U.S. patent application number 15/192047 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-20 for optical communication system having tunable sources.
The applicant listed for this patent is Infinera Corporation. Invention is credited to Timothy BUTRIE, Masaki KATO, Michael Francis Van LEEUWEN, Radhakrishnan L. NAGARAJAN.
Application Number | 20160306113 15/192047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48694885 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160306113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAGARAJAN; Radhakrishnan L. ;
et al. |
October 20, 2016 |
OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING TUNABLE SOURCES
Abstract
An optical communication system with tunable sources may include
a first optical source configured to supply a first optical signal
having a first wavelength and a second optical source configured to
supply a second optical signal having a second wavelength. An
arrayed waveguide grating may include input waveguides having
associated first and second passbands, the first passband being
spectrally spaced from the second passband, the first passband
including the first wavelength and the second passband including
the second wavelength. A control circuit may selectively control
the first and second optical sources to supply one of the first and
second optical signals to one of the input waveguides, wherein,
when the first optical signal is supplied to one of the plurality
of input waveguides, the first optical signal is output from the
output waveguide, and when the second optical signal is supplied to
one of the plurality of input waveguides, the second optical signal
is output from the output waveguide.
Inventors: |
NAGARAJAN; Radhakrishnan L.;
(Cupertino, CA) ; KATO; Masaki; (Palo Alto,
CA) ; LEEUWEN; Michael Francis Van; (Bethesda,
MD) ; BUTRIE; Timothy; (Orefield, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Infinera Corporation |
Annapolis Junction |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48694885 |
Appl. No.: |
15/192047 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13341111 |
Dec 30, 2011 |
9379838 |
|
|
15192047 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/12019 20130101;
G02F 1/2257 20130101; G02B 6/12026 20130101; H01S 5/4087 20130101;
G02F 2001/212 20130101; H04J 14/02 20130101; H01S 5/02453
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/12 20060101
G02B006/12; G02F 1/225 20060101 G02F001/225; H01S 5/40 20060101
H01S005/40; H04J 14/02 20060101 H04J014/02; H01S 5/024 20060101
H01S005/024 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first optical source configured to
supply a first optical signal having a first wavelength at a first
temperature and a second optical signal having a second wavelength
at a second temperature; a second optical source configured to
supply a third optical signal having a third wavelength at the
first temperature and a fourth optical signal having a fourth
wavelength at the second temperature; an arrayed waveguide grating
including a plurality of input waveguides, a first dielectric slab,
a second dielectric slab, a plurality of intermediate waveguides
extending between the first and second dielectric slabs, and an
output waveguide, one of the plurality of input waveguides having
associated first and second passbands at the first temperature, the
first passband is spectrally spaced from the second passband, the
first passband including the first wavelength and the second
passband including the second wavelength, and said one of the
plurality of input waveguides having associated third and fourth
passbands at the second temperature, the third passband including
the third wavelength and the fourth passband including the fourth
wavelength; and a control circuit configured to selectively control
the first and second optical sources to supply one of the first
optical signal or the second optical signal to said one of the
plurality of input waveguides at the first temperature and one of
the third or fourth optical signals at the second temperature,
wherein, when the first optical signal is supplied to said one of
the plurality of input waveguides, the first optical signal is
output from the output waveguide, when the second optical signal is
supplied to said one of the plurality of input waveguides, the
second optical signal is output from the output waveguide, when the
third optical signal is supplied to said one of the plurality of
input waveguides, the third optical signal is output from the
output waveguide, and, when the fourth optical signal is supplied
to said one of the plurality of input waveguides, the fourth
optical signal is output from the output waveguide.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including: a
substrate, the arrayed waveguide grating and the first and second
optical sources being provided on the substrate; a first heater;
and a second heater; wherein the first and second heaters are
configured to heat the first optical source to the second
temperature.
3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first
heater includes a carrier on a chip (COC).
4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first
heater includes a thin film heater.
5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the substrate
includes indium phosphide (InP).
6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and
second passbands are separated by an free spectral range associated
with the arrayed waveguide grating.
7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the FSR is
substantially equal 500 GHz.
8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first
wavelength has an associated first frequency, the second wavelength
has an associated second frequency, the third wavelength has an
associated third frequency, and the fourth wavelength has an
associated fourth frequency, the first and third frequencies being
spectrally spaced from one another by 250 GHz, and the second and
fourth frequencies being separated from one another by 250 GHz.
9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one of
the plurality of input waveguides is a first one of the plurality
of input waveguides, the apparatus further including fourth and
fifth optical sources, the fourth optical source being configured
to supply a fifth optical signal having a fifth wavelength, and the
fifth optical signal having a sixth wavelength, wherein the control
circuit controls the fourth and fifth optical sources to selective
supply one of the fifth and sixth optical signals to a second one
of the plurality of input waveguides.
10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and
second optical sources include first and second lasers,
respectively, that output signals to first and second Mach-Zehnder
interferometers, respectively.
