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Abstract

The present invention provides an optical add-drop multiplexer for wavelength division multiplexed optical communication systems which includes first and second optical couplers which optically communicate with each other through an optical filter. The first optical coupler includes a first input port and first and second output ports while the second optical coupler includes first and second input ports and an output port An optical path optically communicates with the first output port of the first optical coupler and with the first input port of the second optical coupler and includes an optical filter for selecting portions of a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal input to the first optical coupler. The portions of the wavelength division multiplexed signal which are not sent to an input port of the second optical coupler exit the add-drop multiplexer. An optical path communicating with the second output port of the first optical coupler includes wavelength selectors configured to select one or more optical wavelengths from the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal. Optical channels to be added are sent the second input port of the second optical coupler and combined with the 'through' portion of the WDM optical signal such that the output is a new wavelength division multiplexed optical signal output by the second optical coupler.

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