Patent ID: 7123793

Claim:
An optical architecture comprising first and second arrayed waveguide gratings, a modulator array, a plurality of optical waveguides, and at least one broadband light source, wherein: said plurality of optical waveguides are configured to define an optical input and an optical output; said broadband light source is coupled to said optical input and is configured to define a target wavelength band and a bypass wavelength band; said first arrayed waveguide grating is configured to demultiplex an optical signal propagating in a downstream direction from said optical input to said first arrayed waveguide grating; said modulator array is configured to modulate wavelengths of said target wavelength band and pass wavelengths of said bypass wavelength band without modulation; said modulator array is further configured to permit selective modulation of demultiplexed components of said optical signal propagating in said downstream direction from said first arrayed waveguide grating; and said second arrayed waveguide grating is configured to multiplex said demultiplexed and selectively modulated optical signal propagating in said downstream direction from said modulator array and direct said multiplexed optical signal to said optical output.