Abstract:
The present invention describes systems (1, 12) and methods for control of optical devices and communications subsystems. The control system comprises ASIC sub-modules and programmable circuitry (25) which may be integrated into a self-contained, stand-alone module. In one embodiment, the module has one or more FPGAs (25) in conjunction with RF and Digital ASICs (30), an integrated cross-connect (36) between the FPGA and digital and RF ASIC" building blocks, and an integrated cross-connect (41) between the ASIC and optical circuits and supporting functions. Programmable chip control and other transmission and tuning functions, programmable transponders, and each FPGA/ASIC (25, 30) that is incorporated into a transponder form factor or a host board, can have the same or different functionalities and other parameters including but not limited to modulation format.
Abstract:
According to the present invention, a monolithically integrated laser (102), also referred to herein as a U-laser (102), or integrated dual optical emission laser (102), having a first optical emission (104) and a second optical emission (106) where both the first and second optical emissions (104), (106) of the monolithically integrated laser (102) are in optical communication with a modulator (108) or other device is provided. The integrated dual emission laser (102) can be formed with a a light bending portion (134) in variety of configurations including a waveguide in the form of a U-shape, or total internal reflection (TIR) mirrors, curved waveguides, and free-space etched gap mirrors. The integrated dual optical emission laser (102) can also have two laser gain sections (130), (148), one on each arm of the laser (102) to control gain.
Abstract:
Wavelength tunable submodules (104), arrayed in a module (100), for data communications is provided. Each submodule (104) has a wavelength tunable laser, and each submodule (104) comprises, as an individual unit, a self-contained wavelength locker having optical and/or optoelectronic functions. The system may be a transponder array comprising a plurality of WDM or DWDM modules (100). In some embodiments, the individual submodules (104) comprise photonic integrated wavelength tunable lasers with other optical, electrical and optoelectronic components (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122). Each wavelength tunable submodule (104) incorporated into the module 100 or module array can have the same or different output optical wavelength (132). By utilizing the wavelength tunable laser submodules to build a module or array, the need for individual modules dedicated to wavelength sub-bands in the array is eliminated and the same tunable module can fill all the wavelengths on a transmission fiber.