Optical gain flattening components, optical chips and optical amplifiers and methods employing same

1. An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter.

2. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, further comprising:

a first lens operative to focus combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide to the demux filter and to focus optical pump power reflected by the thin film demux filter to the bypass port optical waveguide; and

a second lens operative to focus multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter to the output port optical waveguide.

3. The optical component of claim 2 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein:

the first lens is positioned between the launch port optical waveguide and the thin film demux filter,

the second lens is positioned between the gain-flattening filter and the output port optical waveguide, and

the first lens and second lens each is selected from a ball lens, GRIN lens and aspheric lens.

4. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the launch port optical waveguide, the bypass port optical waveguide and the output port optical waveguide each is an optical fiber.

5. The optical component of claim 4 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the launch port optical waveguide and the bypass port optical waveguide are together held in a dual fiber ferrule fitted to a housing in which both the thin film demux filter and the gain-flattening filter are mounted.

6. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the bypass port optical waveguide is operative to attenuate signals in the passband wavelength range.

7. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the thin film demux filter is operative to pass multiplexed passband signals in the C-band, L-band, S-band, other communication band or a combination of communication bands and to reflect optical pump power of nominal 980 nm wavelength.

8. An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter,

wherein:

the thin film demux filter, end-surface of the launch port optical waveguide, and end surface of the bypass port optical waveguide each is non-orthogonal to the direction of the optical path of the passband signals, and

the gain-flattening filter and end-surface of the output port optical waveguide each is non-orthogonal to the direction of the optical path of the passband signals.

9. An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed assband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed assband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter,

and further comprising:

a housing in which both the thin film demux filter and the gain-flattening filter are mounted;

a first lens positioned between the launch port optical waveguide and the thin film demux filter, operative (i) to project combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power launched from the launch port optical waveguide to the thin film demux filter and (ii) to focus optical pump power reflected by the thin film demux filter to the output port optical waveguide; and

a second lens positioned between the gain-flattening filter and the output port optical waveguide, operative to focus multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter to the output port optical waveguide;

wherein:

the first lens and second lens each is selected from a ball lens, GRIN lens and aspheric lens,

the launch port optical waveguide, the bypass port optical waveguide each is an optical fiber held together in a dual fiber ferrule fitted to the housing,

the thin film demux filter, optical fiber end-surface of the launch port optical waveguide and optical fiber end surface of the bypass port optical waveguide each is non-orthogonal to the direction of passband signals,

the output port optical waveguide is an optical fiber held in a ferrule fitted to the housing,

the gain-flattening filter and optical fiber end-surface of the output port optical waveguide each is non-orthogonal to the direction of passband signals, and

the optical fiber end surfaces and lenses have anti-reflective coatings.

10. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the thin film demux filter is on a first surface of an optical substrate, and the gain-flattening filter is on a second surface of the optical substrate.

11. The optical component of claim 10 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the optical substrate is wedged, the first surface and second surface being at an angle to each other of up to 1° off parallel.

12. The optical component of claim 10 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, further comprising a multiplexer optically coupling the bypass port optical waveguide and the output port optical waveguide to re-combine optical pump power reflected by the demux filter with multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter.

13. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the thin film demux filter is on a first surface of a first optical substrate, and the gain-flattening filter is on a second surface of a second optical substrate.

14. An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter,

wherein the thin film demux filter is on a first surface of an optical substrate and faces the launch port optical waveguide, and the gain-flattening filter is on a second surface of the optical substrate and faces the output port optical waveguide, the first surface and second surface being non-parallel to each other at an angle of up to 1°,

and further comprising:

a housing in which the optical substrate carrying both the thin film demux filter and the gain-flattening filter is mounted;

a first lens positioned between the launch port optical waveguide and the thin film demux filter, operative (i) to project combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power launched from the launch port optical waveguide to the thin film demux filter and (ii) to focus optical pump power reflected by the thin film demux filter to the output port optical waveguide; and

a second lens positioned between the gain-flattening filter and the output port optical waveguide, operative to focus multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter to the output port optical waveguide;

and wherein:

the first lens and second lens each is selected from a ball lens, GRIN lens and aspheric lens,

the launch port optical waveguide and the bypass port optical waveguide each is an optical fiber held together in a dual fiber ferrule fitted to the housing,

the thin film demux filter, optical fiber end-surface of the launch port optical waveguide and optical fiber end surface of the bypass port optical waveguide each is non-orthogonal to the direction of passband signals,

the output port optical waveguide is an optical fiber held in a ferrule fitted to the housing,

the gain-flattening filter is non-parallel to the optical fiber end-surface of the output port optical waveguide, and

the optical fiber end surfaces and lenses have anti-reflective coatings.

