Optical devices and methods for regulating optical channel signals with specified
wavelengths are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a
number of variable optical apparatuses are employed. Each of the variable optical
apparatuses includes a first and a second optical channel module, both configured
at a wavelength i. Each of the variable optical apparatuses further
includes an optical regulator (i.e. a neutral density filter controlled by a stepper
motor) coupled between the first and second optical channel modules. When signals
with different wavelengths arrive, only the signal with the wavelength i
will transmit through the first optical channel module and the rest are reflected
off. The transmitted signal is regulated (i.e. attenuated or strengthened) accordingly
by the optical regulator before transmitting through the second optical channel
module. Hence, the signals with different wavelengths can be respectively regulated
by one of the variable optical apparatuses.