Patent ID: 7027734

Claim:
An optical device comprising: at least a first optical port capable of receiving a first multiplexed signal having channel signals up to N respective wavelengths λ 1 λ 2 . . . λ N ; and a second optical port capable of receiving a second multiplexed signal having channel signals up to M respective wavelengths k 1 k 2 . . . k M ; N variable optical apparatuses, each of the variable optical apparatuses including a first and a second optical channel module, both configured at λ i , wherein λ i is one of the wavelengths λ 1 λ 2 . . . λ N , and i is inclusively between 1 and N, wherein the first optical channel module reflects off all of the signals with wavelengths λ 1 λ 2 . . . λ N , except for the signal with the wavelength λ i and the second optical channel module reflects off all of the signals with wavelengths k 1 k 2 . . . k M and adds the signal with the wavelength λ i to the signals with the wavelengths k 1 k 2 . . . k M , and wherein each of the variable optical apparatuses further includes an optical regulator coupled between the first and second optical channel modules; and wherein the first optical channel module transmits one of the N signals with the wavelength λ i to the optical regulator that regulates the one of the N signals, the second optical channel module couples the regulated signal out of the optical device.