Optically matched laser array coupling assembly for coupling laser array to arrayed waveguide grating

摘要

A laser array optical coupling assembly may be used to couple a laser array to an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), for example, in an optical transmitter in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system. The laser array optical coupling assembly may include an optical fiber tip array with polished optical fiber tips providing a reduced mode field diameter to improve coupling efficiency with the laser array. The laser array optical coupling assembly may also include a direct coupling of the laser array to the AWG with modified AWG inputs reducing the mode field diameter to improve coupling efficiency with the laser array. The laser array optical coupling assembly may be used, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) in a WDM passive optical network (PON) or in other transmitters or transceivers in a WDM system capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals on multiple channel wavelengths.

主权项

1. A laser array coupling assembly comprising:
an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) including a plurality of waveguides and AWG input ports; a laser array comprising a plurality of laser emitters substantially aligned with the AWG input ports; and an optical fiber tip array comprising a plurality of fiber segments with polished optical fiber tips, wherein the fiber segments have a length of less than about 10 mm, the optical fiber tip array optically coupling the plurality of laser emitters to respective ones of the AWG input ports, wherein the fiber segments are supported on a base with the polished optical fiber tips projecting beyond the base such that the polished optical fiber tips are positioned adjacent to the laser emitters, respectively, such that light emitted from the laser emitters is optically coupled directly into the polished optical fiber tips, wherein each of the polished optical fiber tips has a radius such that a mode field diameter of the polished optical fiber tips is less than a mode field diameter of opposite ends of the fiber segments.