Patent ID: 7292786

Claim:
A re-configurable optical de-multiplexer, comprising: a wavelength selective switch having an input port for receiving a plurality of input wavelength-division multiplexed channels λ 1 -λ n , an output port, and an internal port, the wavelength selective switch routing a first subset in the plurality of input wavelength-division multiplexed channels λ 1 -λ n to the output port, the wavelength selective switch routing a second subset in the plurality of input wavelength-division multiplexed channels λ 1 -λ n to the internal port, wherein the wavelength selective switch is a 1×2 wavelength selective switch and the wavelength selective switch is re-configurable such that a pathway for each channel can be selected and changed, the wavelength selective switch includes a wavelength dispersive element optically coupled to the input port, the output port and the internal port, a lens optically coupled to the wavelength dispersive element and a polarization steering device having a plurality of independently controlled pixels optically coupled to the lens; and a wavelength division de-multiplexer having an input for receiving the second subset in the plurality of input wavelength-division multiplexed channels λ 1 -λ n and a plurality of output channel ports, the wavelength division de-multiplexer separating each of the second subset in the plurality of input wavelength-division multiplexed channels λ 1 -λ n to a different respective one of the plurality of output channel ports.