FREE-SPACE WAVELENGTH ROUTING SYSTEMS WITH INTERLEAVED CHANNELS

摘要

A novel wavelength routing apparatus that uses a diffraction grating (201) t o separate a multi-wavelength optical signal from an input port (210)into multiple spectral channels; a channel-interleaving assembly (230) (e.g. an array of prisms) to interleave the spectral channels into two channel groups ; and "augmented relay system" (240) to relay the interleaved channel groups onto two separate arrays (203A, 203B) of channel micromirrors, respectively. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into multiple output ports (210). The inventiv e wavelength routing apparatus can route the spectral channels on a channel-by - channel basis and couple any spectral channel into any one of the output por ts (210). Further, the channel-interleaving scheme effectively effectively "enlarges" the channel spacing and thereby allows the channel micromirrors i n each array to be made considerably larger and more reliable, thereby significantly improving the channel filtering characteristics and ensuring more robust performance.