Patent ID: 8300995

Claim:
A wavelength selective switch module comprising: a first plurality of ports comprising M ports and a second plurality of ports comprising N ports, at least one of the ports in the first and second pluralities for providing a multiplexed light beam having K wavelength channels, where K, M, and N are integer numbers greater than one; a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, each of the first and second elements having optical power disposed such that light transmitted to or from the first plurality of ports passes through a common point, and is substantially focused at a first focal plane, the common point optically disposed between the first and second elements having optical power, the first focal plane spatially separated from the common point; a wavelength dispersive element for spatially separating the multiplexed light beam into a plurality of wavelength channel sub-beams; a first switching array including M rows, each row including K switching elements, each switching element in the first switching array for redirecting a different wavelength channel sub-beam incident thereon at a predetermined angle; a second beam relayer for relaying light beams between the first focal plane, the wavelength dispersive element, and the first switching array, the second beam relayer including at least one element having optical power, each of the wavelength dispersive element and the first switching array disposed substantially one focal length away from the at least one element having optical power; and, a second switching array including N switching elements, each switching element in the second switching array for redirecting wavelength channel sub-beams incident thereon at a predetermined angle, the second switching array including an optical by-pass disposed at the common point.