A PROGRAMMABLE ADD-DROP MODULE FOR USE IN AN OPTICAL CIRCUIT

摘要

An apparatus for use in selectively adding or dropping channels in an optical network includes an optical circulator and an array of programmable fiber Bragg gratings. Each fiber Bragg grating is a narrow ban reflective element which can be tuned on or off of an ITU standard wavelength division multiplex channel so that the channel is either fully reflected or transmitted by the grating. The addition or subtraction of signal channels is operated by a controller which operates the individual fiber Bragg gratings between transmissive and reflective states.