JP2005321487A - Optical waveguide type wdm multiplexing/demultiplexing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing device which has a satisfactory space factor even for a domestic use, is small-sized and is low-cost. <P>SOLUTION: The optical waveguide type WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing device 1 has an input port 2 of light and an output port 3 thereof disposed on a first end surface 4 being the same end surface. Further, first and second dielectric multilayer films 6, 7 are inserted in the middle of a waveguide 5 and a reflective surface 9 is disposed on a second end surface 8. Furthermore, the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing device 1 is preferably constituted with organic polymer material. Since the input/output ports of light are disposed on the same end surface side and the connection with an optical fiber array etc. can be made only on the one end surface side, the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing device 1 having a satisfactory space factor and capable of being made small-sized is provided. In addition, the low-cost optical waveguide type WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing device is realized since the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing device is constituted of organic polymer material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a small and inexpensive optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer for multiplexing and demultiplexing light of a plurality of wavelengths.

In recent years, introduction of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) has started, and information communication networks represented by the Internet have rapidly spread to homes beyond the range of offices.
In such a situation, the form of an access network that can provide services to each user is diversified. In particular, an ATM-PON (Asynchronous Transfer Modebased) which is an economical high-speed broadband access system using an optical fiber as a transmission path. Early introduction of the Passive Optical Network) system is being studied.

  ATM-PON is a wavelength division multiplexing optical communication system for subscribers using, for example, light in the wavelength band of 1.31 μm (voice) and light in the band of 1.49 μm (computer data) and 1.55 μm (image) in the downstream. The system is standardized by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union).

  Therefore, in order to separate and synthesize the wavelengths of 1.31 μm, 1.49 μm, and 1.55 μm, a WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) multiplexer / demultiplexer is required. An ONU (Optical Network Unit) device including this multiplexer / demultiplexer, LD (Laser Diode), and PD (Photo Diode) is a basic unit for spreading an optical fiber network to each home.

  Conventionally, an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer is generally made of quartz glass, and a combination of a quartz type waveguide and a filter is used (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer that uses an organic polymer material that is superior in processing performance and is cheaper than quartz glass is also being used in order to reduce the price (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-241645 A JP 2002-243960 A

  By the way, the conventional techniques as described above have the following problems to be solved.

  That is, the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer as shown in Patent Document 1 has a poor space factor because the input port and the output port are provided on both sides of the waveguide, and is composed of quartz glass. There was a problem that the price could not be reduced.

  An optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer using an organic polymer material such as fluorinated polyimide and a dielectric multilayer filter as shown in Patent Document 2 is an optical waveguide composed of quartz glass in terms of price. Although it is cheaper than the type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer, there is still a problem that the space factor is poor because the input port and the output port are provided on both sides of the waveguide.

  When the Internet is widespread and an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer is used in the home, a small and low-priced device is essential. Accordingly, the present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer that has a good space factor even when used in the home, and is small and inexpensive. To do.

  The present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above-described points.

  That is, the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first aspect of the present invention receives light of a plurality of wavelengths from each input port, multiplexes the light internally, and outputs it from one output port. In an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer in which light of a plurality of wavelengths is incident from one input port, is internally demultiplexed into a single light, and is emitted from a plurality of output ports, the input port and the output port are the same It is provided on the end face side.

  Further, as a second aspect, in the first aspect, the multiplexing / demultiplexing of the light of the plurality of wavelengths is performed by a filter provided therein.

  Furthermore, as a third aspect, in the first aspect or the second aspect, a light reflecting surface is provided on an end surface opposite to the end surface side on which the input port and the output port are provided. .

  According to a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, a metal vapor deposition film is provided on an end face opposite to the end face side on which the input port and the output port are provided.

  Furthermore, as a fifth aspect, in the third aspect, the reflection surface is characterized in that a block having a reflection function is connected to an end surface opposite to the end surface side on which the input port and the output port are provided. .

  As a sixth aspect, in the third aspect, the reflection surface has a groove in the vicinity of the end surface opposite to the end surface side where the input port and the output port are provided, and has a reflection function in the groove. It is characterized by inserting a block.

  Furthermore, as a seventh aspect, in the third aspect, the reflection surface has a groove in the vicinity of the end surface opposite to the end surface side on which the input port and the output port are provided, and has a reflection function in the groove. It is characterized by inserting a filter.

  As an eighth aspect, in the first to seventh aspects, the optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer is made of an organic polymer material.

  Since the light input port and output port are provided on the same end face side, it is possible to reduce the size and to reduce the price by using an organic polymer material. An optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using specific examples.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer 1 of the present invention has one or a plurality of input ports 2 and output ports 3 (3a, 3b, 3c). Are provided on the first end face 4 on the same end face side. And the 1st dielectric multilayer filter 6 and the 2nd dielectric multilayer filter 7 are inserted in the middle of waveguide 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5f, 5g, 5h), A light reflecting surface 9 is provided on the second end surface 8 opposite to the first end surface 4 provided with the input / output ports.

  Here, regarding the operation of the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer 1 of the present invention, for example, light of three wavelengths is multiplexed and incident on one input port 2, and these lights are demultiplexed to output ports 3a, The case where it radiate | emits to 3b and 3c is demonstrated.

