Packaging a reconfigurable optical add-drop module

A reconfigurable optical add-drop module comprising:

• an input optical port for launching an input optical signal having a plurality of wavelength channels;
• an output optical port for outputting an output optical signal having at least one of said wavelength channels;
• a dispersive optical element optically coupled to the input optical port and to the output optical port, for spatially dispersing the input optical signal into individual wavelength channels, and for recombining the at least one wavelength channel into the output optical signal;
• an optical switching engine optically coupled to the dispersive optical element, for spatially redirecting the at least one wavelength channel from the input optical port to the output optical port;
• a plurality of optical components for providing optical coupling of the dispersive element to the input optical port, to the output optical port, and to the optical switching engine;
• an optical bench for supporting the dispersive optical element and the plurality of optical components in a fixed relationship therebetween;
• and
• an enclosure for packaging the optical switching engine and the optical bench having the optical elements mounted thereon, the enclosure having:
• a base for supporting the optical bench and the optical switching engine, a closed sidewall attached to the base, wherein the sidewall surrounds the optical bench and the optical switching engine, and a lid attached to the sidewall, for sealing the enclosure;
• wherein at least a portion of the base comprises a ceramic board for supporting the optical switching engine,
• wherein at least a portion of said ceramic board is mechanically accessible from both inside and outside of the enclosure,
• wherein said accessible portion of ceramic board has electrical feedthroughs coupled to said optical switching engine, and
• wherein said feedthroughs are mechanically and electrically accessible from the outside of the enclosure.