Abstract: An adaptive solar concentrator system comprising a controller, a solar energy collector and a solar concentrator with variable concentration ratio is disclosed. The concentration ratio of the variable solar concentrator is varied to maximize the energy collection potential of the solar energy collector in response to fluctuations in incoming solar irradiation to best match the optimum operating conditions of the solar collector and to not exceed the maximum operating conditions of the solar collector for long term reliability.

Abstract: A wavelength blocker including an input port for launching an input beam of light, first dispersing means for dispersing the input beam of light according to wavelength, an array of independently addressable elements for selectively blocking a portion of the dispersed beam of light, second dispersing means for receiving the passed dispersed beam of light and for producing a single multiplexed beam of light therefrom, and an output port for transmitting a modified output beam of light. The array of independently addressable elements are designed such that the wavelength blocker is capable of blocking a variable number of non-consecutive channels without significantly affecting the unblocked channels.

Abstract: A wavelength blocker including an input port for launching an input beam of light, first dispersing means for dispersing the input beam of light according to wavelength, an array of independently addressable elements for selectively blocking a portion of the dispersed beam of light, second dispersing means for receiving the passed dispersed beam of light and for producing a single multiplexed beam of light therefrom, and an output port for transmitting a modified output beam of light. The array of independently addressable elements are designed such that the wavelength blocker is capable of blocking a variable number of non-consecutive channels without significantly affecting the unblocked channels.

Abstract: An add/drop multiplexer/demultiplexer (ADM) for switching, modulating and attenuating optical signals in a fiber optic network employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is disclosed. The ADM is equipped an optical multiplexer for splitting an input WDM signal into individual optical signals, leading to respective 2.times.2 switches. Each switch has another input originating from a plurality of "add lines", and selects one of its inputs to be dropped and the other to continue along a main signal path. The retained signals may be modulated and attenuated prior to being tapped and finally multiplexed together by a WDM multiplexer. The tapped signals are optoelectronically converted and fed back to a controller, preferably a digital signal processor running a software algorithm, which controls the switching, modulation and attenuation.

Abstract: An add/drop multiplexer/demultiplexer (ADM) for switching, modulating and attenuating optical signals in a fiber optic network employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is disclosed. The ADM is equipped an optical multiplexer for splitting an input WDM signal into individual optical signals, leading to respective 2.times.2 switches. Each switch has another input originating from a plurality of "add lines", and selects one of its inputs to be dropped and the other to continue along a main signal path. The retained signals may be modulated and attenuated prior to being tapped and finally multiplexed together by a WDM multiplexer. The tapped signals are optoelectronically converted and fed back to a controller, preferably a digital signal processor running a software algorithm, which controls the switching, modulation and attenuation.