Patent ID: 7236704

Claim:
A switchless optical add/drop module (OADM), comprising: a first variable optical splitter (VOS) for splitting a composite optical signal comprising a plurality of channels into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions each comprise the plurality of channels; a first multi-channel variable optical attenuator (MCVOA) optically coupled to the first VOS, wherein the first MCVOA blocks dropped channels of the first portion, transmits express channels of the first portion, and balances power levels of each of the transmitted express channels of the first portion; a second VOS optically coupled to the first MCVOA opposite to the first VOS for combining the transmitted express channels of the first portion and added channels; and a second MCVOA optically coupled to the first VOS, wherein the second MCVOA blocks express channels of the second portion, transmits dropped channels of the second portion, and balances power levels of each of the transmitted dropped channels of the second portion, wherein the second MCVOA comprises at least one input fiber, a lens optically coupled to the at least one input fiber, a diffraction grating optically coupled to the lens at a side opposite to the at least one input fiber, at least one output fiber optically coupled to the lens at the side opposite to the diffraction grating and a plurality of movable rods residing at the side of the lens opposite to the diffraction grating wherein the plurality of movable rods is capable of intercepting a variable portion of a light traversing through the lens.