Optical component

An optical component comprising a connection end face to which an optical fiber array is connected and an optical circuit unit, wherein

• the connection end face includes:
• an optical input port;
• and
• an optical output port, and
• the optical circuit unit includes:
• an optical circuit connected to the optical input port;
• an optical branching circuit including a first port connected to the optical circuit, a second port connected to the optical output port, a third port adjacent to the second port, and a fourth port adjacent to the first port, the optical branching circuit configured to branch light input from the first port and output the light from the second port and the third port, and output light input from the second port from the fourth port;
• a first optical receiver connected to the third port of the optical branching circuit;
• and
• a second optical receiver connected to the fourth port of the optical branching circuit.

A method for aligning an optical fiber array with an optical component, the method comprising:

• providing an optical component including a connection end face having an optical input port and an optical output port, and an optical circuit unit having an optical circuit connected to the optical input port, an optical branching circuit including a first port connected to the optical circuit, a second port connected to the optical output port, a third port adjacent to the second port, and a fourth port adjacent to the first port, a first optical receiver connected to the third port, and a second optical receiver connected to the fourth port;
• aligning a first optical fiber of the optical fiber array by inputting light from the first optical fiber to the optical input port, monitoring light intensity using the first optical receiver, and adjusting a position of an optical fiber block in an XY direction to maximize the light intensity;
• aligning a second optical fiber of the optical fiber array by inputting light from the second optical fiber to the optical output port, monitoring light intensity using the second optical receiver, and adjusting the position of the optical fiber block in the XY direction to maximize the light intensity;
• calculating a deviation amount in a θ-axis rotation direction based on a relative position between the position obtained in the aligning of the first optical fiber and the position obtained in the aligning of the second optical fiber;
• and
• rotating the optical fiber block by the deviation amount in the θ-axis rotation direction.

An optical component comprising an optical branching circuit, the optical component comprising:

• a connection end face having an optical input port and an optical output port;
• and
• an optical circuit unit including:
• an optical circuit connected to the optical input port;
• the optical branching circuit having a first port configured to receive light from the optical circuit, a second port adjacent to a third port and configured to output a first portion of the light received from the first port to the optical output port, the third port configured to output a second portion of the light received from the first port to a first optical receiver for monitoring optical power, and a fourth port adjacent to the first port and configured to receive light input from the second port and output the light to a second optical receiver for fiber alignment;
• the first optical receiver connected to the third port;
• and the second optical receiver connected to the fourth port, wherein the optical branching circuit is configured as a two-input two-output branching circuit that enables monitoring of light intensity from both an optical circuit output direction and an optical output port input direction without requiring additional branching circuits for alignment.