Mehrkanaliges optisches Empfänger-/Sendersystem

摘要

A substrate (2) is provided that supports a laser array (4) chip positioned such that the light streams emanating from the laser array (4) are parallel to and substantially coplanar with the surface of the substrate (2). A plurality of apertures (38) are formed in the substrate (2) between the light streams for receiving a photodiode array (20) chip. The photodiode array (20) chip is formed as a comb-like structure where the "teeth" (34) of the comb are aligned with and fit into the apertures (38) formed in the substrate (2) such that the photodiode array (20) chip is supported perpendicular to the substrate (12). Located on each of the teeth (34) of the photodiode array (20) chip is a photodiode (22). The photodiodes are arranged suchthat when the photodiode array (20) chip is inserted into the substrate (2) the photodiodes (22) are substantially coplanar with the surface of the substrate (2). Using such a construction, the light streams emanating from the lasers (5) on the laser array (4) chip are interdigitated with and coplanar with the photodiodes (22). Fibers or waveguides (8) in the substrate (2) connect to the lasers (5) and photodiodes (22) and extend parallel to and coplanar with one another such that adjacent fibers or waveguides (8) can be simply connected to the inputsof a CWDM coupler. The optical module (1) of the invention can be mounted on an interface card (52) to provide high density line cards required in fiber based telecommunications networks.