Wavelength-division multiplexing optical assembly with increased lane density

A wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical assembly, comprising:

• an optical signal router;
• a first WDM filter having a first passband;
• a second WDM filter having a second passband;
• a first common port configured for optical communication of a first multiplexed signal;
• a second common port configured for optical communication of a second multiplexed signal;
• a first optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the second WDM filter, and the first common port;
• and
• a second optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the second WDM filter, and the second common port;
• and
• a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first common port is mounted to the first side of the substrate and the second common port is mounted to the second side of the substrate.

A method of manufacturing a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical assembly, comprising:

• positioning a first WDM filter having a first passband relative to an optical signal router;
• positioning a first common port relative to the optical signal router, the first common port configured for optical communication of a first multiplexed signal;
• positioning a first channel port relative to the optical signal router, the first channel port configured for optical communication of a first demultiplexed signal, the first multiplexed signal comprising the first demultiplexed signal;
• forming a first optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the first common port, and the first channel port;
• positioning a second common port relative to the optical signal router, the second common port configured for optical communication of a second multiplexed signal;
• positioning a second channel port relative to the optical signal router, the second channel port configured for optical communication of a second demultiplexed signal, the second multiplexed signal comprising the second demultiplexed signal;
• forming a second optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the second common port, and the second first channel port
• mounting the first common port to a first side of a substrate;
• and
• mounting the second common port to a second side of the substrate, wherein the first side of the substrate is opposite from the second side of the substrate.

A method of manufacturing a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical assembly, comprising:

• positioning a first WDM filter having a first passband relative to an optical signal router;
• positioning a second WDM filter having a second passband relative to the optical signal router;
• positioning a first common port relative to the optical signal router, the first common port configured for optical communication of a first multiplexed signal;
• positioning a second common port relative to the optical signal router, the second common port configured for optical communication of a second multiplexed signal;
• forming a first optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the second WDM filter, and the first common port;
• and
• forming a second optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the second WDM filter, and the second common port;
• mounting the first common port to a first side of a substrate;
• and
• mounting the second common port to a second side of the substrate, wherein the first side of the substrate is opposite from the second side of the substrate.

A wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first common collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a first multiplexed signal;
• a first common fiber optic pigtail operatively coupled to the first common collimator and extending from the housing;
• a second common collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a second multiplexed signal;
• a second common fiber optic pigtail operatively coupled to the second common collimator and extending from the housing;
• a first channel collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a first demultiplexed signal;
• a first channel fiber optic pigtail operatively coupled to the first channel collimator and extending from the housing;
• a second channel collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a second demultiplexed signal;
• a second channel fiber optic pigtail operatively coupled to the second channel collimator and extending from the housing;
• and
• a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical assembly positioned within the housing, the WDM optical assembly comprising:
• an optical signal router;
• a first WDM filter having a first passband;
• and
• a first optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the first common collimator, and the first channel collimator;
• and
• a second optical path comprising the optical signal router, the first WDM filter, the second common collimator, and the second channel collimator.

A transceiver, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first common collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a first multiplexed signal;
• a second common collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a second multiplexed signal;
• a first channel collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a first demultiplexed signal;
• a second channel collimator positioned within the housing and configured for optical communication of a second demultiplexed signal;
• and
• a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical assembly positioned within the housing, the WDM optical assembly comprising:
• an optical signal router;
• and
• a first WDM filter having a first passband;
• a first optical path comprising the first common collimator and the first channel collimator;
• and
• a second optical path comprising the second common collimator and the second channel collimator;
• wherein the housing is configured for compliance with quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) standards.

A wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical assembly, comprising:

• an optical signal router;
• and
• a first WDM filter having a first passband, the first WDM filter optically positioned relative to the optical signal router to at least partially form:
• a first optical path between a first common port configured for optical communication of a first multiplexed signal and a first channel port configured for optical communication of a first demultiplexed signal, the first multiplexed signal comprising the first demultiplexed signal;
• and
• a second optical path between a second common port configured for optical communication of a second multiplexed signal and a second channel port configured for optical communication of a second demultiplexed signal, the second multiplexed signal comprising the second demultiplexed signal;
• wherein the first WDM filter comprises a face having a first area disposed towards a first end of the face and a second area disposed towards a second end of the face opposite the first end, the first area of the first WDM filter defines the first optical path, and the second area of the first WDM filter defines the second optical path.