Abstract

One of the key elements for the deployment of ATM Passive Optical Networks (PON) is the transceiver, having simultaneously the capability to emit, to receive and also to discriminate the two optical wavelengths. If each of these func-tionalities is individually well demonstrated, the development of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) based transceivers is still a challenge.¹ Moreover, as these opto-electronic devices come closer to the end user, the module price is becoming one of the major criterions. It is commonly believed that an important manufacturing cost down should be achieved by integrated the optoelectronic components on a single substrate. Thanks to Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC), a first technology breakthrough has already been demonstrated,^2,3 the second one, leading to a cost-down by a factor of 2,⁴ would be obtained as soon as PIC Transceivers will be available.

© 2002 Optical Society of America