15. The optical component of claim 1 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein:

the thin film demux filter is on a reflector surface of a first optical substrate, and

the gain-flattening filter is on a second optical substrate, and

the second optical substrate has an output surface which faces the output port optical waveguide and is operative to reflect the optical pump power,

further comprising:

an isolator, positioned in an optical path between the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate, the isolator being operative to provide high return loss for pump power, wherein a second surface of the second optical substrate faces the isolator; and

a pump power optical waveguide operative to carry optical pump power and oriented to launch optical pump power toward the output surface of the second optical substrate, wherein the output port optical waveguide, the pump power optical waveguide and the output surface of the second optical substrate are oriented to reflect pump power from the pump power optical waveguide to the output port optical waveguide.

16. An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter;

wherein:

the thin film demux filter is on a reflector surface of a first optical substrate, and

the gain-flattening filter is on a second optical substrate, and

the second optical substrate has an output surface which faces the output port optical waveguide and is operative to reflect the optical pump power,

and further comprising:

an isolator, positioned in an optical path between the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate, the isolator being operative to provide high return loss for pump power, wherein a second surface of the second optical substrate faces the isolator; and

a pump power optical waveguide operative to carry optical pump power and oriented to launch optical pump power toward the output surface of the second optical substrate, wherein the output port optical waveguide, the pump power optical waveguide and the output surface of the second optical substrate are oriented to reflect pump power from the pump power optical waveguide to the output port optical waveguide;

and wherein:

the reflector surface of the first optical substrate faces the launch port optical waveguide, and

an oppositely facing second surface of the first optical substrate faces the isolator, the first optical substrate being wedged such that the reflector surface and the oppositely facing second surface are non-parallel to each other at an angle of up to 1° off parallel.

17. A optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed assband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed assband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter;

wherein:

the thin film demux filter is on a reflector surface of a first optical substrate, and

the gain-flattening filter is on a second optical substrate, and

the second optical substrate has an output surface which faces the output port optical waveguide and is operative to reflect the optical pump power,

and further comprising:

an isolator, positioned in an optical path between the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate, the isolator being operative to provide high return loss for pump power, wherein a second surface of the second optical substrate faces the isolator; and

a pump power optical waveguide operative to carry optical pump power and oriented to launch optical pump power toward the output surface of the second optical substrate, wherein the output port optical waveguide, the pump power optical waveguide and the output surface of the second optical substrate are oriented to reflect pump power from the pump power optical waveguide to the output port optical waveguide;

and wherein:

the gain-flattening filter is at the output surface of the second optical substrate, whereby the output surface of the second optical substrate is both reflective of the optical pump power and operative to provide a desired attenuation profile to multiplexed passband signals in the passband wavelength range; and

an oppositely facing second surface of the second optical substrate faces the isolator, the second optical substrate being wedged such that the output surface and the oppositely facing second surface of the second optical substrate are non-parallel to each other at an angle of up to 1° off parallel.

18. The optical component of claim 15 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein:

the gain-flattening filter is at an oppositely facing second surface of the second optical substrate, which faces the isolator; and

the second optical substrate is wedged such that the output surface and the oppositely facing second surface of the second optical substrate are non-parallel to each other at an angle of up to 1° off parallel.

