Improvement of cost-effective optical module for optical access system

Drastic cost reduction is essential to achieve fiber-to-the-home. The optical module is the key component for a dramatic cost reduction because it dominates the cost of the optical access system. The optical module for compact disk players is a successful forerunner. Learning from this, a cost-effective optical module for single-mode fiber transmission is successfully designed. But to realize such a low prices, it is necessary to expand the applicable market sizes as that of pickup for compact disks. We would like to discuss four points as follows. 1. Design concept and its performances. 2. Newly developed optical module with 1.3/1.5 /spl mu/m wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) filter. 3. Details of the new module from the viewpoint of production and assembly line. 4. Application of this technology to other markets.