Patent ID: 6876475

Claim:
A method for wavelength-selective switching and equalization of an incoming multiplexed signal the method comprising: dispersing a plurality of wavelength components of the incoming multiplexed signal onto separate sections of a first controllable light modulator; controllably deflecting a first set of the wavelength components and controllably reflecting a second set of the wavelength components using the first controllable light modulator; mapping the wavelength components in the second set onto separate sections of a second controllable light modulator; equalizing the wavelength components in the first set by using the first controllable light modulator to control a first order diffraction magnitude for each of the wavelength components in the first set; suppressing the wavelength components in the first set by using the second controllable light modulator; and equalizing the wavelength components in the second set by using the second controllable light modulator to control a zero order diffraction magnitude for each of the wavelength components in the second set.