Multiport Tunable Optical Filters

A tunable multiport optical filter comprising:

• a two-dimensional array of optical ports, including both optical input ports and corresponding optical output ports, the two-dimensional array extending along both an x-direction and a y-direction that is not parallel to the x-direction;
• a light dispersion element positioned to receive optical signals from the optical input ports and to disperse the optical signals along the y-direction, each received optical signal dispersed into a plurality of separate wavelength components;
• and
• a reflective beam steering element positioned to receive the multiple pluralities of separate wavelengths components dispersed by the light dispersion element and to reflect the dispersed optical signal back to the light dispersion element, the reflective beam steering element controllable such that selected wavelength components of the dispersed optical signals can be redirected through the light dispersion element to couple to the corresponding optical output ports without significant coupling to other optical ports.