Patent ID: 8190025
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A wavelength selective switch for switching wavelengths from one or more optical signals, the signal comprising one or more optical wavelengths, each constituting a work piece, the wavelength selective switch comprising: a plurality of fiber ports arranged in a fiber port array; a dispersive element operable with said plurality of fiber ports to separate at least one optical signal into a plurality of wavelength components; a plurality of optical elements operable with said plurality of fiber ports, wherein said plurality of optical elements further comprises at least three cylindrical lenses positioned in front of said dispersive element, wherein at least two of said at least three cylindrical lenses has power in a switching plane and at least one other of said at least three cylindrical lenses has power in a dispersive plane; said plurality of optical elements further comprises at least one spherical lens positioned in back of said dispersive element, wherein said at least one spherical lens has power in both said switching plane and said dispersive plane; and a switching element operable with the plurality of wavelength components and controllable to guide a selected one of the plurality of wavelength components to a selected one of said plurality of fiber ports, wherein said at least two of said at least three cylindrical lenses, said at least one spherical lens, and said switching element affects an optical properly of at least one optical signal in said switching plane, and wherein said at least one other of said at least three cylindrical lenses, said at least one spherical lens, and said dispersive element affects an optical properly of said at least one optical signal in said dispersive plane, said switching plane being generally orthogonal to said dispersive plane.