19. An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprising:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter;

wherein:

the thin film demux filter is on a reflector surface of a first optical substrate, and

the gain-flaftening filter is on a second optical substrate, and

the second optical substrate has an output surface which faces the output port optical waveguide and is operative to reflect the optical pump power,

and further comprising:

an isolator, positioned in an optical path between the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate, the isolator being operative to provide high return loss for pump power, wherein a second surface of the second optical substrate faces the isolator;

a pump power optical waveuide operative to carry optical pump power and oriented to launch optical pump power toward the output surface of the second optical substrate, wherein the output port optical waveguide, the pump power optical waveguide and the output surface of the second optical substrate are oriented to reflect pump power from the pump power optical waveguide to the output port optical waveguide;

a housing in which the first and second optical substrates and the isolator are mounted;

a first lens positioned between (i) the launch port optical waveguide and bypass port optical waveguide and (ii) the reflector surface of the first optical substrate, the first lens being operative to focus:

combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide to the demux filter, and

optical pump power reflected by the demux filter to the bypass port optical waveguide; and

a second lens positioned between (i) the second optical substrate and (ii) the output port optical waveguide and pump power optical waveguide, the second lens being operative;

to focus multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter to the output port optical waveguide,

to project optical pump power from the pump power optical waveguide to the output surface of the second optical substrate, and

to focus optical pump power reflected by the output surface of the second optical substrate to the output port optical waveguide;

and wherein:

the first lens and second lens each is selected from a ball lens, GRIN lens and aspheric lens,

the launch port optical waveguide and the bypass port optical waveguide each is an optical fiber held together in a dual fiber ferrule fitted to the housing,

the thin film demux filter, optical fiber end-surface of the launch port optical waveguide and optical fiber end surface of the bypass port optical waveguide each is non-orthogonal to the direction of passband signals,

the output port optical waveguide and pump power optical waveguide each is an optical fiber held together in a dual fiber ferrule fitted to the housing,

the output surface of the second optical substrate is non-parallel to the optical fiber end-surface of the output port optical waveguide and the optical fiber end-surface of the pump power optical waveguide, and

at least the optical fiber end surface and, lenses have anti-reflective coatings.

20. The optical component of claim 15 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the bypass port optical waveguide and the pump power optical waveguide are portions of the same optical fiber pathway, optical pump power reflected by the thin film demux filter to the bypass port optical waveguide being communicated to the pump power optical waveguide to be reflected by the output surface of the second optical substrate to the output port optical waveguide.

21. The optical component of claim 20 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the optical fiber pathway is an uninterrupted length of optical fiber.

22. The optical component of claim 20 for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, wherein the optical fiber pathway comprises a splice multiplexer/demultiplexer operative to provide further isolation of multiplexed passband signals from the optical pump power carried by the optical fiber pathway.

23. An optical amplifier for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, comprising, optically coupled in the following sequence along an optical path:

a first gain stage operative to receive multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range combined with optical pump power in a different wavelength range and to amplify and pass the multiplexed passband signals combined with optical pump power;

an optical gain-flattening component operative to receive from the first gain stage amplified multiplexed passband signals combined with optical pump power and to provide a desired attenuation profile to the multiplexed passband signals for gain-flattening; and

a second gain stage operative to receive the multiplexed passband signals from the optical gain-flattening component and optical pump power to further amplify the multiplexed passband signals, the attenuation profile provided by the optical gain-flattening component compensating for uneven amplification of the first and second gain stages, wherein the optical gain-flattening component comprises:

a launch port optical waveguide operative to carry the multiplexed passband signals and the optical pump power;

a thin film demux filter oriented to receive the combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power;

a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry the optical pump power reflected by the demux filter;

a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive and operative to pass multiplexed passband signals in the passband wavelength range with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and

an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter and operative to pass them to the second gain stage.

24. The optical amplifier of claim 23 for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, further comprising an isolator between the optical gain-flattening component and the second gain stage, and an isolator following the second gain stage.

25. The optical amplifier of claim 23 for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, wherein the first and second gain stage each comprises a length of doped optical fiber.

26. The optical amplifier of claim 25 for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, wherein the first and second gain stage each comprises an erbium-doped fiber amplifier.

27. The optical amplifier of claim 23 for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, wherein the multiplexed passband signals are in the C-band and the optical pump power has a nominal 980 nm wavelength.

28. The optical amplifier of claim 23 for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, further comprising a source of optical pump power.

29. The optical amplifier of claim 28 for amplifying multiplexed passband signals with optical pump power, wherein the source of optical pump power is a pump laser.