Asymmetrical scaling of co-packaged optics

A system comprising:

• a light source configured to generate a light beam comprising a plurality of different wavelengths, polarizations, and/or wavelength-polarization combinations;
• and
• an optical assembly comprising:
• an optical module comprising a plurality of transmitters;
• at least one transmitter optical fiber;
• an optical coupler operably coupled to the optical module via the at least one transmitter optical fiber;
• and
• a plurality of optical output ports coupleable to corresponding receiver optical fibers;
• wherein the optical module is configured to receive a light beam, direct portions of the light beam to corresponding transmitters of the plurality of transmitters to produce a plurality of optical signals from the light beam, and combine the plurality of optical signals into the at least one transmitter optical fiber as at least one combined optical signal;
• wherein the optical coupler is configured to split the at least one combined optical signal into a plurality of optical signals based on a wavelength, a polarization, or wavelength-polarization combinations of each optical signal, and route the plurality of optical signals to corresponding optical output ports for transmission to corresponding receivers via a plurality of receiver optical fibers, and
• wherein a number of transmitter optical fibers is less than a number of optical output ports,
• wherein the optical module of the optical assembly comprises, or is operably coupled to, the light source.

A method comprising:

• receiving a light beam at an optical module of an optical assembly;
• directing portions of the light beam to a plurality of corresponding transmitters of the optical module to produce a plurality of optical signals;
• combining the plurality of optical signals into at least one transmitter optical fiber as at least one combined optical signal;
• transmitting the at least one combined optical signal to an optical coupler via the at least one transmitter optical fiber;
• splitting, at the optical coupler, the at least one combined optical signal into a plurality of optical signals based on wavelength, polarization, or wavelength-polarization combinations of each optical signal;
• and
• routing the plurality of optical signals to corresponding optical output ports of the optical assembly for transmission to corresponding receivers via a plurality of receiver optical fibers;
• wherein a number of transmitter optical fibers is less than a number of optical output ports.