Patent ID: 6754413
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical wavelength demultiplexer adapted to perform wavelength demultiplexing of an input optical signal containing a plurality of wavelengths, the demultiplexer comprising:a wavelength selective element adapted to act upon the input optical signal to produce an output containing a selected subset of the plurality of wavelengths; a band-modulo demultiplexer having a free spectral range, the band-modulo demultiplexer being connected to receive the output of the wavelength selective element, the free spectral range defining a plurality of FSR (Free Spectral Range) bands; wherein the wavelength selective element is operable over a range spanning at least two different FSR bands of the band-modulo demultiplexer; wherein wavelength selective element is adapted to produce the output containing the selected subset consisting of an arbitrary subset of wavelengths from the plurality of wavelengths subject to a constraint that no two wavelengths in the arbitrary subset are separated by a multiple of the free spectral range; wherein the wavelength selective element comprises a bank of components which are individually selectable, each component being adapted to select a respective contiguous set of wavelengths.