Title :
High reliability optical splitters composed of silica-based planar lightwave circuits
Author :
Hibino, Yoshinori ; Hanawa, Fumiaki ; Nakagome, Hiroshi ; Ishii, Motohaya ; Takato, Norio
Author_Institution :
NTT Opto-Electron. Labs., Ibaraki, Japan
fDate :
8/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The environmental and mechanical reliability of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC)-type optical splitter modules is investigated with reference to the Bellcore requirements. The module is composed of Y-branching silica-based waveguides on Si connected to optical fiber with UV-curable adhesives and is packaged in a metal case which is filled with humidity-resistant resin. High optical performance such as low loss, low reflection, and thermal stability are obtained through the use of this fiber connection technique. Ten reliability tests including long-term environmental and mechanical tests were carried out for more than ten PLC splitter modules. Under one of the most severe sets of conditions (75°C and 90% RH), all the 19 samples we tested were stable for more than 5000 hours. Other tests confirmed that the PLC splitters offer long-term stability and that their optical characteristics have sufficient mechanical strength. These results indicate that the PLC splitters can be used for practical applications
Keywords :
integrated circuit packaging; integrated circuit reliability; integrated optoelectronics; mechanical strength; optical elements; optical losses; optical planar waveguides; silicon compounds; thermal stability; 5000 h; 75 C; Bellcore requirements; UV-curable adhesives; fiber connection technique; high optical performance; high reliability optical splitters; humidity-resistant resin; long-term environmental; long-term stability; low loss; low reflection; mechanical reliability; mechanical strength; mechanical tests; metal case; optical characteristics; optical splitter module; packaged; reliability tests; silica-based planar lightwave circuits; thermal stability; Circuits; Optical fiber losses; Optical fibers; Optical reflection; Optical waveguides; Packaging; Performance loss; Programmable control; Resins; Testing;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