11. An apparatus, comprising: a first optical source configured to
supply a first optical signal having a first wavelength; a second
optical source configured to supply a second optical signal having
a second wavelength; a third optical source configured to supply a
third optical signal having a third wavelength; a fourth optical
source configured to supply a fourth optical signal having a fourth
wavelength; an arrayed waveguide grating having a plurality of
input waveguides, a plurality of intermediate waveguides, and an
output waveguide, one of the plurality of input waveguides having
associated first, second, third, and fourth passbands, the first
passband including the first wavelength, the second passband
including the second wavelength, the third passband including the
third wavelength, and the fourth passband including the fourth
wavelength; a control circuit configured to selectively control the
first, second, third and fourth optical sources to supply one of
the first, second, third, or fourth optical signals to said one of
the plurality of input waveguides, wherein, when the first optical
signal is supplied to said one of the plurality of input
waveguides, the first optical signal is output from the output
waveguide, when the second optical signal is supplied to said one
of the plurality of input waveguides, the second optical signal is
output from the output waveguide, when the third optical signal is
supplied to said one of the plurality of input waveguides, the
third optical signal is output from the output waveguide, and, when
the fourth optical signal is supplied to said one of the plurality
of input waveguides, the fourth optical signal is output from the
output waveguide.
12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first
passband is spectrally spaced from the second passband by a free
spectral range (FSR) of the arrayed waveguide grating, the second
passband is spectrally spaced from the third passband by the FSR,
and the third passband is spectrally spaced from the fourth
passband by the FSR.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120
[0001] The present Application for patent is a divisional of, and
claims priority to, U.S. Pat. No. 9,379,838, entitled "OPTICAL
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING TUNABLE SOURCES," filed Dec. 30, 2011,
issued Jun. 28, 2016, assigned to the assignee hereof, and
expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication
systems are known in which multiple modulated optical signals, each
having a different wavelength, are transmitted on a common optical
communication path. The wavelengths of such optical signals are
often in a so-called "C-band", i.e., within a range of 1530 nm to
1565 nm. The C-band corresponds to a low loss window or range of
silica based optical fibers. The optical signal wavelengths often
conform to a grid, in which each wavelength is spectrally spaced
from one another by a uniform spectral spacing, such as 25 GHz.
[0003] WDM optical communication systems often include optical
transmitters, which output the optical signals, and an optical
combiner, which combines the optical signals into a WDM optical
signal that is supplied to one end of an optical communication
path. At a receive end, the optical signals may be demultiplexed
and supplied to corresponding optical receivers.
[0004] In many WDM optical communication systems, the optical
transmitters, as well as the optical combiner are provided as
discrete components.
[0005] Photonic integrated circuits (PICs), however, are known in
which the transmitters and the optical combiner are provided or
integrated on a common substrate. The light from each transmitter,
which may include a semiconductor laser (e.g., a distributed
feedback or DFB laser), may be separately modulated to carry a
corresponding data stream and combined by the optical combiner to
provide the wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal.
PIC-based optical communication systems may have improved
reliability and reduced cost compared to systems including discrete
transmitter and combiner components.
[0006] PICs have been deployed whereby the wavelengths of the light
supplied from each laser is substantially fixed. Accordingly,
specific PICs may be designed and manufactured to provide optical
signals having specific wavelengths, such that, one PIC is
fabricated to supply optical signals having first wavelengths for
use in a particular network implementation, while a second PIC may
be fabricated to supply optical signals having second wavelengths
for use in a different network implementation.
[0007] In order to reduce manufacturing costs, a common PIC having
tunable lasers that may be configured to output light having
different wavelengths over a relative wide spectral range or band
is desired. Typically, wavelength tuning may be achieved by
changing the temperature of the tunable laser. In order to tune the
laser over a wide range, the temperature of the laser must also be
adjusted over a wide range. If the tuning temperature extends from
room temperature at the low end of the range, the tuning
temperature at the high end can be excessive and could exceed the
junction temperature at which the lasers reliably operate.
Moreover, at higher temperatures, the laser output power may drop,
particularly if the laser is a DFB laser.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need to provide a PIC having tunable
lasers that can supply optical signals having wavelengths that may
be tuned over a wide spectral range but with manageable changes in
temperature.
SUMMARY
[0009] According to one aspect, an apparatus may comprise a first
optical source configured to supply a first optical signal having a
first wavelength; a second optical source configured to supply a
second optical signal having a second wavelength; an arrayed
waveguide grating having input waveguides, a first dielectric slab,
a second dielectric slab, intermediate waveguides extending between
the first and second dielectric slabs, and an output waveguide, one
of the input waveguides having associated first and second
passbands, the first passband being spectrally spaced from the
second passband, the first passband including the first wavelength
and the second passband including the second wavelength. A control
circuit may be configured to selectively control the first and
second optical sources to supply one of the first and second
optical signals to one of the input waveguides, wherein, when the
first optical signal is supplied to one of the input waveguides,
the first optical signal is output from the output waveguide, and
when the second optical signal is supplied to one of the plurality
of input waveguides, the second optical signal is output from the
output waveguide.
[0010] According to another aspect, an apparatus may include a
first optical source configured to supply a first optical signal
having a first wavelength at a first temperature and a second
optical signal having a second wavelength at a second temperature.
