Wavelength division multiplexer architecture

An optical system comprising:

• a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source provides at least one wavelength of light that is different than wavelengths of light provided by the other sources of light;
• a collimating lens system that receives the light from the plurality of sources and provides collimated light;
• an optical multiplexer (MUX) that is configured to receive the collimated light, and to merge the collimated light into one optical path, wherein the MUX includes a plurality of tilting elements, wherein each tilting element receives collimated light from one source of the plurality of sources, and tilts the received light to a particular angle;
• and
• a waveguide having one end that is disposed in the one optical path to receive the merged light from the MUX.

An optical device for coupling light to a plurality of waveguides, the device comprising:

• a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source provides at least one wavelength of light that is different than wavelengths of light provided by the other light sources;
• a first plane located proximate to the light sources, and comprising plurality of first optical elements that collimate the light from the light sources, wherein each first optical elements is associated with a respective light source;
• a second plane located proximate to the first plane, and comprising a plurality of second optical elements that tilt the light from the first plan to a particular angle, wherein each second optical elements is associated with a respective first optical element;
• a third plane located proximate to the second plane, and comprising a plurality of bandpass filters, wherein each filter will pass a particular range of wavelengths of light and reflect other wavelengths of light, wherein the particular range is different for each of the bandpass filters, and each bandpass filter is located to pass light that has been tilted by a respective second optical element;
• and
• a fourth plane proximate to the third plane, and comprising a plurality of relay mirrors that reflect incident light, and a plurality of output lenses, wherein a number of the plurality of output lenses is equal to a number of the plurality of waveguides, wherein each relay mirror is located to receive light from a particular bandpass filter and reflect the light to another bandpass filter, wherein the relay lens and the bandpass filters operate to merging the light from the plurality of sources into an optical path, and wherein each output lens couples the light in the optical path to specific a waveguide;
• wherein the first plane, the second plane, the third plane, and the fourth plane are substantially parallel with each other;
• and
• wherein a number of the plurality of the light sources is greater than a number of the plurality of the waveguides.

An optical multiplexer (MUX) that is configured to receive collimated light from a plurality of light sources, the MUX comprising:

• means for tilting the collimated light received from each source of the plurality of sources to a particular angle;
• means for combining the tilted light onto a single optical path;
• and
• means for coupling the combined light into a fiber.