Patent ID: 7277640
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: G02B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical add/drop multiplexing system, comprising: a first optical system, said first optical system including a first series of optical components comprising a first grating, a second grating and a third grating, a first beam/port and a second beam/port, all of said first series of optical components optically aligned with one another; said first grating being capable of separating input optical radiation from said first beam/port into distinct input channels; said second grating being capable of redirecting said distinct input channels; a second optical system, said second optical system including a second series of optical components comprising a fourth grating, a fifth grating and a sixth grating, a third beam/port and a fourth beam/port, all of said second series of optical components optically aligned with one another; a pixellated, switchable grating, said pixellated, switchable grating having a plurality of pixels, each of said pixels having a controllable state, said controllable state having at least two state values, one of said at least two state values corresponding to substantially transmitting an incident beam; another one of said at least two state values corresponding to substantially diffracting said incident beam; said pixellated, switchable grating being interposed optically between said first optical system and said second optical system; said second grating being capable of redirecting said distinct input channels towards said pixellated, switchable grating and being capable of substantially redirecting at least a portion of said distinct input channels towards said third grating; said at least a portion of said distinct input channels being incident on at least one pixel from said plurality of pixels; said at least one pixel being in said one of said two state values; said third grating being capable of recombining said at least a portion of said distinct input channels for output into said second beam/port; at least another portion of said distinct input channels being capable of being diffracted; and means operably connected to said pixellated grating for controlling the state of each of said pixels; wherein a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed signals which pass through said first optical system and said second optical system can be individually exchangeable between said first optical system and said second optical system based upon the state of said pixels as said signals pass through said pixellated grating.