Patent ID: 7088882

Claim:
A wavelength cross connect comprising: a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically; a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses; a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses; a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses; a first array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses; a second array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses; in a first plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said first plurality of lenses; in a second plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said second plurality of lenses; wherein light entering any of said first plurality of optical ports or said second plurality of ports is switchable to any of the first plurality of optical ports and any of said second plurality of optical ports.