Reconfigurable optical networks

A signal access unit comprising:

• a body defining an input port, an output port, and a plurality of access ports;
• a demultiplexer disposed within the body, the demultiplexer having a demultiplexer input and a plurality of demultiplexer outputs, the demultiplexer input being optically coupled to the input port of the body, the demultiplexer being configured to separate optical signals received at the demultiplexer input onto the demultiplexer outputs based on wavelength;
• a multiplexer disposed within the body, the multiplexer having a plurality of multiplexer inputs and a multiplexer output, the multiplexer being configured to combine optical signals received at the plurality of multiplexer inputs onto the multiplexer output, the multiplexer output being optically coupled to the output port of the body;
• a switching arrangement disposed within the body between the demultiplexer and the multiplexer, the switching arrangement including a plurality of switches;
• and
• an optical circuit including a plurality of first optical lines, a plurality of second optical lines, and a plurality of third optical lines, each of the first optical lines extending from a respective one of the demultiplexer outputs to a respective one of the switches, each of the second optical lines extending from a respective one of the switches to a respective one of the multiplexer inputs, and each of the third optical lines extending from a respective one of the switches to a respective one of the access ports;
• and
• a plurality of optical taps, each optical tap being disposed between one of the switches of the switching arrangement and one of the access ports, each optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, each tap input being optically coupled to the input port of the body, each first tap output being optically coupled to the output port of the body, and each second tap output being optically coupled to the respective access port, each optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the respective tap input to the respective first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the respective second tap output, the second part being less than the first part.

A signal access unit comprising:

• a body defining a first main port, a second main port, and at least one access port;
• a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit disposed within the body, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit having a main line and a plurality of channel lines, the main line being optically coupled to the first main port of the body, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit being configured to separate optical signals received at the main line onto the channel lines by wavelength, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit also configured to combine optical signals received at the channel lines onto the main line;
• a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit disposed within the body, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit having a main line and a plurality of channel lines, the main line of the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit being optically coupled to the second main port of the body, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit being configured to separate optical signals received at the respective main line onto the respective channel lines by wavelength, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit also configured to combine optical signals received at the respective channel lines onto the respective main line;
• a switching arrangement disposed within the body between the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit, the switching arrangement including at least one switch configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration;
• an optical circuit including a first optical line, a second optical line, and a third optical line, the first optical line extending from a respective one of the channel lines of the first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit to the switch, the second optical line extending from the switch to a respective one of the channel lines of the second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit, and the third optical line extending from the switch to the access port;
• and
• an optical tap disposed between the at least one switch and the at least one access port, the optical tap having a tap input, a first tap output, and a second tap output, the tap input being optically coupled to the first main port, the first tap output being optically coupled to the second main port, and the second tap output being optically coupled to the at least one access port, the optical tap directing a first part of an optical signal received at the tap input to the first tap output and directing a second part of the optical signal to the second tap output, the second part being less than the first part;
• wherein the switch optically couples the first and second optical lines when in the first configuration and the switch optically couples the third optical line to at least one of the first and second optical lines when in the second configuration.