Compact optical module for EDFA

There is some problem to construct a small sized EDFA (Erbium doped fiber amplifier), because it contains many optical components, optical fibers and fusion-splice portions, which require large mounting space and careful quality control. To solve such problem, we have developed compact optical modules for a 1.48 /spl mu/m pumping EDFA. There are two types of modules, a forward module and a backward module, and each module is only 32/spl times/14/spl times/7 mm in size. In this paper we describe design and characteristics of these modules. Characteristics of EDFA which is packaged in 120/spl times/95/spl times/10 mm case, using these modules, a coiled EDF and a pumping laser diode module, are also described.