Low-Cost CWDM Transceiver Module by Spatial Power Combination and Division for Multimode Fiber Links

Abstract

A cost-effective coarse wavelength division multiplexing optical sub-assembly (OSA) for short-distance optical interconnection is proposed and fabricated. Filter-free transmitter multiplexing is demonstrated by a spatial power combination of multiple-wavelength laser outputs into a fiber. As a result, the OSA is constructed with a reduced burden in optical alignment and packaging owing to the small number of optical elements and large alignment tolerance. Data transmission with a bit rate of 6 Gb/s is achieved through a 100-m-long multimode fiber. No significant degradation of eye patterns is observed during the transmission, and a bit error rate below $10^{{\mathbf {-12}}}$ is attained with the proposed module.