Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090175573 | Photonic Integrated Circuits having Chirped Elements - Consistent with the present disclosure, optical devices are provided along different optical paths in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The optical components have different optical losses associated therewith so that optical signals propagating in the optical paths have desired power levels, which may be uniform, for example. | 07-09-2009 |
20090220235 | THREE-ARM DQPSK MODULATOR - A modulator is disclosed that includes three arms between a splitter portion and a coupler portion. The modulator typically requires at most a π/2 phase shift between constellation points. Accordingly, the modulator is more efficient and consumes less power. | 09-03-2009 |
20090245795 | HIGH CAPACITY TRANSMITTER IMPLEMENTED ON A PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A high capacity optical transmitter implemented on a photonic integrated circuit chip comprises a single light source which supplies a continuous wave having a particular wavelength to a plurality of modulators to form modulated optical information signals. A phase shifter is coupled to at least one of the modulators and is used to shift the phase of the corresponding modulated optical information signal associated with a particular modulator. A polarization beam combiner receives each of the modulated optical information signals from the modulators and the modulated optical information signal from the phase shifter and combines each of these signals to form a polarization multiplexed differential quadrature phase-shift keying signal. The light source, the plurality of modulators, the phase shifter and the polarization beam combiner are all integrated on the chip. | 10-01-2009 |
20090274458 | COMPACT OPTICAL MULTIPLEXER AND DEMULTIPLEXER - Consistent with the present disclosure, an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) is provided that includes first inputs and second inputs. Each of the first inputs receives a corresponding one of a plurality of first optical signals, each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of wavelengths. Second inputs are also provided, such that each second input is preferably provided between two adjacent first inputs. Each of the second inputs receives a corresponding one of a plurality of second optical signals, and each of the second plurality of optical signals has a corresponding one of those wavelengths. Each of the first plurality of optical signals, however, has a first polarization and each of the second plurality of optical signals has a second polarization different than the first polarization. Since the first optical signals are supplied through AWG inputs that are offset from the inputs that receives second optical signals, the first optical signals are supplied at a first AWG output that is spaced from a second AWG output that supplies the second optical signals. The second optical signals are supplied through the second output even though the second optical signals have the same (or substantially the same) wavelengths as the first optical signals. Accordingly, a single AWG may be provided to multiplex both first and second optical signals, thereby simplifying PIC design. | 11-05-2009 |
20090279576 | DUAL OUTPUT LASER SOURCE - A dual output laser source provided on a substrate outputs light from a first and second output. A portion of the light generated by the laser is supplied to a first modulator via the first output. A second portion of the light generated by the laser is supplied to a second modulator via the second output. The first modulator is provided on the substrate and generates a first modulated signal. The second modulator is also provided on the substrate and generates a second modulated signal. Each output of the laser is used to provide continuous wave light sources to components on photonic integrated circuit. | 11-12-2009 |
20100172611 | COMPACT PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - According to this disclosure, embodiments of the present invention include photonic integrated circuits having active and passive geometric regions geometrically arranged to provide for more compact integrated photonic integrated circuits which, in turn, leads to higher chip yields and lower fabrication costs. | 07-08-2010 |
20100247028 | PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH IMPROVED SIGNAL QUALITY AND ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE THRESHOLD - Embodiments of the present invention provide for enhanced monitoring of optical signal characteristics of an optical signal propagating in a signal channel of a photonic integrated circuit. The optical signal characteristics can be obtained with minimal signal loss in the optical signal path and reduced RF crosstalk, while the electrostatic discharge threshold for the photonic integrated circuit is increased, due to the inclusion of a second electro-optic element electrically coupled to a first electro-optic element as part of the signal channel. | 09-30-2010 |
20100290735 | PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING BENT ACTIVE COMPONENTS - Consistent with the present disclosure, the number of passive waveguides in a PIC are reduced by directly connecting active components to one another. Accordingly, optical signals propagating in the PIC may experience less loss, and, thus, improved performance may be achieved. In addition, active components may be bent or curved in order to obtain a more compact layout with greater device density. Reduced manufacturing costs can therefore be realized. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290790 | TUNABLE PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) may include transmit and receive PICs that include individually tunable optical elements. In one implementation, a device may include a number of optical elements that form a number of optical channels. Tuners may be used to modify a property associated with the at least one of the optical elements where the modified properties of the optical elements adjust a frequency grid of the optical channels. | 11-18-2010 |
