Apparatus and method for wavelength multiplexing/demultiplexing

摘要

An optical multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus (10) in which a plurality of optical multiplexing/ demultiplexing units (11) which are different from one another in operating wavelength band are connected hierarchically. Each of the optical multiplexing/ demultiplexing units (11) comprises an input waveguide (40) for receiving a wavelength multiplexed optical waves, a filter (30) for separating the wavelength multiplexed optical wave from the input waveguide (40) into a first optical wave in the corresponding operating wavelength band and a second optical wave in the other wavelength bands, an AWG optical multiplexer/ demultiplexer (20) for separating the first optical wave from the filter into individual optical waves each of a single wavelength, and a branch waveguide (70) for directing the second optical waves from the filter (30) to the input waveguide of a succeeding optical multiplexing/demultiplexing unit (11). <IMAGE>