The apparatus may further include a second optical source
configured to supply a third optical signal having a third
wavelength at the first temperature and a fourth optical signal
having a fourth wavelength at the second temperature; an arrayed
waveguide grating may have input waveguides, a first dielectric
slab, a second dielectric slab, intermediate waveguides extending
between the first and second dielectric slabs, and an output
waveguide, one of the input waveguides having associated first and
second passbands at the first temperature, the first passband being
spectrally spaced from the second passband, the first passband
including the first wavelength and the second passband including
the second wavelength, and one of the input waveguides having
associated third and fourth passbands at the second temperatures,
the third passband including the third wavelength and the fourth
passband including the fourth wavelength. A control circuit may be
configured to selectively control the first and second optical
sources to supply one of the first or second optical signals to one
of the quantity of input waveguides at the first temperature and
one of the third and fourth optical signals at the second
temperature, wherein, when the first optical signal is supplied to
said one of the input waveguides, the first optical signal is
output from the output waveguide, when the second optical signal is
supplied to one of the plurality of input waveguides, the second
optical signal is output from the output waveguide, when the third
optical signal is supplied to one of the input waveguides, the
third optical signal is output from the output waveguides, and,
when the fourth optical signal is supplied to one of the input
waveguides, the fourth optical signal is output from the output
waveguide.
[0011] According to another aspect, an apparatus may include a
substrate; a first set of optical sources provided on the
substrate, each of which being configured to supply a corresponding
one of a first quantity of optical signals at a first temperature,
each of the first optical signals having a corresponding one of a
first quantity of wavelengths; a second set of optical sources
provided on the substrate, each of which being configured to supply
a corresponding one of a second quantity of optical signals at the
first temperature, each of the second quantity of optical signals
having a corresponding one of a second quantity of wavelengths,
such that, at a second temperature, each of the first quantity of
optical sources supplies a corresponding one of a third quantity of
optical signals, each of which having a corresponding one of a
third quantity of wavelengths, and, at the second temperature, each
of the second quantity of optical sources supplies a corresponding
one of a fourth quantity of optical signals, each of which having a
corresponding one of a fourth quantity of wavelengths. The
apparatus may further include an arrayed waveguide grating provided
on the substrate, the arrayed waveguide grating having a quantity
of input waveguides, a first dielectric slab, a second dielectric
slab, a quantity of intermediate waveguides extending between the
first and second dielectric slabs, and an output waveguide, such
that: at a first temperature, each of the quantity of input
waveguides being associated with a corresponding one of a first
quantity of passbands and a corresponding one of a second quantity
of passbands, each of the first quantity of passbands including a
corresponding one of the first quantity of wavelengths and each of
the second quantity of passbands including a corresponding one of
the second quantity of wavelengths, and at a second temperature,
each of the quantity of input waveguides being associated with a
corresponding one of a third quantity of passbands and a
corresponding one of a fourth quantity of passbands, each of the
third quantity of passbands including a corresponding one of the
third quantity of wavelengths and each of the fourth quantity of
passbands including a corresponding one of the fourth quantity of
wavelengths, a control circuit configured to selectively control
the first quantity of optical sources and the second quantity of
optical sources to supply at least one of either the first quantity
of optical signals or the second quantity of optical signals,
wherein, said at least one of either the first quantity of optical
signals or the second quantity of optical signals is supplied to
the output waveguide of the arrayed waveguide grating.
[0012] In another aspect, an apparatus may include a first optical
source configured to supply a first optical signal having a first
wavelength; a second optical source configured to supply a second
optical signal having a second wavelength; a third optical source
configured to supply a third optical signal having a third
wavelength; a fourth optical source configured to supply a fourth
optical signal having a fourth wavelength; an arrayed waveguide
grating having a quantity of input waveguides, a first dielectric
slab, a second dielectric slab, a quantity of intermediate
waveguides extending between the first and second dielectric slabs,
and an output waveguide, one of the quantity of input waveguides
having associated first, second, third, and fourth passbands, the
first passband including the first wavelength, the second passband
including the second wavelength, the third passband including the
third wavelength, and the fourth passband including the fourth
wavelength; a control circuit configured to selectively control the
first, second, third and fourth optical sources to supply one of
the first, second, third, and fourth optical signals to said one of
the quantity of input waveguides, wherein, when the first optical
signal is supplied to said one of the quantity of input waveguides,
the first optical signal is output from the output waveguide, when
the second optical signal is supplied to said one of the quantity
of input waveguides, the second optical signal is output from the
output waveguide, when the third optical signal is supplied to one
of the quantity of input waveguides, the third optical signal is
output from the output waveguide, and, when the fourth optical
signal is supplied to said one of the quantity of input waveguides,
the fourth optical signal is output from the output waveguide.
[0013] In yet another aspect, an optical receiver, may include a
quantity of local oscillator lasers, each of which being configured
to supply a corresponding one of a quantity of local oscillator
signals; an optical hybrid circuit configured to receive an
incoming optical signal, the optical hybrid circuit having a
quantity of outputs; a control circuit configured to selectively
activate one of the quantity of local oscillator lasers, such that
said one of the quantity of local oscillator lasers supplies one of
the quantity of local oscillator signals to the optical hybrid
circuit; and a plurality of photodiodes, each of which being
configured to receive light provided by a corresponding one of the
quantity of outputs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more
implementations described herein and, together with the
description, explain these implementations. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram that conceptually illustrates components
of an example optical communication system;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of components of
an optical transmitter;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of
components of an optical transmitter;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an
implementation of the arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) shown in FIG.
