Patent ID: 6263127
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: G02B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical apparatus comprisingan optical arrayed waveguide router (AWR) for receiving at an input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal having M wavelength channels, M>1, and a one dimensional array of N outputs, 1<N<M, for outputting the WDM signal within the free spectral range (FSR) of the AWR, each output n, where 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.N, including a partially demultiplexed signal having a plurity of wavelength channels n, n +N, n+2N, . . . n+{M/N-1}N of the WDM signal, anda free-space optical wavelength channel demultiplexer for receiving each of the partially demultiplexed signal channels and for producing therefrom M wavelength channels, each of the M wavelength channels being outputted at a different one of M outputs.