Patent ID: 6519059
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
An add/drop optical multiplexing arrangement for dropping at least one channel of an optical multiplexed signal, the arrangement including:a first optical router having a duplicated plurality of output waveguides, said first optical router for demultiplexing said optical multiplexed signal, wherein a first one of said duplicated plurality of output waveguides is used for dropping said at least one channel; a second optical router having a first plurality of input waveguides, wherein respective waveguides of said first plurality of input waveguides are coupled to respective waveguides of a second one of said duplicated plurality of output waveguides, said second optical router for multiplexing channels in said first plurality of input waveguides; and at least one optical attenuator switch connected between one of said coupled waveguides, said at least one optical attenuator switch responsive to a control signal for preventing a channel of said first plurality of channels from reaching said first plurality of input waveguides when said optical attenuator switch is configured in a closed state.