Patent ID: 8437592

Claim:
An optical channel tap assembly, comprising: a first N by M waveguide array including a first set of optical channels to convey optical signals along a first set of conveyance paths; a second N by M waveguide array including a second set of optical channels to convey the optical signals along a second set of conveyance paths, the optical signals received from the first set of conveyance paths; a beam splitter, disposed between the first N by M waveguide array and the second N by M waveguide array, to divert a first portion of power from the optical signals away from the second N by M waveguide array while allowing a second portion of power from the optical signals to propagate into the second N by M waveguide array; and a sheet disposed with the beam splitter, the sheet to transmit the optical signals while countering any beam walk-off caused by passage of the optical signals through the beam splitter.