Patent ID: 6442308
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer for coupling or dividing optical signals of different wavelengths received from one or a plurality of input optical waveguides, and outputting the coupled or divided optical signals to a plurality of output optical waveguides, said optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising:a first star coupler for dividing powers of the optical signals received from the input optical waveguides; an arrayed waveguide grating for guiding the optical signals outputted from said first star coupler therethrough so that the optical signals have a constant phase difference between adjacent arrayed waveguides; a second star coupler for one of coupling or dividing the differing wavelengths of resultant optical signals outputted from said arrayed waveguide grating, and outputting the resultant optical signals to said output waveguides, respectively; and waveguide mode control means for controlling the profile of a waveguide mode of the optical signals outputted from said arrayed waveguide grating, thereby allowing the optical signals focused at an output terminal of said second star coupler to have flat amplitude distributions, said waveguide mode control means including a multi-mode coupler substantially maintaining a main peak of the waveguide mode while phase-shifting tails of the waveguide mode.