Patent ID: 6188509
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
A bidirectional wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) add/drop amplifier module for transmitting a wavelength division multiplexed signal (WDMS) in both forward and reverse directions and for adding/dropping a signal in both the forward and the reverse directions at each node in a WDM network system, the WDM module comprising:bidirectional signal add/drop means using a single N.times.N multiplexer; andbidirectional signal amplifying means connected to said signal add/drop means in series,wherein said N.times.N multiplexer has a channel structure that comprises, at each side, a WDMS input end, a WDMS output end, at least two separated signal input ends, and at least two separated signal output ends, at least one of said separated signal input ends being designated as an added signal input end, and at least one of said separated signal output ends being designated as a dropped signal output end, said separated signal output ends, except for said dropped signal output end, being connected to said separated signal input ends at the same side.