The Corporate Optical Backbone Network (COBNET) project is a joint research
project within the ACTS program of the European Commission. The COBNET con
sortium is considering the use of advanced optical networking technologies
for the backbones of future corporate networks. In particular, multichannel
add/drop ring networks based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) as
well as on optical space-division multiplexing (SDM) technologies are being
pursued. An overview is given of the system concept, the device technology
, and the demonstration network that was developed within COBNET. The WDM r
ing option and specifically the related add/drop devices are focused on in
more detail. These devices are fabricated in a newly developed high-refract
ive-index contrast planar silica-on-silicon technology by using silicon-oxy
nitride (SiON) as the core waveguide material. Compact add/drop components
based on the resonant coupler concept are realized. The filter characterist
ic can be tailored and tuned by thermo-optic heaters, which enables the sel
ection of any given wavelength out of a series of wavelengths from the WDM
ring using the same device, (C) 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentati
on Engineers. [S0091-3286(98)00512-1].