  First, light having three wavelengths of 1.31 μm, 1.49 μm, and 1.55 μm is multiplexed and incident from one input port 2. These lights propagate through the waveguide 5 a and reach the first dielectric multilayer filter 6. The dielectric multilayer filter 6 has a function of reflecting light having a wavelength of 1.55 μm and allowing other light having two wavelengths of 1.49 μm and 1.31 μm to pass through. Accordingly, light having a wavelength of 1.55 μm is reflected by the dielectric multilayer filter 6, propagates through the waveguide 5b, and is emitted from the output port 3a.

  Then, light having wavelengths of 1.49 μm and 1.31 μm further propagates through the waveguide 5 c and reaches the second dielectric multilayer filter 7. The dielectric multilayer filter 7 has a function of reflecting light having a wavelength of 1.49 μm and allowing other light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm to pass through. Accordingly, light having a wavelength of 1.49 μm is reflected by the dielectric multilayer filter 7, propagates through the waveguide 5d, and exits from the output port 3b.

  Next, the light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm that has passed through the dielectric multilayer filter 7 propagates through the waveguide 5e and is provided on the second end face 8 opposite to the first end face 4 provided with the input / output ports. It reaches the reflecting surface 9, is reflected from the reflecting surface 9, propagates through the waveguide 5 f, and exits from the output port 3 c.

  The multiplexed light is demultiplexed into individual lights in the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer and emitted. In the present invention, both the input port and the output port are provided on the same end face side. Therefore, the space factor is good because it can be coupled to the optical fiber array only on the one end surface side, the size can be reduced, and the effect of introducing such an optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer in each home is extremely large. . The waveguides 5g and 5h do not have to be provided because they are not directly involved in the propagation of light.

  By the way, although the demultiplexing has been described in this embodiment, in the case of multiplexing, the light propagation path may be reversed. That is, when light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm is incident from the port 3c, the light propagates through the waveguide 5f, is reflected by the reflecting surface 9, and propagates through the waveguide 5e. Therefore, when the light reaches the second dielectric multilayer filter 7, the dielectric multilayer filter 7 allows light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm to pass therethrough, so that light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm propagates through the waveguide 5c. Go.

  On the other hand, 1.49 μm light incident from the port 3b propagates through the waveguide 5d, reaches the second dielectric multilayer filter 7 and is reflected, and propagates through the waveguide 5c. At this time, light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm and light having a wavelength of 1.49 μm are multiplexed in the waveguide 5c, multiplexed and propagated.

  Next, light having a wavelength of 1.55 μm incident from the port 3a propagates through the waveguide 5b, is reflected by the first dielectric multilayer filter 6, and propagates through the waveguide 5a. The multiplexed light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm and light having a wavelength of 1.49 μm propagated through the waveguide 5c passes through the first dielectric multilayer filter 6 and propagates through the waveguide 5a. As a result, light having a wavelength of 1.31 μm, 1.49 μm, and 1.55 μm is multiplexed and propagated in the waveguide 5 a, and the multiplexed three-wavelength light is emitted from the port 2.

  Here, the reflecting surface 9 provided on the second end surface 8 opposite to the first end surface 4 provided with the input / output ports is formed of a metal such as aluminum, for example, as shown in FIG. 8 can be formed by vapor deposition. Alternatively, a metal block 10 such as a glass block or aluminum having a reflection function may be connected to the end face 8 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, a groove 11 is provided in the vicinity of the end face 8, and a reflector 12 such as a glass block, a metal block, or a dielectric multilayer filter having a reflecting function is provided in the groove 11. You may make it insert. In FIG. 2, the waveguide is not shown.

  By the way, the optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer of the present invention may be made of quartz glass. However, because of its good workability, it can be produced at a low price as a result, and the organic material is cheaper than quartz glass. It is preferable to comprise a polymer material. Examples of the organic polymer material include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polysiloxane, silicon, epoxy, polyarylate, polysilane, and fluorinated polyimide. An optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer may be formed using such an organic polymer material by using, for example, a conventional direct exposure method, stamping method, photobleaching method, or the like.

It is a figure showing embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the aspect of a reflective surface.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer 2 ... Input port 3 ... Output port 4 ... 1st end surface 5 ... Waveguide 6 ... 1st dielectric multilayer filter 7... Second dielectric multilayer filter 8... Second end face 9... Reflection surface 10.

Claims (8)

  Multiple wavelengths of light are incident from each input port, combined internally and emitted from one output port, or multiple wavelengths of light are incident from a single input port and internally converted into a single light. An optical waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer for demultiplexing and emitting from a plurality of output ports, wherein the input port and the output port are provided on the same end face side.   2. The optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexing / demultiplexing of the light of the plurality of wavelengths is performed by a filter provided therein.   3. The optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein a light reflecting surface is provided on an end surface opposite to the end surface on which the input port and the output port are provided.   4. The optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 3, wherein the reflective surface is provided with a metal vapor deposition film on an end surface opposite to an end surface on which the input port and the output port are provided.   4. The optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 3, wherein said reflecting surface is connected to a block having a reflecting function at an end surface opposite to an end surface provided with said input port and output port.   4. The light guide according to claim 3, wherein said reflecting surface is provided with a groove in the vicinity of the end surface opposite to the end surface provided with said input port and output port, and a block having a reflecting function is inserted into this groove. Waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer.   4. A light guide according to claim 3, wherein said reflecting surface is provided with a groove in the vicinity of an end surface opposite to the end surface provided with said input port and output port, and a filter having a reflecting function is inserted into this groove. Waveguide type WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer. The optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the optical waveguide WDM multiplexer / demultiplexer is made of an organic polymer material.

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