Compact multichannel in-line power monitor

We report a pigtailed compact eight-channel in-line optical power monitor module based on a polymeric waveguide splitter array with a surface mounted photodetector (PD) chip. This prototype device comprised 50/50 power splitters and exhibited an average fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 5.2 dB at 1310 nm and 5.3 dB at 1550 nm. An average PD coupling efficiency of -2.6 dB and crosstalk of -17.1 dB to adjacent channels was observed. We confirmed low variation of these values (standard deviation /spl sigma/<0.1 dB) in the 1290-1330 nm and 1525-1565 nm optical windows and over an input power range of 12 dB.