This paper deals with two types of thermo-optically tunable add-drop filter
s realized by means of different technologies: fiber-matched low-pressure c
hemical vapor deposited (LPCVD)-grown SiO2 waveguides and plasma-enhanced c
hemical vapor deposition (PECVD)-grown high-refractive-index-contrast SiON
waveguides. Design and technology aspects are outlined. The device characte
rizations, drawn from laboratory and field trial measurements, are reported
. The description focuses on the device applications in a system context. I
n particular, the usefulness of the components as the basic elements of an
optical add-drop multiplexer node, suitable for a ring network, is shown. T
he key component aspects are presented as strictly related to system requir
ements and issues.