Patent ID: 7724990

Claim:
A fiber array unit with optical power monitor capability, for use with a planar waveguide circuit (PLC), comprising: a substrate; at least one optical signal transmission channel disposed within the substrate, and terminating at an edge of the substrate for transmitting signals to and/or from the PLC; a photodetector channel for monitoring the optical signal; and a tapping filter disposed within the substrate and interrupting the at least one channel, thereby tapping at least some of the optical power from the channel and directing the tapped optical power toward the photodetector channel for detection therein, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel; wherein the at least one optical signal transmission channel comprises a plurality of optical signal transmission channels arranged in parallel and terminating at the edge of the substrate for transmitting optical signals to and/or from the PLC, wherein the tapping filter interrupts each transmission channel of the plurality of transmission channels and directs tapped optical power toward a respective photodetector channel for detection therein, while allowing other optical to continue transmission in each transmission channel; wherein each optical transmission channel comprises a fiber optic disposed in the substrate; wherein the tapping filter comprises a unitary, planar structure at least partially optically transparent, disposed within a slit cut through the substrate and interrupting each transmission channel, at an angle allowing the respective tapped optical power to be directed to each photodetector channel, and other optical power to continue transmission within each transmission channel; wherein the photodetector channels are arranged in a photodetector unit, mounted onto the substrate and aligned to the tapping filter; and wherein the photodetector unit is hermetically or semi-hermetically sealed.