Optical add/drop multiplexer with reconfigurable add wavelength selective switch
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable WDM add/drop multiplexer operative as an add/drop node on an optical fiber carrying a plurality of WDM signals, said add/drop multiplexer comprising:
- a coupler splitting said WDM signals on said optical fiber, said coupler having an input terminal for connection to said optical fiber, and first and second output terminals for said split WDM signals from said optical fiber;
a demultiplexer element connected to said first coupler output terminal, said demultiplexer separating said split WDM signals at a plurality of drop terminals; and
a wavelength-selective switch having an input terminal for connection to said second coupler output terminal, an output terminal for connection to said optical fiber, said wavelength-selective switch selectively adding WDM signals on a plurality of add terminals responsive to control signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable WDM add/drop multiplexer and its method of operation at an add/drop node on an optical fiber carrying a plurality of WDM signals is described. The WDM add/drop multiplexer has a coupler and a demultiplexer element dropping WDM signals from the optical fiber to a plurality of drop terminals, and a wavelength-selective switch adding WDM signals from a plurality of add terminals onto the optical fiber. The coupler splits the WDM signals received from the optical fiber and passes the split WDM signals to the first and second output terminals. The demultiplexer element separates the split WDM signals at the plurality of drop terminals. The wavelength-selective switch, which has an input terminal for connection to the second coupler output terminal and an output terminal for connection to the optical fiber, selectively adds WDM signals on the plurality of add terminals to the optical fiber responsive to control signals.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable WDM add/drop multiplexer operative as an add/drop node on an optical fiber carrying a plurality of WDM signals, said add/drop multiplexer comprising:
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a coupler splitting said WDM signals on said optical fiber, said coupler having an input terminal for connection to said optical fiber, and first and second output terminals for said split WDM signals from said optical fiber;
a demultiplexer element connected to said first coupler output terminal, said demultiplexer separating said split WDM signals at a plurality of drop terminals; and
a wavelength-selective switch having an input terminal for connection to said second coupler output terminal, an output terminal for connection to said optical fiber, said wavelength-selective switch selectively adding WDM signals on a plurality of add terminals responsive to control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating an add/drop node on a optical fiber carrying a plurality of WDM signals, said method comprising
splitting said WDM signals on said optical fiber into first and second paths; -
separating said WDM signals on said first path at a plurality of drop terminals;
separating said WDM signals on said second path into a plurality of wavelength paths;
simultaneously selectively adding WDM signals on a plurality of add terminals into at least some of said wavelength paths and blocking said separated signals on said at least some of said wavelength paths, responsive to control signals; and
.combining said added WDM signals on said at least some of said wavelength paths and nonblocked separated signals on a balance of said wavelength paths into said optical fiber;
whereby add/drop multiplexer operations are performed on said add/drop node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A reconfigurable WDM add/drop multiplexer operative as an add/drop node on an optical fiber carrying a plurality of WDM signals, said add/drop multiplexer comprising:
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means for splitting said WDM signals on said optical fiber into first and second paths;
means for separating said WDM signals on said first path at a plurality of drop terminals;
means for separating said WDM signals on said second path into a plurality of wavelength paths;
means for simultaneously selectively adding WDM signals on a plurality of add terminals into at least some of said wavelength paths and blocking said separated signals on said at least some of said wavelength paths, responsive to control signals; and
.means for combining said added WDM signals on said at least some of said wavelength paths and nonblocked separated signals on a balance of said wavelength paths into said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification