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A wavelength-selective optical switch having a first input port for accepting a plurality of copropagating optical channels, each of the channels having a distinct wavelength band. The optical switch includes first and second output ports. A wavelength-selective optical filter is connected to receiv

A wavelength-selective optical switch having a first input port for accepting a plurality of copropagating optical channels, each of the channels having a distinct wavelength band. The optical switch includes first and second output ports. A wavelength-selective optical filter is connected to receive the copropagating optical channels from the first input port to extract a selected one of the channels while allowing the remaining channels to copropagate to the first output port. An interferometric switch is connected to receive the selected extracted channel; the interferometric switch includes a controller for controlling propagation of the selected extracted channel to either the second output port, the optical filter, or both. The optical filter is connected to receive from the interferometric switch an optical channel to be combined with the remaining copropagating channels and all directed to the first output port. In a first control state of the controller, the interferometric switch is adapted to direct the selected extracted channel to the optical filter, while in a second control state of the controller, the interferometric switch is adapted to direct the selected extracted channel to the second output port. A second input port can be provided for accepting an injected optical channel having a wavelength band corresponding to the wavelength band of the selected extracted channel. This second input port is connected to direct the injected optical channel to the interferometric switch. In this scenario, the interferometric switch is adapted, in the second control state of the controller, to direct the injected channel to the optical filter, and is adapted to direct the injected channel, in a first control state of the controller, to the second output port.

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[ We claim:] [1.] A wavelength-selective optical switch comprising:a first input port for accepting a plurality of copropagating optical channels, each channel of a distinct wavelength band;a first output port;a second output port;wavelength-selective optical filter means connected to receive the co

[ We claim:] [1.] A wavelength-selective optical switch comprising:a first input port for accepting a plurality of copropagating optical channels, each channel of a distinct wavelength band;a first output port;a second output port;wavelength-selective optical filter means connected to receive the copropagating optical channels from the first input port to extract a selected one of the channels while allowing remaining channels to copropagate to the first output port; andan interferometric switch connected to receive the selected extracted channel and comprising control means for controlling propagation of the selected extracted channel to at least one of the second output port and the optical filter means;the optical filter means being connected to receive from the interferometric switch an optical channel to combine the received channel with the remaining copropagating channels and direct the combined channels to the first output port.