Patent ID: 9621264
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G02B,H04B,H04J,H04Q

Claim:
1. A bidirectional optical tap-monitor for detecting an optical signal power carried by a through waveguide, the bidirectional optical tap-monitor comprising: a tap waveguide placed near the through waveguide for coupling a fraction of the optical signal power carried by the through waveguide, the tap waveguide including two ports at opposite ends of the tap waveguide; and a single waveguide-type photodetector for detecting the coupled fraction of the optical signal power, the waveguide-type photodetector including two ports that are connected respectively to the two ports of the tap waveguide, wherein when light travels through the through waveguide in one direction, the coupled fraction of the optical signal power is fed to the photodetector via one of the two ports of the tap waveguide, and when light travels through the through waveguide in the opposite direction, the coupled fraction of the optical signal power is fed to the photodetector via the other one of the two ports of the tap waveguide.