US Patent 10120149 Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical modules

Examples herein relate to a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical module configured for M optical fibers, N WDM wavelengths and M×N optical signals. The module comprises an active silicon interposer, the interposer comprises a (M/2)×N array of photodetectors established on a front side of the interposer and N chips for the N WDM wavelengths. Each chip comprises M lenses for M optical signals, the M lenses established on a back side of a GaAs substrate, the M lenses comprising a first group of M/2 lenses to focus M/2 optical input signals onto M/2 photodetectors of the (M/2)×N array, and a second group of M/2 lenses to collimate M/2 optical output signals, and M/2 Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) established on a front side of the GaAs substrate to generate the M/2 optical output signals.