2;
[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams conceptually illustrating a
cyclic AWG;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of operations
for tuning an optical transmitter;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating portions of a particular
implementation of an optical transmitter;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating potential frequency
responses of the implementation of the optical transmitter shown in
FIG. 7;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example implementation
of an optical transmitter block;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example
implementation of an optical transmitter block;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third example
implementation of an optical transmitter block;
[0026] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of components
of an optical receiver;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating one example of an
implementation of an optical receiver;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a second example of an
implementation of an optical receiver; and
[0029] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a third example of an
implementation of an optical receiver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The following detailed description refers to the
accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different
drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
[0031] Consistent with one example of the present disclosure, pairs
of distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are provided on a substrate.
Each DFB laser in each pair supplies a corresponding optical
signal, such that each optical signal has a different wavelength.
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.
Accordingly, the optical signals output from either DFB laser in
the pair may be input to the AWG and combined with other optical
signals onto an output waveguide of the AWG. As a result, in
operation, the wavelength of an optical signal supplied from one
DFB in a given pair may be at a first wavelength or it may be
temperature tuned to a second wavelength that is spectrally spaced
from the first wavelength. Similarly, another optical signal
supplied from the other DFB in the pair may be at third wavelength
that is an FSR from the first wavelength or it may be temperature
tuned to a fourth wavelength that is spectrally spaced from the
second wavelength by the FSR. Thus, by selecting either a first or
second DFB laser in a pair and temperature tuning to adjust the
optical signal wavelength, each pair of DFB lasers can supply
optical signals at one of four wavelengths, pairs of which (e.g.,
the first and third, and second and fourth wavelengths noted above)
are spectrally spaced from one another by the FSR of the AWG.
Remaining pairs of DFBs on the PIC substrate can similarly provide
optical signals having wavelengths between the first, second,
third, and fourth wavelengths. In a further example, the AWG FSR
may be 250 GHz and ten pairs of DFB lasers may be provided on a PIC
substrate, resulting in a PIC that can selectively output ten
arbitrary wavelengths (but preferably conforming to a 25 GHz grid)
in a range of 1 THz (1000 GHz). It is noted, however, that if
tuning is performed by adjusting the temperature of the substrate
upon which the lasers and AWG are provided, only certain
wavelengths may be selected.
[0032] Thus, there is no need to temperature tune each laser over
an excessively wide range. Rather, a PIC may output optical signals
over a relatively wide range of wavelengths but with relatively
small changes in temperature.
[0033] Typically, for a given change in substrate temperature, the
passbands of the AWG spectrally shift by the same amount as the
optical signal wavelengths. Thus, a carrier on a chip (COC) or
thermoelectric cooler (TEC) may be provided to adjust the substrate
temperature, and thereby simultaneously adjust the temperatures of
the DFB lasers, as well as the AWG. Additional heaters may further
be provided to fine tune individual optical signal wavelengths, but
such fine tuning is carried out over a narrow temperature range and
can therefore be readily controlled. Accordingly, the wavelengths
of the optical signals output from the lasers may be easily changed
by simply changing the temperature of the substrate upon which the
lasers and the AWG are provided, followed by minor temperature
adjustments of each laser. Complicated, independent control of each
laser and the substrate is unnecessary so that the lasers can be
tuned over a wide range in a simplified manner.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that conceptually illustrates
components of an example optical communication system 100.
[0035] As shown, communication system 100 may include a first rack,
cabinet, chassis, blade, or housing 110, which may include an
optical transmitter 115. Although a single optical transmitter 115
is illustrated as being included in housing 110, in alternative
implementations, multiple optical transmitters may be included in a
single housing 110. Optical transmitter 115 may include a number of
transmitter blocks (TX) 120-1 to 120-N (referred to collectively as
"transmitter blocks 120" or individually as "transmitter block
120"), each of which may receive a corresponding one of information
streams DATA-1 to DATA-N, modulate the information streams with an
optical signal, and output one or more optical signals or channels
to a combiner or multiplexer 125. Each transmitter block 120 may
include, for example, one or more optical sources (e.g., lasers),
optical couplers, modulators, and/or other components, to modulate
the respective input information stream DATA-1 to DATA-N with one
or more optical carrier signals. In one implementation, each of
transmitter blocks 120 may have the same or similar structure.
[0036] Multiplexer 125 may include, for example, an AWG to
optically multiplex its input signals. Multiplexer 115 may receive
a number of modulated optical signals and combine the optical
signals for transmission at an output optical communication path
130 as a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal. As
used herein, an optical signal may refer to the WDM optical signal,
as well as each optical signal included in the WDM optical
signal.
[0037] Optical communication path 130 may include one or more
segments of optical fiber and optical amplifiers 135, for example,
to optically amplify or boost the power of the transmitted optical
signals. In one example, optical signals output to optical
communication path 130 may be polarization multiplexed optical
signals that are modulated in accordance with a known modulation
format, such as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), binary phase
shift keying (BPSK) or combinations of such modulation formats,
e.g., certain optical signals may have a first modulation format,
while others may have a second, different modulation format.
