Claims
- 1. An apparatus for monitoring an optical signal transmitted over an optical path between two optical waveguides, the apparatus comprising:
an optics block between the two optical waveguides, the optics block coupling light between the two optical waveguides, the optics block including at least two parallel surfaces; and an optical tap which creates a monitor beam to be directed onto a detector, wherein all optical elements needed to couple the light between the two optical waveguides and direct the monitor beam onto the detector are on the at least two parallel surfaces of the optics block and any surfaces secured thereto.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optics block is at a non-normal angle relative to the optical path.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-normal angle is matched to an angle of an endface of at least one of the two optical waveguides.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical tap is the non-normal angle.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a carrier which aligns the optics block to the two optical waveguides.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the carrier includes an indentation for aligning the optics block to the two optical waveguides.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an optical element on each of the at least two parallel walls of the optics block.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is mounted on the optics block.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the carrier includes an indentation for receiving at least one of the two optical waveguides.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indentation is a V-groove.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the carrier includes indentations for receiving each of the two optical waveguides.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indentation provides passive alignment between the optics block and the at least one of the two optical waveguides.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the waveguides is an optical fiber.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two optical waveguides each include an array of optical waveguides, the optics block includes optical elements for each pair of waveguides in the arrays, and the detector includes detecting regions for each pair of waveguides.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the optics block comprises a unitary array of optical elements.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the detecting regions comprise a unitary detector.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a unitary carrier on which the two arrays are mounted.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects power of the monitor beam.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical tap is on one of the at least two parallel surfaces of the optics block or a surface secured thereto.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate of the optics block and any substrates secured thereto include a focusing optical element that focuses the monitor beam onto the detector.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two parallel surfaces of the optics block and any surfaces secured thereto include a reflective surface.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical tap is a diffractive element .
- 23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support structure for one of the two waveguides that includes a feature that accommodates the detector.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the feature includes a surface at an angle to the monitor that reflects light to the detector.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the surface at an angle includes a reflective coating.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein all optical elements on the optics block are lithographically created.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein all optical elements on the optics block are aligned to one another on a wafer level.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optics block is on a carrier.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is shielded from the ambient environment.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shielding submount for the detector.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein both endfaces of the optical waveguides are angled and the optics block is flush with the endfaces.
- 32. An apparatus for monitoring an optical signal transmitted over an optical path between two optical waveguides, the apparatus comprising:
an optics block between the two optical waveguides, the optics block coupling light between the two optical waveguides, the optics block including at least two parallel surfaces, wherein at least one of the optical waveguides has an angled endface and the optics block is tilted so the at least two parallel surfaces are parallel with the at least one of the angled endfaces; and an optical tap which creates a monitor beam to be delivered to a detector.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the optics block is secured to at least one of the optical waveguides.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the two optical waveguides have an angled endface.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the two optical waveguides are an array of optical waveguides, the optics block includes optical elements for each pair of waveguides in the arrays.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the optics block is flush with the at least one optical waveguide having an angled surface.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/364,105 filed Mar. 15, 2002, entitled “Waveguide to Waveguide Monitor”, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60364105 |
Mar 2002 |
US |