An optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) is a device
used in wavelength-division multiplexing systems for
multiplexing and routing different channels of light
into or out of a single mode fiber (SMF). This is a
type of optical node, which is generally used for
the construction of optical telecommunications
networks. "Add" and "drop" here refer to the
capability of the device to add one or more new
wavelength channels to an existing multi-wavelength
WDM signal, and/or to drop (remove) one or more
channels, passing those signals to another network
path. An OADM may be considered to be a specific
type of optical cross-connect.
A traditional OADM consists of three stages: an
optical demultiplexer, an optical multiplexer, and
between them a method of reconfiguring the paths
between the optical demultiplexer, the optical
multiplexer and a set of ports for adding and
dropping signals. The optical demultiplexer
separates wavelengths in an input fiber onto ports.
The reconfiguration can be achieved by a fiber patch
panel or by optical switches which direct the
wavelengths to the optical multiplexer or to drop
ports. The optical multiplexer multiplexes the
wavelength channels that are to continue on from
demultipexer ports with those from the add ports,
onto a single output fiber.
All products meet the Telcordia GR-910-CORE
requirements.
Copyright (C) 2001-2010 Optowaves, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
