Optical TDM switching architectures with reduced control complexity

Architectures for optical TDM switching with low control complexity, which would be suitable for implementation with lithium niobate switches and fibre delay lines, are discussed. The networks are mathematically equivalent to strictsense nonblocking Cantor networks, and use the same control algorithm. The penalty paid for low control complexity is a large number of components. All such networks use ‘feed-forward’ delay lines which provide superior crosstalk performance and more uniform attenuation than existing designs. Architectures, both with and without frame integrity, are considered; performance is characterised in terms of attenuation and crosstalk.