All-optical buffering by using an all-optical threshold function

A novel all-optical method for all-optical buffering is presented. It is demonstrated that an optical packet can be routed all-optically into an optical fiber delay line for buffering in case of potential contention between two optical packets. Crucial in this method is an optical threshold function that is made from two coupled lasers, having more than 45 dB contrast ratio between the output states. The optical threshold function has two functions. First it acts as an arbiter to decide whether a potential collision between two packets takes place. In addition, it controls a wavelength converter switch. The feasibility is verified by experimental results.