Patent ID: 7885493
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical splitter with an optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing function comprising: an optical waveguide circuit formed on a substrate, wherein the optical waveguide circuit comprises: a light input port provided at one end of the optical waveguide circuit; light output ports provided in parallel to the light input port at the same one end of the optical waveguide circuit as the light input port; an optical splitter for splitting an optical signal input from the light input port into a plurality of optical signals having the same intensity and for outputting them from a plurality of the light output ports; a plurality of optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing devices arranged in parallel to each other and each having a function of multiplexing two optical signals having different wavelengths; and a multiplexed optical signal output port provided at an end differing from the one end where the light input port is provided, each of the optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing devices having a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide provided in parallel to the first optical waveguide with a gap therebetween, wherein two or more Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits, each having directional couplers formed by arranging the two optical waveguides close to each other with a gap in a lengthwise direction of the optical waveguides therebetween, are connected in series to each other to form each of the optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing devices, wherein, the first optical waveguide of each optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing device is connected to the optical splitter, the second optical waveguide of each optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing device is connected to one of the light output ports, and the second optical waveguide of each optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing device is connected to the multiplexed optical signal output port.