[0038] As further shown in FIG. 1, a receive node is provided that
may include a second rack, cabinet, chassis, or housing 140, which
may include one or more optical receivers 145. An optical splitter
or demultiplexer 150, provided in optical receiver 145, may supply
multiple output optical signals to a corresponding one of receiver
blocks (RX) 155-1 to 155-N (referred to collectively as "receiver
blocks 155" or individually as "receiver block 155"). In one
implementation, demultiplexer 150 may include an AWG. Each of
receiver blocks 155-1 to 155-N, in turn, may supply a corresponding
copy of data or information streams DATA-1 to DATA-N in response to
the optical signals. It is understood that each of transmitter
blocks 120 may have the same or similar structure and each of
receiver blocks 155 may have the same or similar structure.
[0039] Although FIG. 1 shows example components of optical
communication system 100, in other implementations, optical
communication system 100 may contain fewer components, different
components, differently arranged components, and/or additional
components than those depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, or
additionally, one or more components of optical communication
system 100 may perform one or more other tasks described as being
performed by one or more other components of optical communication
system 100.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of components of
optical transmitter 115. Transmission blocks 120 are particularly
shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Transmission blocks 120 of optical
transmitter 115 may include a number of components, such as groups
of optical sources 210-1 through 210-N (referred to collectively as
"optical sources 210" or individually as "optical source 210").
Multiplexer 125 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as AWG 225. The groups of
optical sources 210 and AWG 225 may be provided on a substrate 205.
Substrate 205 may include indium phosphide (InP) or another
semiconductor material. Substrate 205 may be used to implement a
photonic integrated circuit (PIC).
[0041] Each group of optical sources 210 may connect or supply
optical signals to AWG 225. Each group may include a pair of
optical sources (although more than two optical sources are
contemplated and are within the scope of this disclosure), such as
optical sources 215-1 and 215-J (referred to collectively as
"optical sources 215" or individually as "optical source 215") as
well as optical sources 220-1 and 220-J (referred to collectively
as "optical source 220" or individually as "optical source 220").
In one implementation, each optical source may be a DFB laser
designed to produce light at a particular frequency. The frequency
produced by each optical source 215/220 within a pair of optical
sources 210 may differ. In one implementation, optical sources
215-1 and 215-J supply light at first and second wavelengths,
respectively, that are spectrally spaced from one another by the
FSR of AWG 225. Similarly, optical sources 220-1 and 220-J may also
produce light at frequencies that are offset from one another by
the free spectral range (FSR) of AWG 225.
[0042] In one example, the FSR of the AWG is equal to 500 GHz, N=10
(i.e., there are ten pairings of optical sources 210). In this
case, each optical source within a pair may be spectrally spaced by
500 GHz (e.g., optical source 215-1 and optical source 215-2 may
generate light or optical signals at frequencies that are separated
by 500 GHz). Corresponding optical sources across groups of optical
sources 210 may provide optical signals having frequencies spaced
by 25 GHz (250 GHz/10). For example, the first optical source in
pairing 210-1 may output light having a frequency that is 25 GHz
below the frequency of the light output from the first optical
source in pairing 210-2, and the first optical source in pairing
210-2 may supply light having a frequency that is 25 GHz below the
frequency of the first optical source in group 210-3, etc. In
addition, not all pairings need to include an activated laser, such
that the lasers of some pairings may be deactivated. As a result,
the spacing between the wavelengths of the optical signals in the
combined output from AWG 225 may be relatively wide. Other
wavelength spacings are contemplated whereby the first optical
source in some pairings is selected, while the second optical
source in others is selected.
[0043] AWG 225 may include a group IIIV material that is compatible
with substrate 205, for example, In one embodiment, AWG 225
includes InP based ternary compounds. AWG 225 may include a number
of input and output couplers, dielectric slabs, and intermediate
waveguides. An example implementation of AWG 225 is discussed in
more detail below with reference to FIG. 4.
[0044] As is further shown in FIG. 2, a control circuit 230 may be
additionally included. Control circuit 230 may include logic to
control the operation state of optical sources 215 and 220. For
example, control circuit 230 may include a processor, a
microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),
or another type of logic, to selectively enable and disable optical
sources 215 and 220. Consistent with aspects described herein,
control circuit 230 may select one optical source 215/220 from each
optical source group 210. For example, control circuit 230 may turn
on one optical source in each optical source group 210 (e.g., by
enabling power to a selected optical source) and turn off the other
optical sources in each optical source group 210 (e.g., by
disabling power to the non-selected optical sources).
[0045] In one implementation, control circuit 230 may be programmed
during manufacture or during provisioning of optical communication
system 100 to select certain ones of optical sources 215/220. For
example, for an optical communication system that is designed to
transmit signals having wavelengths in a first band, control
circuit 230 may be provisioned to select the first optical source
(e.g., optical source 215-1, 220-1, etc.) in each group of optical
sources 210. In contrast, for an optical communication system that
is designed to transmit optical signals having wavelengths in a
second band, control circuit 230 may be provisioned to select the
second optical source (e.g., optical source 215-2, 220-2, etc.) in
each group of optical sources 210. In this manner, a single
substrate and/or PIC may be manufactured with a large potential
range of operating frequencies or wavelengths, such as those
throughout the C-band.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of
components of an optical transmitter 115. Some components of FIG. 3
are similar to those of FIG. 2. Additionally, however, in FIG. 3,
tuning elements 335, 340, and 345 are illustrated.
