Patent ID: 7522790
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical communications system with selective block/add capability of an optical channel and operable with an input mixed optical beam, comprising: an optical beam separator that receives and separates the input mixed optical beam into a separated optical channel and a remainder optical beam; a block/add unit that receives as an input the separated optical channel and produces as an output a controllably modified separated optical channel, wherein the controllably modified separated optical channel is selectable between the separated optical channel and an add input optical signal, and wherein the block/add unit comprises a mirror that is controllable between a first state in which the controllable mirror does not block the path of the separated optical channel having a first transmitter and a first receiver, so that the separated optical channel is the output of the block/add unit; a second state in which the controllable mirror blocks the path of the separated optical channel, and also reflects the add input optical signal from a second transmitter to said first receiver as the output of the block/add unit, said mirror being adapted for actuation between said first state and said second state by rotation about an edge thereof; and an optical beam combiner that receives the output of the block/add unit and combines the output of the block/add unit with the remainder optical beam.