Patent ID: 7286764
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
1. An optical add and drop multiplexer system comprising: a. a first module for providing a first input signal and receiving a first output signal; b. a second module for providing a second input signal and receiving a second output signal; c. a fixed diffraction grating configured to produce a first set of component signals from the first input signal and a second set of component signals from the second input signal; d. a mirror configured to reflect the second input signal from the second module to the diffraction grating and to reflect component signals to be received by the second module from the diffraction grating to the second module; and e. a modulator using controllable diffraction for receiving the first and second sets of component signals, wherein corresponding component signals in the first and second sets are received at a same location on the modulator, each said location being configured to actuate between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein each said location reflects a component signal of the first set to the first module and a corresponding component signal of the second set to the second module when a location is in the first configuration, and diffracts the component signal of the first set to the second module and the corresponding component signal of the second set to the first module when the location is in the second configuration, and further wherein one of the first and second configurations comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces being in a first plane, and another of the first and second configurations comprises every other one of the plurality of reflective surfaces being in the first plane and a remainder of the plurality of the reflective surfaces being in a second plane.