Optical packaging of PLC optical splitter and their reliability tests

Optical packaging process and the results of reliability tests of a 1times4 optical power splitter is presented. In this process, the functional optical tests as well as environmental reliability tests are performed for the stability purpose. The maximum insertion loss (IL) of 7.0 dB with good uniformity of < 0.2 dB and low polarization-dependent loss (PDL) of 0.2 dB are obtained. The Swept Wavelength System (SWS) optical test shows the optical splitter can perform low IL well across the C-L band. Under the 50-cycles temperature- cycling test from -40degC to 85degC, IL variation of < 0.3 dB and PDL variation of < 0.07 dB are obtained. Low IL variation of < 0.21 dB is also obtained from the result of a 678-hours damp-heat test at 85degC/ 85% RH.