Apparatus and method for reducing the number of control elements for crosstalk reduction devices in an optical switching network

An apparatus and method for reducing the number of control elements for crosstalk reduction devices in an optical switching network is disclosed. Crosstalk reduction devices are partitioned into two mutually exclusive groups based on a binary address of the crosstalk reduction device. By successively changing the bits within the destination address of the active signal path within the network, two mutually exclusive groups of crosstalk reduction devices is generated and one control signal is sufficient to operate the devices. The apparatus of the invention comprises a switching module having input channels and output channels, the switching network arranged in a tree topology comprising a first plurality of switching elements adapted to fan-out, said first plurality of switching elements coupled to said input channels; a plurality of crosstalk reduction devices coupled to said first plurality of switching elements, said crosstalk reduction device operable in a passing state and a blocking state; a second plurality of switching elements adapted to fan-in to said output channels, said second plurality of switching elements coupled to said crosstalk reduction devices; and a control signal coupled to each of said plurality of crosstalk reduction devices, said control signal adapted to selectively enable the passing state and the blocking state of said crosstalk reduction device.