Compression-tuned grating-based optical add/drop multiplexer

摘要

A compression-tuned fiber Bragg grating based reconfigurable wavelength add/drop module has a compression force assembly and an all-glass Bragg grating compression unit having gratings spaced along an axis of compression. The compression force assembly responds to a control electronics signal containing information about a selected wavelength of a channel to be added to or dropped from an optical traffic signal, for providing a compression force applied along the axis of compression. The compression unit responds to the optical traffic signal and the compression force, for providing an all-glass Bragg grating compression unit optical signal having the selected wavelength of the channel to be added to or dropped from the optical traffic signal. The compression unit optical signal may include either the traffic with an added reflected channel(s), or a dropped reflected channel(s). The compression unit is a "dogbone" structure having either a glass tube with an optical fiber fused therein, or a single large diameter waveguide having a core. The core of the optical fiber or waveguide has the gratings spaced therein. The axis of compression is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the dogbone structure.