Low Loss 16-Channel Photodetector Array Receiving Module With Fine Tuning Ability

A 16-channel photodetector array receiving module with good performance as low loss, fine tuning and high reliability is manufactured in our laboratory. The whole module was consisted with a silica arrayed waveguide grating chip (AWG), a thermo-optical type variable optical attenuator (VOA), a photodetectors (PDs) array with direct-current (DC) bias circuit, all components were integrated via 3D package method. In the article, the structure parameters of Y branch and edge couplers were optimized for lower loss. In order to realize excellent tuning ability, Titanium was selected as heating material for precisely tuning and its electric attenuation range could reach at a level more than 20 dB. Periodically segmented waveguide coupler designed in passive chips could minimize coupling loss less than 0.4 dB/coupling. The high-performance receiving module could effectively improve detection quality and significantly enlarge capacity in communication system.