当直线L与x轴垂直时,把x=c代入椭圆方程可得: c2 a2 + y2 b2 =1,解得y=± b2 a .∴|AB|= 2b2 a .∴四边形AMBN的面积S= 1 2 |MN||AB|= 1 2 ×2a× 2b2 a =2b2.故答案为:2b2.