[0047] Tuning element 335 may be used to regulate the temperature
of substrate 205, and thus tune optical sources 215/220 and AWG 225
together. Tuning element 335 may include, for example, a thin film
heater, thermoelectric cooler (TEC), or a carrier on a chip (COC)
heater. Tuning element 335 may be controlled by, for example,
control circuit 230, to uniformly heat substrate 205. Heating
substrate 205 may cause the light frequencies generated by optical
sources 215/220 and the passband frequencies of AWG 225 to shift
substantially uniformly. Thus, with tuning element 335, the
operating frequencies of the components on substrate 205 may be
tuned in a coarse-grained manner.
[0048] Tuning elements 340 and 345 may each be associated with
individual groups of optical sources 210. Alternatively, each
optical source 215/220 may be associated with an individual tuning
element. Tuning elements 340 and 345 may include, for example, thin
film heaters (e.g., including thin films of platinum, for example).
Tuning elements 340 and 345 may be controlled by, for example,
control circuit 230, which may supply an appropriate current and/or
voltage to the thin film heater to independently tune optical
sources 215/220 or a group of optical sources 210. Relative to
tuning element 335, tuning elements 340/345 may include fine-grain
tuning elements designed to cause small frequency shifts in the
operation of optical sources 215/220. For example, tuning elements
340/345 may each include smaller thin film heaters that consume
less power than tuning element 335.
[0049] In operation, in one implementation, control circuit 230 may
control tuning element 235 to shift optical source groups 210 and
AWG 225 to a desired band. Control circuit 230 may then use tuning
elements 340/345 to fine tune the selected optical sources 215/220
to match the passbands of AWG 225.
[0050] Although FIGS. 2 and 3 show examplary components of optical
transmitter 115, in other implementations, optical transmitter 115
may contain fewer components, different components, differently
arranged components, and/or additional components than those
depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, or additionally, one or
more components of optical transmitter 115 may perform one or more
other tasks described as being performed by one or more other
components of optical transmitter 115.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an
implementation of AWG 225. AWG 225 may include a pair of free
propagation regions, which may be implemented as dielectric slab
waveguides 410 and 420. Slab waveguides 410 and 420 may be coupled
to one another by a plurality of grating waveguides 415. Typically,
each grating waveguide 415 may have a different length, and the
lengths may be spaced from one another by predetermined amounts. A
first set of input/output waveguides 430 (one waveguide 430 is
illustrated) may be coupled to slab waveguide 410. A second set of
input/output waveguides 440 (six waveguides 440 are illustrated)
may be coupled to slab waveguide 420. Light may generally propagate
in either direction through AWG 225. Thus, AWG 225 may act as an
optical multiplexer, in which light is received at waveguides 440
and output through waveguide 430, or as an optical de-multiplexer,
in which light is received at waveguide 430 and output through
waveguides 440.
[0052] When operating as a multiplexer, each input waveguide 440
may be designed to accept light or an optical signal having a
particular frequency or wavelength or very narrow range of
frequencies or wavelengths (called the passband for the waveguide
440), where the various optical signals on each of input waveguides
440 may be offset from one another. Additionally, AWG 225 may be
configured as a cyclic AWG, as discussed in greater detail below
with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0053] FIGS. 5A and 5B conceptually illustrate a cyclic AWG. In
FIG. 5A, an AWG 510 is illustrated as a multiplexer in which input
waveguides 520 are each associated with a number of passbands that
are offset from one another by the FSR of AWG 510. For instance,
the first waveguide of waveguides 520 may be designed to pass light
having wavelengths substantially equal .lamda..sub.1,
.lamda..sub.1+FSR, .lamda..sub.1+2FSR, .lamda..sub.1+3FSR, etc.
Similarly, the second waveguide of waveguides 520 may be designed
to pass light having wavelengths substantially equal to
.lamda..sub.2, .lamda..sub.2+FSR, .lamda..sub.2+2FSR,
.lamda..sub.2+3FSR, etc. Here, .lamda..sub.1 and .lamda..sub.2 may
be offset by less than the full FSR. Here, it is assumed that AWG
510 has a relatively high order, such as an order that is greater
than 100.
[0054] FIG. 5B is a diagram conceptually illustrating the frequency
response or transmission characteristic of AWG 510 over all of
input waveguides 520 (e.g., frequency response curves corresponding
to four waveguides are illustrated in FIG. 5B). Frequency response
530 is illustrated as covering a band, labeled as total optical
band 540. Total optical band 540 may represent the entire frequency
or wavelength range over which AWG 225 (and hence optical
communication system 100) may operate. Total optical band 540 may
correspond to, for example, the optical C-band. Within total
optical band 540, selected transmission peaks 560 are spectrally
spaced apart from each other by FSR 550, e.g., peaks 560-1, 560-2,
and 560-3. In addition, peaks 560 may be grouped into bands (Band
1, Band 2, etc.) and each band may have a width that is equal to
FSR 550. Each peak 560 may correspond to the frequency (or
wavelength) of minimum attenuation of the input optical signal.
