DENSE WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXER/DEMULTIPLEXER BASED ONECHELLE GRATING

摘要

A dense wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer ("DWDM") (10) for us in optical communication systems includes a multiplex optical waveguide (14) propagatin g a plurality of optical channels (.lambda.iest;1-n) of a select channel spaci ng multiplexed as a single optical signal within a select near infrared wavelength range. a collimating/focusing optic (18) is optically coupled to the multiplexed optical waveguide at a select focal length. A reflective echelle grating (20) is optically coupled to the collimating/focusing optic (18). The echelle grating (20) has a groove spacing (d) and blaze angle (.theta.b) providing a channel spacing (d) of the multiplexed optical signal (.lambda.l-n) at the select focal length for a select order of diffraction. A linear array of single channel waveguides (16), each propagating a single channel within the near infrared wavelength range is optically coupled to th e collimating/focusing optic. Each optical single channel waveguide (16) has a center and a propagating end and the propagating ends are spaced the focal length from the collimating/focusing optic and the centers of adjacent demultiplexed waveguides are spaced the select channel spacing (D). A fiber pigtail harness is used to connect the multiplexer which works in a Littrow configuration.