Optical multiplexing and demultiplexing

A waveguide phased array component for carrying out multiplexing and demultiplexing of optical signals, the component including;

• at least an input port and an output port (IG, OG) on a first side (A) of the component;
• on a second side (B) of the component, a first group of ports, which constitute the demultiplexer function output ports, and a second group of ports, which constitute the multiplexer function input ports;
• a demultiplexing device (SWG1, GR, SWG2) for demultiplexing a multiplexed signal applied to the input port, to the ports of the first group;
• a multiplexing device (SWG2, GR, SWG1) for multiplexing signals applied to the ports of the second group, to the output port;
• wherein the ports belonging to the first group and the ports belonging to the second group are alternately positioned on the second side (B) of the component;
• wherein each port belonging to the first group is coupled via an optical waveguide (OWG) and an optical switching element (SWi) to each port corresponding to the same wavelength and belonging to the second group, wherein a first input (R) of the optical switching element (SWi), which belongs to the first group, is coupled to a first output (T), which belongs to the second group, of the same switching element;
• the component further comprises a transmitter means (TS) coupled to a second input (S) of the optical switching element, and a receiving means (RS) to a second output, and
• wherein each switching element comprises at least two positions, so that in the first position it couples the first input (R) to the first output (T), and in the second position, the first input (R) to a second output (U) and the second input (S) to the first output (T).