[0055] In one implementation, FSR 550 may be 500 GHz, and in
another example it is 250 GHz. Total optical band 540 may cover,
for example, approximately 1 THz, such that at least four bands
(two of which are shown as Band 1 and Band 2) are included in total
optical band 540. In one implementation, control circuit 230 may
select various optical sources 215/220 in each pairing to provide
optical signals having wavelengths that are in different bands,
such that some optical signals have wavelengths in Band 1 and
others have wavelengths in band 2.
[0056] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of operations
600 for tuning optical transmitter 115. Similar operations may
apply to the tuning of an optical receiver 145. In general, optical
transmitters 115 and optical receivers 145 may be tuned to match
one another. In one implementation, process 600 may be performed by
control circuit 230.
[0057] Process 600 may include selecting the optical sources for
transmission (block 610). In one implementation, the optical
sources to select may be programmed into control circuit 230 during
manufacture, provisioning, or installation of optical communication
system 100. One optical source 215/220, from each optical source
group 210, may be selected. For example, the optical sources to
select may be stored in computer-readable memory or controlled via
settable fuses.
[0058] The optical sources to use may be selected based on the
desired carrier frequencies for the WDM optical signals that are to
be used to carry information. For example, optical signals having
wavelengths in different bands (e.g., Band 1 and Band 2) may be
desired.
[0059] Process 600 may further include enabling the selected
optical sources and disabling the non-selected optical sources
(block 620). For example, power may be applied to the selected
optical sources 215/220 but not supplied to the non-selected
optical sources 215/220. In other implementations, other techniques
for enabling/disabling optical sources 215/220 may be used.
[0060] Process 600 may further include tuning the optical sources
(block 630). In implementations in which a coarse-grain tuning
element, such as tuning element 335, and fine-grain tuning
elements, such as tuning elements 340/345, are available, block 630
may include tuning all of the optical sources 215/220 and AWG 225
(i.e., coarse-grain tuning), such as by heating substrate 205, to a
desired level, and then tuning individual optical sources (i.e.,
fine-grain tuning), such as by individually further heating the
optical sources 215/220. Heating substrate 205 may be used to shift
the wavelengths of light supplied by the optical sources while
individually heating the optical sources 215/220 may be used, for
example, to center optical sources 215/220 on the corresponding
passband frequency (e.g., humps or peaks 560 in FIG. 5B).
[0061] An example of wavelength tuning in accordance with process
600 will next be discussed with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7
is a diagram illustrating portions of a particular implementation
of optical transmitter 115. In the exemplary implementation of FIG.
7, twenty optical sources (e.g., lasers) may be arranged, on a PIC,
as ten groups of two lasers per group, where the two lasers in a
group are labeled as .lamda. and .lamda.' (e.g., .lamda..sub.1 and
.lamda.'.sub.1). One laser from each group, for a total of ten
active lasers, may be enabled.
[0062] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating potential AWG passbands and
optical signal wavelengths of the implementation shown in FIG. 7.
The optical transmitter of FIG. 7 may potentially transmit optical
signals having wavelengths in any one of four bands, Bands A-D.
Band A, corresponding to the AWG passbands and laser wavelengths in
the upper left corner of FIG. 8, may be obtained when the first
laser in each group (laser .lamda..sub.n) is selected and tuning
element 335 adjusts the temperature of AWG and lasers to be at
temperature T1. Band C, corresponding to the AWG passbands and
laser wavelengths in the lower left of FIG. 8, may be obtained when
the first laser in each group (laser .lamda..sub.n) is selected and
tuning element 335 is used to thermally tune all of the optical
sources and the AWG to have temperature T2. When tuning element 335
is a COC, Band A may correspond to the heater being off or in a low
heating state (temperature T1) and Band C may correspond to the Coc
being on or in a higher heating state (temperature T2). Similarly,
Band B, corresponding to the AWG passbands and optical signal
wavelengths shown in the upper right of FIG. 8, may be obtained
when the second laser in each group (laser .lamda.'.sub.n) is
selected and tuning element 335 thermally tunes all of the optical
sources and the AWG to have temperature T1. Similarly, Band D,
corresponding to the AWG passbands and optical signal wavelengths
shown in the lower right corner of FIG. 8, may be obtained when the
second laser in each group (laser .lamda.'.sub.n) is selected and
tuning element 335 thermally tunes optical sources and the AWG to
have temperature T2.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, by using two lasers per group of
optical sources, and a coarse tuning element capable of "moving"
the optical source frequency between two adjacent bands, a PIC may
be manufactured that is capable of operation over four bands, for
example. Although FIGS. 7 and 8 were discussed in the context of
all of the first optical sources (lasers .lamda..sub.1) or all of
the second optical sources (lasers .lamda.'.sub.n) being selected,
in alternative possible implementations, some optical groups may
have the first optical source selected while other optical groups
may simultaneously have the second optical source selected, thus
producing output optical signals that cover two different bands,
e.g. Band A and Band B. In addition, more than two optical sources
or lasers may be provided instead of a pairing and the optical
sources in each such group may be selected in a manner similar to
that described above.
[0064] The optical transmitter 115, as discussed above with respect
to FIGS. 2-6, may be implemented in accordance with various
possible configurations of optical and/or electrical components.
Several exemplary implementations will next be discussed with
respect to FIGS. 9-11.
