the wavelength band filter is utilized to select a mixed optical signal, which comprises a set of wavelengths that are different from each other, from the optical line terminal, and make the mixed optical signal entering one of the input ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, the output ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router respectively output wavelength components of the mixed optical signal to the respective second-stage optical splitters, and each second-stage optical splitter splits the received wavelength component again, wherein at least two optical signals having the same wavelength component received by optical network units are coded and transmitted with a time-division manner.   
     
     
         6 . The TWPON according to  claim 5 , wherein the wavelength band filter is utilized to select another mixed optical signal, which comprises another set of wavelengths that are different from each other, from the optical line terminal and make the another mixed optical signal entering one of the input ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, and the output ports of the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router respectively output component signals of the another mixed optical signal to predetermined optical network units. 
     
     
         7 . The TWPON according to  claim 5 , further comprising a bidirectional transceiver disposed at the optical line terminal for transmitting and receiving the time-division optical signals. 
     
     
         8 . The TWPON according to  claim 5 , wherein the first-stage optical splitter, the multiple-input and multiple-output waveguide grating router, the second-stage optical splitters, and the wavelength band filter are located at the remote node. 
     
     
         9 . A time/wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWPON), which is divided into an optical line terminal, a remote node, and a plurality of optical network units in structure, characterized in that the TWPON comprises:
 an optical splitter for splitting a time-division optical signal received to form multi-way time-division optical signals;   a waveguide grating router, arranged in parallel with the optical splitter, receives a mixed optical signal, which comprises a set of wavelengths that are different from each other, from the optical line terminal and outputs wavelength components of the mixed optical signal; and   a plurality of wavelength band filters respectively disposed between corresponding output ports of the optical splitter and the waveguide grating router, wherein each wavelength band filter is connected to one optical network unit for selecting the time-division optical signal to be transmitted with a time-division manner or selecting one of the wavelength components of the mixed optical signal to be transmitted with a wavelength-division manner.   
     
     
         10 . A time/wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWPON), which is divided into an optical line terminal, a remote node, and a plurality of optical network units in structure, characterized in that the TWPON comprises:
 a first-stage optical splitter for splitting a time-division optical signal received to form multi-way time-division optical signals;   a waveguide grating router, arranged in parallel with the first-stage optical splitter, receives a mixed optical signal, which comprises a set of wavelengths that are different from each other, from the optical line terminal, and respectively outputs wavelength components of the mixed optical signal; and   a plurality of wavelength band filters respectively disposed between corresponding output ports of the first-stage optical splitter and the waveguide grating router; and   a plurality of second-stage optical splitters, connected to the wavelength band filters in a one-to-one relationship, utilized for splitting the time-division optical signals or the wavelength components of the mixed optical signal from the respective wavelength band filters again and then transmitting them to the respective optical network units.