Patent ID: 7853148
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical add/drop multiplexer comprising: a core unit comprising: a first 1×2 optical coupler that receives an input signal and that has two output ports, an M×1 wavelength selective switch that has M input ports, where M is a positive integer and represents the number of inputs, and 1 is the number of outputs, wherein an input port of the M×1 wavelength selective switch is connected to an add unit for adding a channel to the input signal, a through path that is formed by connecting one of the output ports of the first 1×2 optical coupler to one of the input ports of the M×1 wavelength selective switch, and a 1×N wavelength selective switch that has N output ports, and that is connected to one of the output ports of the first 1×2 optical coupler, where 1 is the number of inputs, and N is a positive integer and represents the number of outputs, wherein an output port of the 1×N wavelength selective switch is connected to a drop unit for dropping a signal that has a predetermined wavelength; the drop unit that receives an output from the 1×N wavelength selective switch and outputs a plurality of signals that are formed as a result of demultiplexing; and the add unit that multiplexes signal light that has a plurality of wavelengths, the signal light being added to the M×1 wavelength selective switch.