Diplexer with integrated filters and photodetector in Ge/Si using X and M directions in a grating coupler

We demonstrate a diplexer in which the filter and photodetector are monolithically integrated on a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The photonic integrated circuit receives a 1577-nm signal from an external laser and sends it to the fiber link using a two-dimensional grating coupler. The same grating coupler receives a 1270 nm signal from the fiber link and sends it to a monolithically integrated germanium photodetector using a polarization-diversity scheme to achieve polarization independence. The grating coupler is novel in that both the X and M directions are employed. This allows the grating coupler to couple both the 1577- and 1270-nm wavelengths with a small fiber tilt angle and hence have low polarization-dependent loss.