Patent ID: 7725027

Claim:
A multi-unit wavelength dispersing device comprising: a first input port for launching a first multiplexed optical input beam including a plurality of wavelength channels; one or more first output ports for outputting one or more of the plurality of wavelength channels from the first optical input beam; a first switching lens having a first optical axis for converting a lateral displacement corresponding to a position of the first input port relative to the first optical axis into an angular displacement relative to the first optical axis, and for converting an angular displacement of an outgoing optical beam into a lateral displacement corresponding to a position of a selected one of the one or more first output ports; a second input port for launching a second multiplexed optical input beam including a plurality of wavelength channels; one or more second output ports for outputting one or more of the plurality of wavelength channels from the second optical input beam; a second switching lens having a second optical axis for converting a lateral displacement corresponding to a position of the second input port relative to the second optical axis into an angular displacement relative to the second optical axis, and for converting an angular displacement of an outgoing optical beam into a lateral displacement corresponding to a position of a selected one of the one or more second output ports; a main lensing element with optical power, having a central axis, for directing and focusing the first and second input optical beams; a wavelength dispersing element for dispersing the first and second multiplexed optical input beams into constituent wavelength channels; a first array of wavelength channel redirecting elements for independently directing one or more selected wavelength channels from the plurality of wavelength channels in the first optical input beam to a selected one of the one or more first output ports via the main lensing element and the wavelength dispersing element by providing an angular displacement to the one or more selected wavelength channels for conversion by the first switching lens into a lateral position corresponding to the selected first output port; and a second array of wavelength channel redirecting elements for independently directing one or more selected wavelength channels from the plurality of wavelength channels in the second optical input beam to a selected one of the one or more second output ports via the main lensing element and the wavelength dispersing element by providing an angular displacement to the one or more selected wavelength channels for conversion by the second switching lens into a lateral position corresponding to the selected second output port.