Frequency-selective optical switch employing a frequency dispersive element, polarization dispersive element and polarization modulating elements

An optical switch comprising

• an entrance frequency dispersive clement for receiving first and second input optical signals and dispersing them into dispersed beams according to the frequencies thereof,
• a focusing lens receiving said dispersed optical beams,
• a segmented polarization modulator having multiple individually controlled segments and positioned essentially at the focal length of said focusing lens for selectively controlling polarization characteristics of individual elements of said dispersed optical beams,
• a first polarization-dispersive element positioned between said focusing lens and said segmented polarization modulator,
• a second polarization-dispersive element positioned to the other side of said segmented polarization modulator than said first polarization-dispersive element for receiving the dispersed outputs of said segmented polarization modulator and for spatially displacing individual elements of said dispersed outputs dependent on the polarization thereof,
• an exit lens for receiving the outputs of said second polarization dispersive element, said exit lens being essentially its focal distance away from said segmented polarization modulator, and
• an exit frequency dispersive clement receiving the dispersed outputs from the second focusing lens and combining frequency components thereof into separate output optical signals.

An optical switch comprising in sequence

• a frequency dispersive element for receiving an input optical signal and dispersing it into a dispersed optical beam according to the frequencies thereof,
• a focusing lens receiving said dispersed optical beam,
• a polarization-dispersive element,
• a segmented polarization modulator having multiple individually controlled segments and positioned essentially at the local length of said focusing lens for selectively controlling the polarization characteristics of individual elements of said dispersed optical beam, and
• means for recombining said dispersed optical beam after passage through said segmented polarization modulator into an output beam.