Multi-Channel Optical Transmitter Assembly and Methods of Making and Using the Same

An optical transmitter, comprising:

• first, second, third and fourth lasers, respectively outputting first, second, third and fourth optical signals in parallel;
• one or more first mirrors, configured to reflect at least the first optical signal towards a first target, the reflected first optical signal crossing the second optical signal;
• a first beam splitter having the first target on a surface thereof, configured to combine the first and third optical signals by reflecting the first optical signal towards a second target and allowing the third optical signal to pass through towards the second target;
• a second beam splitter, configured to combine the second and fourth optical signals by reflecting the one of the second and fourth optical signals towards a third target and allowing the other of the second and fourth optical signals to pass through towards the third target;
• one or more second mirrors, configured to reflect at least one of the combined first and third optical signals and the combined second and fourth optical signals towards a fourth target, and
• a third beam splitter, configured to combine the combined first and third optical signals with the combined second and fourth optical signals by either (i) reflecting the combined first and third optical signals towards a fifth target and allowing the combined second and fourth optical signals to pass through towards the fifth target, or (ii) reflecting the second and fourth optical signals towards the fifth target and allowing the combined first and third optical signals to pass through towards the fifth target,
• wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth optical signals has a unique center wavelength corresponding to a channel of a multichannel optical communication system or network, and at least one other optical signal crosses over another of the optical signals.

A method of combining a plurality of polarized optical signals, comprising:

• combining first and second polarized optical signals by reflecting a first polarized optical signal towards a first target and allowing a second polarized optical signal to pass through towards the first target;
• and
• combining the first and second polarized optical signals with a third polarized optical signal by either (i) reflecting the third polarized optical signal towards a second target and allowing the first and second polarized optical signals to pass through towards the second target, or (ii) reflecting the first and second polarized optical signals towards the second target and allowing the third polarized optical signal to pass through towards the second target,
• wherein each of the first, second and third polarized optical signals has a unique center wavelength corresponding to a channel of a multichannel optical communication system or network, and the first and second targets are the same or different.