OPTICAL DEVICE

1 . Optical component ( 10 , 300 ) for processing optical signals,

wherein

a rhombic prism ( 20 ) having

a first surface (SF 1 ),

a second surface (SF 2 ) that is parallel to the first surface,

a third surface (SF 3 ) that is angled relative to the first and second surfaces (SF 1 , SF 2 ) and connects the first and second surfaces (SF 1 , SF 2 ), and

a fourth surface (SF 4 ) that is parallel to the third surface and connects the first and second surfaces,

wherein the third surface (SF 3 ) is covered by a polarization dependent layer (PDL) capable of transmitting radiation having a first polarization and capable of reflecting radiation having a second polarization, said first and second polarizations being perpendicular to each other.

2 . Optical component according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the optical component is an optical receiver ( 10 ),

wherein the first surface (SF 1 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) is configured to allow inputting of at least one optical beam into the receiver,

wherein the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) forms a first prism egress for outputting a first portion of the at least one optical beam, said first portion having the first polarization, and wherein the third surface (SF 3 ) is configured to reflect a second portion of the at least one optical beam towards the fourth surface (SF 4 ), said second portion having the second polarization,

wherein the fourth surface SF 4 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) is configured to reflect the second portion towards the second surface (SF 2 ), and

wherein the second surface (SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) forms a second prism egress for outputting the second portion of the at least one optical beam.

3 . Optical component according to claim 2 ,

wherein

the first surface (SF 1 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) provides at least two input ports for inputting at least two parallel optical beams into the receiver ( 10 ),

the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) provides at least two prism output ports for outputting the first portion of each of said at least two parallel optical beams, and

the second surface (SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) provides at least two prism output ports for outputting the second portion of each of said at least two parallel optical beams.

4 . Optical component according to claim 3 ,

wherein

the second surface (SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) is covered with a polarization rotating layer (PRL) that rotates the polarization of the second portion of each of said at least two parallel optical beams by an angle of 90°.

5 . Optical component according to claim 2 ,

wherein

the optical component comprises a first optical receiver unit ( 40 ) and a second optical receiver unit ( 50 ).

6 . Optical component according to claim 5 ,

wherein

said at least two prism output ports of the third surface (SF 3 ) and the first optical receiver unit ( 40 ) are connected via a first group of free-beam connections (FBC 1 ), and

said at least two prism output ports of the second surface (SF 2 ) and the second optical receiver unit ( 50 ) are connected via a second group of free-beam connections (FBC 2 ).

7 . Optical component according to claim 6 ,

wherein

the first optical receiver unit ( 40 ) comprises a MMI coupler ( 220 ) having two MMI-ports each of which being connected to one of said at least two prism output ports of the second or third surface (SF 2 , SF 3 ), and

the second optical receiver unit ( 50 ) comprises a second MMI-coupler having two MMI-ports each of which being connected to one of said at least two prism output ports of the second or third surface (SF 2 , SF 3 ).

8 . Optical component according to claim 2 ,

wherein

the optical component comprises a second prism ( 30 ) providing a fifth surface (SF 5 ) and a sixth surface (SF 6 ), said second prism ( 30 ) being arranged in the beam path between the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) and the first optical receiver unit ( 40 ),

wherein the fifth surface (SF 5 ) is parallel to the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ), and

wherein the sixth surface (SF 6 ) is parallel to the first and second surfaces (SF 1 , SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ).

9 . Optical component according claim 1 ,

wherein

the optical component is an optical transmitter ( 300 ),

wherein the first surface (SF 1 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) is configured to allow outputting of at least one optical beam that comprises the first and second polarizations, from the transmitter ( 300 ),

wherein the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) forms a first prism ingress for inputting at least one optical beam having the first polarization, and

wherein the second surface (SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) forms a second prism ingress for inputting at least one optical beam having the second polarization.

10 . Optical component according to claim 9 ,

wherein

the optical component comprises a second prism ( 30 ) providing a fifth surface (SF 5 ) and a sixth surface (SF 6 ), said second prism ( 30 ) being arranged in the beam path between the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) and a modulator,

wherein the fifth surface (SF 5 ) is parallel to the third surface (SF 3 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ), and

wherein the sixth surface (SF 6 ) is parallel to the first and second surfaces (SF 1 , SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ).

11 . Optical component according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the first polarization is the horizontal polarization, and

the second polarization is the vertical polarization.

12 . Optical component according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the second surface (SF 2 ) of the rhombic prism ( 20 ) or sixth surface (SF 6 ) of the second rhombic prism ( 30 ) is covered with a polarization rotating layer that rotates the polarization of optical radiation by an angle of 90°.

13 . Optical component according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the polarization rotating layer is a half-wave plate.