Patent ID: 6959129
Filing Date: 2005-10-25
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer device comprising: a first input port for coupling a first multiplexed optical signal containing a first plurality of wavelength channels from an optical fiber to an input waveguide; a plurality of first output ports associated with the first input port, each for coupling a channelized signal of said first plurality of wavelength channels from a single corresponding waveguide to an optical fiber; a plurality of second input ports different from said first input port, each for coupling a channelized wavelength signal of a second plurality of wavelength channels from an optical fiber to a single corresponding waveguide, the plurality of input ports being other than the plurality of output ports; a second output port associated with the plurality of second input ports, the second output port for coupling a second multiplexed optical signal containing said second plurality of wavelength channels from an output waveguide to an optical fiber, the second output port being other than the first input port; and, an echelle grating element disposed for separating the first multiplexed optical signal received from the input waveguide into signals within individual wavelength channels and for directing each into a corresponding output waveguide and combining a second plurality of signals within corresponding wavelength channels received from the input waveguides into a second multiplexed optical signal and for providing the second multiplexed optical signal to the output waveguide.