Assembly and wiring technologies on PLC platforms for low-cost and high-speed applications

The hybrid integration of silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platforms and semiconductor opto-electronic devices is a technology that shows promise for the development of highly functional opto-electronic modules. These modules are expected to offer both optical signal and electrical signal processing functions. The silica PLC has already realized various optical signal processing functions such as those in the couplers, the switches and the arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) wavelength multiplexers. Therefore, the technologies to improve the performance of electrical circuits on PLC platforms are significant to realize high-functional opto-electronic modules. We introduced a PLC platform with a silica-on-terraced silicon (STS) structure. Using the PLC platform, we can easily align optoelectronic devices to the silica waveguide. However, the silicon substrate caused parasitic capacitance and propagation loss in the electrical circuits on the platform.