ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the advanced switching devices and focuses on photonic devices. The wavelength conversion technology is rapidly changing, so one challenge is to identify the next breakthrough technology. The architecture is well-known, but the paper also includes very advanced experimental results in addition to the hardware technologies. The 4x4 switch integrates an optical gate, realized by an optical amplifier and a 1:4 splitter, and a 4:1 multiplexer, realized as a silica waveguide. The flip chip technique is used to realize a compact hybrid optical switch module. Temperature insensitive add/drop filters and wavelength tunable lasers are indispensable devices for future optical networks. The AWG technique on planar-type lightwave circuits is an important breakthrough technology since optical functions can be integrated into an integrated circuit.
