Optical interface for bidirectional communications

An optical assembly, comprising:

• an optical interface comprising at least:
• a first portion having at least one optical conduit interface with a first axis for optically coupling with at least one optical conduit;
• a second portion having at least one transmitter interface with a second axis for optically coupling with a transmitting optical device, and at least one receiver interface with a third axis for optical coupling with a receiving optical device, said first, second and third axes being essentially parallel;
• and
• a wavelength filter element (WFE), said WFE being a single component discrete from first and second portions, said WFE being held in place by said first and second portions, said WFE defining a first optical path between said transmitter interface and said optical conduit interface, and a second optical path between said optical conduit interface and said receiver interface;
• a substrate defining a planar surface essentially perpendicular to said first, second and third axes, said optical interface being disposed on said planar surface;
• at least one transmitting optical device optically coupled with said transmitter interface;
• at least one receiving optical device optically coupled with said receiver interface;
• a transmitter driver mounted on said substrate, adjacent said transmitting optical device;
• a receiver driver mounted on said substrate, adjacent said receiving optical device;
• at least one circuit board comprising transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry, said circuit board being essentially parallel to said axes;
• and
• at least one flexible circuit electrically connecting said transmitter driver to said transmitter circuitry, and connecting said receiver driver to said receiver circuitry.

A transceiver comprising:

• an optical assembly comprising at least:
• an optical interface comprising at least:
• a first portion having at least one optical conduit interface with a first axis for optically coupling with at least one optical conduit;
• a second portion having at least one transmitter interface with a second axis for optically coupling with a transmitting optical device, and at least one receiver interface with a third axis for optical coupling with a receiving optical device, said first, second and third axes being essentially parallel;
• and
• a wavelength filter element (WFE), said WFE being a single component discrete from first and second portions, said WFE being held in place by said first and second portions, said WFE defining a first optical path between said transmitter interface and said optical conduit interface, and a second optical path between said optical conduit interface and said receiver interface;
• a substrate defining a planar surface essentially perpendicular to said first, second and third axes, said optical interface being disposed on said planar surface;
• at least one transmitting optical device optically coupled with said transmitter interface;
• at least one receiving optical device optically coupled with said receiver interface;
• a transmitter driver mounted on said substrate, adjacent said transmitting optical device;
• a receiver driver mounted on said substrate, adjacent said receiving optical device;
• at least one circuit board comprising transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry, said circuit board being essentially parallel to said axes;
• and
• at least one flexible circuit electrically connecting said transmitter driver to said transmitter circuitry, and connecting said receiver driver to said receiver circuitry;
• a housing containing said optical assembly;
• and
• an adapter adjacent said optical interface to receive an optical connector.