Patent ID: 6526199
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An arrayed waveguide grating wavelength division multiplexer comprising:a plurality of input waveguides; a first star coupler connected to the input waveguides for distributing optical signals received from the input waveguides; an arrayed waveguide grating connected to the first star coupler, said arrayed waveguide grating having a plurality of waveguides with different lengths and serving to guide a part of the distributed optical signals via the waveguides while allowing the guided optical signals to have different phases; a second star coupler connected to the arrayed waveguide grating for diffracting optical signals having different phases, thereby causing the diffracted optical signals to interfere with one another; a plurality of output waveguides connected to the second star coupler and adapted to output the interfering optical signals; and alignment optical fibers connected to output terminals of the first star coupler and arranged outside the arrayed waveguide array and the output wave guides, the alignment optical fibers serving to guide the remaining optical signals, output from the first star coupler, irrespective of the wavelengths of the optical signals.