Patent ID: 7092594

Claim:
A wavelength selector switch comprising: a first optical input port to which a first wavelength-multiplexed light beam with a first polarization angle is input; a second optical input port to which a second wavelength-multiplexed light beam with a second polarization angle is input; a first optical output port; a second optical output port; a first refracting plate that refracts the second wavelength-multiplexed light beam at a refraction angle; an optical splitter that spatially splits into a plurality of wavelength components the first wavelength-multiplexed light beam and the second wavelength-multiplexed light beam refracted, respectively; a first optical system that changes the wavelength components into parallel light beams; a polarization controller that selectively changes a polarization angle of each of the parallel light beams between the first and second polarization angles, and passes the parallel light beams; a second optical system that condenses the parallel light beams which are passed through the polarization controller; an optical coupler that multiplexes into a third wavelength-multiplexed light beam the parallel light beams condensed; and a second refracting plate that refracts wavelength components, of the third wavelength-multiplexed light beam, having the second polarization angle at a refraction angle to direct the wavelength components having the second polarization angle to the second optical output port and to direct wavelength components, of the third wavelength-multiplexed light beam, having the first polarization angle to the first output port.