Detector array packaging technology for PLCs and its application in WDM subsystem

We describe the detector array packaging technology for a silica array waveguide grating (AWG) planar lightwave circuit (PLC). First, we show the design of a probe card on which the detector array mounts for the precision three-dimensional (3D) alignment. We then explain the process of packaging a 16-channel AWG at 200-GHz channel spacing with a 12-channel detector array. Experiment results showed that the total throughput loss is -6.1 dB. The influence of the distance between detector array and AWG during packaging has been studied. Finally, we discuss the applications of the detector array packaging technology.