Patent ID: 8644705

Claim:
A re-configurable optical de-multiplexer, comprising: a wavelength selective switch configured to receive a plurality of input channels and route a first subset of input channels to an output port and a second subset of input channels to an internal port, the wavelength selective switch being re-configurable such that a pathway for each input channel may be selected and changed; and a wavelength division de-multiplexer configured to receive the second subset of input channels and separate each of the second subset of input channels to a different output channel port, wherein the wavelength selective switch includes a wavelength dispersive element, a lens, and a steering device, and wherein the steering device comprises a plurality of elements that are individually controlled, each individual element includes an angled-back reflective element having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, and the angled-back reflective element is configured to direct a first polarized beam to the first reflective surface and a second polarized beam to the second reflective surface.