Patent ID: 7539368
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An arrayed waveguide grating having a waveguide configuration formed on a substrate, the waveguide configuration including: one or more optical input waveguides arranged side-by-side; a first slab waveguide connected to an output side of the one or more optical input waveguides; an arrayed waveguide, connected to an output side of the first slab waveguide, for receiving light from the first slab waveguide to propagate the light therethrough, the arrayed waveguide having a plurality of waveguides of different lengths; a second slab waveguide connected to an output side of the arrayed waveguide; and one or more optical output waveguides arranged side-by-side and connected to an output side of the second slab waveguide, wherein at least one of the first slab waveguide and the second slab waveguide is divided along division surfaces in a plane crossing a path of the light passing through the corresponding slab waveguide into divided slab waveguides, a plurality of sliding members are provided for temperature-dependently moving at least one of the divided slab waveguides along the division surfaces in such a direction as to reduce temperature dependence of a light transmission center wavelength of the arrayed waveguide grating, the sliding members are formed of members which exhibit different expansion or contraction in response to temperature change, and the sliding members move the divided slab waveguide within respective mutually-different temperature ranges in an operating temperature range of the arrayed waveguide grating.