A modular optical router/switch construction system and method are
described. In one aspect of the present invention, the modules provided
are basic 1.times.N optical components and/or pass-through 1.times.N
optical components, both of which have input/output (I/O) ports which are
capable of detachably interconnecting. Pass-through 1.times.N optical
components are like the basic 1.times.N optical components but include
extra ports so that input light may "pass through" the component. In
another aspect of the present invention, a bi-directional optical
component capable of modular construction is provided. The bi-directional
optical component has the same I/O ports as the basic 1.times.N optical
component, but the bi-directional I/O ports are built to engage a duplex
optical link (i.e., a link comprised of two optical fibers with signals
going in two opposite directions).
