Expandable interleaving optical add/drop filter module

Abstract

An optical add/drop filter (OADF) module is provided that is capable of only utilizing one filter to drop and add multiple channels from a multiplexed signal. In one embodiment, a demultiplexer separates the input signal into groups of signals or channels to be dropped. This group of channels is coupled to one input of a 2×2 interleaving OADF, which in one embodiment is an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder Interferometer, while another group of channels to be added back to the multiplexed signal is coupled to the other input. One output of the OADF drops one group of channels, while the other output transmits the added group of channels to an input of a multiplexer, which combines the group of added channels with the other groups of channels from the outputs of the demultiplexer. In another embodiment, a multi-window filter formed from an unbalanced Michelson Interferometer outputs two signals, each having either odd or even wavelength signal components. The signal to be dropped is input back to an optical circulator, which drops the signal from an exit port. The other signal is input to a second optical circulator, which combines the two signals into a single signal with both even and odd wavelength signals. Consequently, large numbers of channels can be dropped and added using only a single filter, thereby reducing leakage loss due to propagation through multiple filters.