Multiple band optical multiplexer and demultiplexer

An optical network comprising:

• a first optical component including:
• an input port for receiving including optical signals within each of a plurality of wavelength channels having a predetermined channel spacing within any one of a first set of non-overlapping wavelength bands within an application wavelength window;
• at least three output ports;
• and
• a wavelength dispersive element for separating the multiplexed optical signal received at the input port in dependence upon wavelength to provide a channelised signal to each of the at least three output ports,
• wherein an optical signal corresponding to a first optical channel within any one of the first set of non-overlapping wavelength bands is directed to a first output port and another optical signal corresponding to a second optical channel within any one of the first set of non-overlapping wavelength bands is directed to a second output port and a third optical signal corresponding to a third optical channel within any one of the first set of non-overlapping wavelength bands is directed to a third output port;
• a second optical component including:
• an input port for receiving a multiplexed optical signal including optical signals within each of a plurality of wavelength channels having a predetermined channel spacing within any one of a second set of non-overlapping wavelength bands within an application wavelength window;
• at least three output ports;
• and
• a wavelength dispersive element for separating the multiplexed optical signal received at the input port in dependence upon wavelength to provide a channelised signal to each of the at least three output ports,
• wherein an optical signal corresponding to a first optical channel within any one of the second set of non-overlapping wavelength bands is directed to a first output port and another optical signal corresponding to a second optical channel within any one of the second set of non-overlapping wavelength bands is directed to a second output port and a third optical signal corresponding to a third optical channel within any one of the second set of non-overlapping wavelength bands is directed to a third output port;
• and,
• at least a filter for separating the optical signal into optical signals within each of some of the non-overlapping wavelength bands, and
• wherein the first and second optical component have a free spectral range that is identical.

A method of demultiplexing channelised optical signals comprising the steps of:

• providing an optical signal including signals in several of a plurality of non-overlapping wavelength bands within an application wavelength window;
• filtering the optical signal to separate a second optical signal including optical signals within a first single non-overlapping wavelength band and separate a third optical signal including optical signals within a second non-overlapping wavelength band;
• providing the second optical signal to a first optical demultiplexer;
• demultiplexing the second optical signal into a plurality of channelised signals within the first non-overlapping wavelength band;
• providing the third optical signal to a second optical demultiplexer identical to the first optical demultiplexer;
• and
• demultiplexing the third optical signal into a plurality of channelised signals within the second non-overlapping wavelength band.