20100322628 | COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVER - A coherent optical receiver circuit is disclosed in which various components of the optical receiver may be provided or integrated, in one example, on a common substrate. Further integration is achieved by incorporating various optical demultiplexer designs that are relatively compact and conserve space on the surface of the substrate. The optical receiver circuit may be used to demultiplex quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) optical signals. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322629 | POLARIZATION BEAM SPLITTER - Consistent with the present disclosure, a polarization multiplexed optical signal having optical signals with both TE and TM polarizations is supplied to an input of a polarization beam splitter (PBS). The PBS includes a first output that supplies TE polarized optical signals and a second output supplies TM polarized optical signals. A first polarizer is coupled to the second output of the PBS to pass the TM polarized optical signals, while rejecting light having other polarizations, such as the TE polarization. A rotator then rotates the light output from the first polarizer, so that such light has a TE polarization. A second polarizer is coupled to the rotator to filter light having a polarization other than the TE polarization. In addition, a third polarizer is coupled to the first output of the PBS in order to filter or block any TM light, for example, that may be output from the PBS with the TE polarized signal. Accordingly, the optical signals in the polarization multiplexed optical signal are effectively filtered, and some are rotated so that each has the same, e.g., TE polarization. Moreover, each optical signal is substantially free from light having extraneous polarizations and may be supplied to an optical hybrid circuit. Data carried by such optical signals may thus be reliably recovered. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322631 | Optical receiver integrated on a substrate - A coherent optical receiver circuit is disclosed in which various components of the optical receiver may be provided or integrated, in one example, on a common substrate. Further integration is achieved by incorporating various optical demultiplexer designs that are relatively compact and conserve space on the surface of the substrate. The optical receiver circuit may be used to demultiplex quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) optical signals. | 12-23-2010 |
20110150384 | OPTICAL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - Consistent with the present disclosure, a non-adiabatic polarization rotator is provided that can rotate the polarization of an incoming over a relatively short length. Light is supplied to the polarization rotator via a polarizer, which insures that the optical input to the polarization polarization rotator has a desired polarization. Preferably, the polarization rotator has a structure that is readily implemented with semiconductor materials and can be fabricated with known processing techniques. In addition, the polarization rotator and polarizer may include similar materials and/or layers, such that both may be readily integrated on a common substrate, such as an indium phosphide (InP) substrate. | 06-23-2011 |
20110243556 | TRANSCEIVER PHTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - The present invention provides for a transceiver comprising a transmitter portion and a receiver portion. The transmitter portion includes a laser, the laser providing an optical signal having one of a plurality of wavelengths. The optical signal from the laser is modulated to create a first wavelength-division multiplexed signal at an output of the transceiver. The optical signal from the laser is also used by a demultiplexer to demultiplexer a second wavelength-division multiplexed signal at an input of the transceiver. The use of the optical signal from the laser in both modulation and demodulation of wavelength-division multiplexed signals results in a transceiver having fewer discrete components resulting in a compact design and reduced costs. | 10-06-2011 |
20110293280 | Control of an Interferometric Optical Polarization Beam Splitter - The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to control an optical polarization beam splitter. A portion of an optical output of the polarization beam splitter is converted into a corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal is then provided to the polarization beam splitter as a control signal via a feedback loop. The polarization beam splitter controls a characteristic of the optical output of the polarization beam splitter in response to the received control signal. The characteristic, for example, may be controlled through thermo-optically or electro-optically. The control system may be used over a period of time to maintain the characteristic at a desired value, for example as the components of the polarization beam splitter, or other elements used in the control of the polarization beam splitter, age. | 12-01-2011 |
20120057874 | WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXED PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - Consistent with the present disclosure, an optical communication system, such as a passive optical network (PON), is provided that includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs). The OLT includes a plurality of photonic integrated circuits that have both optical transmitters and receivers provided therein. Accordingly, the OLT may have fewer components and a simpler, more reliable and cost-effective design than a conventional OLT including discrete components. In addition, various ONU configurations are provided that also have a simple design and fewer components. Thus, ONUs consistent with the present disclosure may also have reduced costs. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057875 | WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXED PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - Consistent with the present disclosure, an optical communication system, such as a passive optical network (PON), is provided that includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs). The OLT includes a plurality of photonic integrated circuits that have both optical transmitters and receivers provided therein. Accordingly, the OLT may have fewer components and a simpler, more reliable and cost-effective design than a conventional OLT including discrete components. In addition, various ONU configurations are provided that also have a simple design and fewer components. Thus, ONUs consistent with the present disclosure may also have reduced costs. | 03-08-2012 |
20130011098 | WIDE PASSBAND AWG - Consistent with the present disclosure, an AWG is provided that has grating waveguide groupings that extend between a first free space region and a second free space region. The difference in length (ΔL) between successive grating waveguides differs for each grouping of grating waveguides, such that, for example, the ΔL associated with a given grating waveguide grouping is not an integer multiple of any of the other grating waveguide groupings. The grating waveguide groupings direct images having relatively small wavelength differences to a given output waveguide, and each grating waveguide grouping has an associated passband, which is similar to that of the conventional AWG. Unlike the conventional AWG, however, multiple grating waveguide groupings are included in the same AWG, such that the spectra associated with the grating waveguide groupings combine to provide a transmission characteristic having a passband that is greater than any individual passband. Accordingly, even if the optical signal wavelengths vary or are offset from the center wavelength of the passband, such wavelengths may still be transmitted with less loss. | 01-10-2013 |
