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Abstract

A ganged optical switch comprising at least one wavelength selective ganged optical switching element, first and second sets of input ports, and first and second sets of output ports. Optical signals entering one of the first set of input ports can be routed, in a first routing, via the at least one ganged optical switching element to one of the second set of output ports, and optical signals entering one of the first set of input ports can be routed, in a second routing, via the at least one ganged optical switching element to one of the second set of output ports. The ganged optical switching element ensures that the first and second routings are interdependent. In one embodiment, some of the output ports are shared between the first and second sets of output ports. ROADMs and protection switching applications of the ganged optical switches of the invention are also disclosed.

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First Claim