FIBER ARRAY UNIT WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL POWER MONITOR
First Claim
1. A fiber array unit with optical power monitor capability, for use with a planar waveguide circuit (PLC), comprising:
- a substrate;
at least one optical signal transmission channel disposed within the substrate, and terminating at an edge of the substrate for transmitting signals to and/or from the PLC;
a photodetector channel for monitoring the optical signal; and
a tapping filter disposed within the substrate and interrupting the at least one channel, thereby tapping at least some of the optical power from the channel and directing the tapped optical power toward the photodetector channel for detection therein, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for monitoring optical power in a fiber array unit having a plurality of optical transmission waveguides terminating at an edge thereof for carrying optical signals to and/or from a PLC. A tapping filter is placed within a slit formed in the substrate and interrupting the transmission channels, thereby tapping at least some of the optical power from the channels and directing the tapped optical power toward respective photodetector channels for detection, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel of the fiber array unit.
224 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fiber array unit with optical power monitor capability, for use with a planar waveguide circuit (PLC), comprising:
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a substrate; at least one optical signal transmission channel disposed within the substrate, and terminating at an edge of the substrate for transmitting signals to and/or from the PLC; a photodetector channel for monitoring the optical signal; and a tapping filter disposed within the substrate and interrupting the at least one channel, thereby tapping at least some of the optical power from the channel and directing the tapped optical power toward the photodetector channel for detection therein, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a fiber array unit having optical power monitor capability, for use with a planar waveguide circuit (PLC), comprising:
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providing a substrate; disposing at least one optical signal transmission channel within the substrate, and terminating at an edge of the substrate for transmitting signals to and/or from the PLC; providing a photodetector channel for monitoring the optical signal; and disposing a tapping filter within the substrate and interrupting the at least one channel, to thereby tap at least some of the optical power from the channel and direct the tapped optical power toward the photodetector channel for detection therein, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of monitoring optical power in a fiber array unit having a plurality of optical transmission waveguides terminating at an edge thereof for carrying optical signals to and/or from a PLC, comprising:
using a tapping filter placed within a slit formed within the substrate and interrupting the transmission channels, thereby tapping at least some of the optical power from the channels and directing the tapped optical power toward respective photodetector channels for detection therein, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel.
Specification