Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer Using a Polymer Integrated Photonic Lightwave Circuit

We have developed a fully functional reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) switch module using a polymer integrated photonic lightwave circuit technology. The polymer variable optical attenuator (VOA) array and digital optical switch array are integrated into one polymer PLC chip and packaged to form a 10-channel VOA integrated optical switch module. Four of these optical switch modules are used in the ROADM switch module to execute 40-channel switching and power equalization. As a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) filter device, two C-band 40-channel athermal arrayed waveguide grating WDMs are used in the ROADM module. Optical power monitoring of each channel is carried out using a 5% tap PD. A controller and firmware having the functions of a 40-channel switch and VOA control, optical power monitoring, as well as TEC temperature control, and data communication interfaces are also developed in this study.