Multi-channel optical multiplexers and demultiplexers, optical transmitter, receiver and transceiver comprising the same, and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Optical multiplexers, optical demultiplexers, optical modules including the same, and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The optical multiplexers include first and second structural blocks and a beam combiner. The first and second structural blocks each include at least one mirror and at least one filter, and are configured to combine a plurality of individual optical signals into a multi-channel optical signal. The beam combiner includes one or more mirrors and one or more filters, and is configured to combine the multi-channel optical signals into a further multi-channel optical output signal having the same number of channels as the multi-channel optical signals. The optical demultiplexers are structurally similar to the optical multiplexers, but provide a complementary or reverse function. The present multiplexers and demultiplexers reduce skew and/or accumulation of the geometric error over the channels in the multi-channel optical signal output from the multiplexer or input into the demultiplexer.