Patent ID: 6657770
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: G02B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
A programmable multiplexer in which K input signals each containing one or more different wavelengths, said K input signals cumulatively containing a total of N different wavelengths, are received from a plurality of K optical input ports and combined at a single output port, comprisinga microlens array that contains K+1 lenses, wherein (a) one lens is aligned with the output port, while the remaining lenses are aligned each to a corresponding input port, and wherein (b) each input signal is collimated by a respective lens in said microlens array, a micro-mirror array containing N tilting micro-mirrors means for directing the resultant collimated beam originating from each input port to be incident on a diffraction grating, which diffracts the optical signal as a function of its wavelength, said diffraction grating being arranged such that each of the separate beams, which has a unique wavelength and therefore distinct propagation angle, propagates to a particular micro-mirror in said micro-mirror array, and means for individually controlling each mirror in the array to reflect the incident beam representing a corresponding wavelength in a desired direction, such that it will be redirected to a single location on the diffraction grating, and coupled from the diffraction grating to the output port through the particular lens in the micro-lens array that is aligned with the output port.