20130170782 | MACH-ZEHNDER INTERFEROMETER HAVING BENDED WAVEGUIDES - Consistent with the present disclosure, both arms of an MZ interferometer are “double-folded” and are bent in at least two locations to define first and second acute inner angles. Accordingly, the arms of the MZ interferometer may have substantially the same length, and, further, the MZ interferometer has a more compact geometry. In one example, the arms parallel each other and have a serpentine shape, and, in a further embodiment, the arms parallel one another and have a Z-shape. Accordingly, since the temperature of a PIC upon which the MZ interferometer is provided does not vary significantly over such short distances, the temperatures of both arms is substantially the same. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170787 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING TUNABLE SOURCES - Consistent with one example of the disclosed implementations, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) may be provided that includes s group of lasers and an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) disposed on a substrate. Each laser in the group may supply an optical signal, such that each optical signal has a different wavelength. Each laser may be tunable to at least two designated wavelengths, which are separated from one another by a free spectral range (FSR) of the AWG. As a result, the optical signals provided from each laser may be combined by the AWG, regardless of which designated wavelength the optical signals have. Accordingly, a PIC may be provided that has a relatively simple construction but can supply optical signals having tunable wavelengths. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170833 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING TUNABLE SOURCES - Pairs of distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are provided on a substrate. An arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) is also provided on the substrate having input waveguides, each of which being connected to a corresponding pair of DFB lasers. The wavelengths of optical signals supplied from each pair of DFB lasers may be spectrally spaced from one another by a free spectral range (FSR) of the AWG. By selecting either a first or second DFB laser in a pair and temperature tuning to adjust the wavelength, each pair of DFB lasers can supply optical signals at one of four wavelengths, pairs of which are spectrally spaced from one another by the FSR of the AWG. A widely tunable transmitter may thus be obtained. | 07-04-2013 |
20130279910 | Banded Semiconductor Optical Amplifier - A semiconductor optical amplifier module may include a beam splitter to split an optical signal into two polarization optical signals including a first polarization optical signal with a Transverse Magnetic (TM) polarization provided along a first path of two paths, and a second polarization optical signal with a Transverse Electric (TE) polarization provided along a second path of the two paths; a first rotator to rotate the TM polarization of the first polarization optical signal to TE polarization; a first semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify the rotated first polarization optical signal to output a first resultant optical signal; a second semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify the second polarization optical signal; and a second rotator to rotate the polarization of the amplified second polarization optical signal to output a second resultant optical signal; and a beam combiner to combine the first resultant optical signal and the second resultant optical signal. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279911 | RAMAN PUMP CIRCUIT - A Raman pump may include a dual output laser configured to output two optical signals; a delay interferometer configured to delay a first of the two optical signals to decorrelate the two optical signals from each other; and a combiner configured to combine the delayed first of the two optical signals and a second of the two optical signals to provide a Raman amplification signal. | 10-24-2013 |
20140001347 | ROTATOR EXTERNAL TO PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT | 01-02-2014 |
20140003759 | SHARED PROPAGATION REGION FOR AN OPTICAL MULTIPLEXER OR AN OPTICAL DEMULTIPLEXER | 01-02-2014 |
20140003763 | COHERENT DETECTION FOR AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING A MULTIPLEXER OR A DEMULTIPLEXER WITH A SHARED PROPAGATION REGION | 01-02-2014 |
20140003764 | POLARIZATION MATERIAL ON AN OPTICAL MULTIPLEXER OR AN OPTICAL DEMULTIPLEXER | 01-02-2014 |
20140133868 | INTENSITY-BASED MODULATOR - An optical modulator includes a splitter, phase modulators, amplitude modulators, intensity modulators, and a combiner. The splitter is configured to receive light, and split the light into portions of the light. Each of the phase modulators is configured to receive a corresponding one of the portions of the light, and modulate a phase of the portion of the light to provide a phase-modulated signal. Each of the amplitude modulators is configured to receive a corresponding one of the phase-modulated signals, and modulate an amplitude of the phase-modulated signal to provide an amplitude-modulated signal. Each of the intensity modulators is configured to receive a corresponding one of the amplitude-modulated signals, and modulate an intensity of the amplitude-modulated signals to provide an intensity-modulated signal. The combiner is configured to receive the intensity-modulated signals, combine the intensity-modulated signals into a combined signal, and output the combined signal. | 05-15-2014 |
20150049984 | OPTICAL HYBRID MIXER WITHOUT WAVEGUIDE CROSSINGS - A multimoded interference coupler may include: first and second inputs to receive first and second optical signals such that light is not supplied through any portion of a first gap extending between the first and second inputs; first and second outputs to provide first and second components associated with the first and second optical signals, such that light is not output through any portion of a second gap extending between the first and second outputs. The first and second inputs may be separated by a first distance. The first and second outputs may be separated by the first distance. The first input and the second output may be separated by a second distance being different than a third distance separating the second input and the first output. The first and second components may have a phase difference based on a difference between the second and third distances. | 02-19-2015 |