Attenuation device for wavelength multiplexed optical fiber communications

An optical signal attenuation device for selectively attenuating different wavelength signals contained within a multiplexed transmission, comprising:

• a first diffraction element for diffracting the light associated with the multiplexed transmission, wherein each wavelength signal contained within the multiplexed transmission is directed along a separate optical path;
• a modulator disposed along each separate optical path, wherein each modulator receives a wavelength signal from said diffraction element and causes a corresponding signal to be produced at a selective optical signal strength;
• and
• a plurality of optical power detectors for detecting the optical power associated with each wavelength signal received by each said modulator.

An optical signal attenuation device for selectively attenuating different wavelength signals contained within a multiplexed transmission, comprising:

• a first diffraction element for diffracting the light associated with the multiplexed transmission, wherein each wavelength signal contained within the multiplexed transmission is directed along a separate optical path;
• a modulator disposed along each separate optical path, wherein each modulator receives a wavelength signal from said diffraction element and causes a corresponding signal to be produced at a selective optical signal strength;
• and
• a plurality of optical power detectors for detecting the optical power associated with each signal produced by each said modulator.

An optical signal attenuation device for selectively attenuating different wavelength signals contained within a multiplexed transmission, comprising:

• a first diffraction element for diffracting the light associated with the multiplexed transmission, wherein each wavelength signal contained within the multiplexed transmission is directed along a separate optical path;
• a modulator disposed along each separate optical path, wherein each modulator receives a wavelength signal from said diffraction element and causes a corresponding signal to be produced at a selective optical signal strength;
• and
• a first plurality of optical power detectors for detecting the optical power associated with each wavelength signal received by each said modulator and a second plurality of optical power detectors for detecting the optical power associated with each signal produced by each said modulator.

A method of equalizing the signal strengths of the different wavelength signals contained within a multiplexed optical signal, comprising the steps of:

• separating each of said wavelength signals from said multiplexed optical signal;
• correcting the signal strength associated with each of said wavelength signals so that the signal strength of each of said wavelength signals falls within a compatible range;
• and
• multiplexing each of said wavelength signals to produce a corrected multiplexed optical signal wherein all the wavelengths contained within the corrected multiplexed optical signal have a signal strength within said compatible range.