Attenuated optical splitter module
First Claim
1. An attenuated planar splitter module for providing optical communication with at least one external output device, comprising:
- a splitter chip having a body, an input end, an output end, and a branching waveguide network associated with the body and that includes an input waveguide optically coupled to an input connector at the input end, the branching waveguide network having j≧
1 50;
50 splitters that form up to n≦
2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<
n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device; and
a fiber array attached to the output end and adapted to provide optical coupling to the m suitable output ports of the splitter chip such that the m suitable output ports have associated therewith an attenuation in decibels of AO=10 log(2j).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact optical splitter module is disclosed. One type of compact optical splitter module is a planar attenuated splitter module that includes a branching waveguide network having j≧1 50:50 splitters that form up to n≦2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device. This provides a 1×m splitter module wherein each output port has the attenuation of a 1×n splitter module, thereby obviating the need for external attenuation. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a direct-connect splitter module that eliminates the need for an optical fiber array when coupling to external optical fibers. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a microsplitter module that serves as device and module at the same time and that eliminates the differentiation between device and module. The integration of device and module also makes manufacturing the microsplitter module cost-effect. Embodiments of microsplitter modules that account for differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the materials making up the microsplitter are also disclosed.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An attenuated planar splitter module for providing optical communication with at least one external output device, comprising:
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a splitter chip having a body, an input end, an output end, and a branching waveguide network associated with the body and that includes an input waveguide optically coupled to an input connector at the input end, the branching waveguide network having j≧
1 50;
50 splitters that form up to n≦
2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<
n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device; anda fiber array attached to the output end and adapted to provide optical coupling to the m suitable output ports of the splitter chip such that the m suitable output ports have associated therewith an attenuation in decibels of AO=10 log(2j). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification