Patent ID: 6567581
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A method for separating an optical signal into optical channels, the method comprising the steps of:(a) inputting the optical signal, the optical signal comprising a plurality of optical channels; (b) separating one or more of the plurality of optical channels into a first set of channels and a second set of channels interleaved with the first set of channels from the optical signal using a plurality of separators, wherein the separators are at least partly arranged in a multi-stage parallel cascade configuration; and (c) outputting the separated plurality of channels along a plurality of optical paths, wherein at least one of the plurality of separators outputs a first set of the plurality of optical channels to a first output, wherein at least one of the plurality of separators outputs a second set of the plurality of optical channels to a second output, wherein the first set of the plurality of optical channels is interleaved with the second set of the plurality of optical channels.