[0065] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example implementation
of a transmitter block 120. For clarity, tuning elements 335, 340,
and 345 are not illustrated in FIG. 9, but may, in certain
implementations, be included.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of DFB lasers 910 and 915 may
generate light that is transmitted through a number of optical
splitters or couplers 920, 925, 930, 935, 940, and 945, and a
number of Mach-Zehnder interferometers or modulators (MZMs) 950,
955, 960, and 965. The input information signal(s) that are to be
modulated with the carrier wave optical signals from lasers 910/915
are shown as information signal(s) 970.
[0067] DFB lasers 910 and 915 may correspond to, as shown in FIGS.
2 and 3, local oscillator lasers 215/220, of a particular local
oscillator laser group 210. As illustrated, coupler 920 may receive
the output of one of lasers 910 or 915, and may provide a split
optical signal to couplers 925 and 930, which may further split the
optical signal into four signals, which may be provided to MZMs
950, 955, 960, and 965. The output of MZMs 950, 955, 960, and 965
may be combined by couplers 935 and 940, and then by coupler 945,
for output to AWG 225, for wave division multiplexing.
[0068] Optical couplers 920, 925, 930, 935, 940, and 945 may each
include 2.times.2 or 2.times.1 multi-mode interference optical
couplers that act to receive light at input waveguides, mix or
split the light, and output the light at output waveguides.
Directional couplers may also be employed. In one implementation,
each of couplers 920, 925, 930, 935, 940, and 945 may be a
2.times.2 coupler, in which those of the couplers that are shown
with a single input port or output port may be 2.times.2 couplers
in which one input/output port is not connected.
[0069] MZMs 950, 955, 960, and 965 may include, for example, InP
based or other group IIIV based materials noted above. In general,
an MZM may operate by splitting an incoming optical signal and
transmitting the split optical signal down two different paths.
Delay, and hence a phase shift, in the optical paths, may be
controlled by input information signal(s) 970.
[0070] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example
implementation of a transmitter block 120. The optical source group
of FIG. 10 is similar to that of FIG. 9, except that four lasers
are illustrated. For clarity, tuning elements 335, 340, and 345 are
not illustrated in FIG. 10, but may, in certain implementations, be
included.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 10, four DFB lasers 1010, 1015, 1020, and
1025 may generate light that is transmitted through a number of
optical splitters or couplers 1030, 1035, 1040, 1045, 1050, 1055,
and 1060 and a number of MZMs 1065, 1070, 1075, and 1080.
Information signals 1090 are supplied to the MZMs so that the
outputs from lasers 1010, 1015, 1020, and 1025 are modulated to
carry the data associated with the information signals.
[0072] DFB lasers 1010, 1015, 1020, and 1025 may correspond to, as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, optical sources 215/220, of a particular
optical source group 210. As illustrated, coupler 1030 may receive
the output of one of lasers 1010 or 1015, and may provide a split
optical signal to couplers 1040 and 1045. Coupler 1035 may receive
the output of one of lasers 1020 or 1025, and may provide a split
optical signal to couplers 1040 and 1045. Couplers 1040 and 1045
may further split the optical signal into four signals (from one of
lasers 1010, 1015, 1020, or 1025), which may be provided to MZMs
1065, 1070, 1075, and 1080. The output of MZMs 1065, 1070, 1075,
and 1080 may be combined by couplers 1050 and 1055, and then by
coupler 1060, for output to AWG 225 for wave division
multiplexing.
[0073] Optical couplers 1030, 1035, 1040, 1045, 1050, 1055, and
1060, as with the optical couplers shown in FIG. 9, may each
include 2.times.2 or 2.times.1 optical couplers that act to receive
light at input waveguides, mix or split the light, and output the
light at output waveguides. MZMs 1065, 1070, 1075, and 1080 may
include, for example, lithium niobate mach-zehnder modulators.
[0074] As further shown in FIG. 10, the outputs of DFB lasers 1010,
1015, 1020, and 1025 may be split (with a known 3 dB coupler, for
example) by splitters 1029-1 through 1029-4, and the split portions
may be provided to a bank of MMI couplers (or further 3 dB
couplers) and MZMs arranged in a manner shown in FIG. 10. The
output of the additional bank of couplers and modulators may then
be polarization rotated to have a TM polarization and provided to
the AWG. A polarization beam combiner may further be provided
before or after the AWG to combine the polarization rotated and
non-rotated optical signals.
[0075] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third example
implementation of a transmitter block 120. The optical source group
of FIG. 11 is similar to that of FIG. 10, except that four
dual-output local oscillator lasers 1110, 1115, 1120, and 1125 are
illustrated in place of the four single-sided local oscillator
lasers (1010, 1015, 1020, and 1025) illustrated in FIG. 10. One
output of each of dual-output lasers 1110, 1115, 1120, and 1125 may
be input to coupler/MZM arrangement 1130 and the other output may
be input to coupler/MZM arrangement 1140. Each of coupler/MZM
arrangement 1130/1140 may correspond to the optical couplers and
MZMs shown in FIG. 10. Coupler/MZM arrangements 1130 and 1140 may
both output quadrature TE-mode output signals, and one of these
signals may be polarization rotated to have a TM polarization. The
rotated and non-rotated signals may then be combined with a
polarization beam combiner. With the implementation shown in FIG.
11, dual-output lasers can be used to increase the bandwidth
relative to the implementation of FIG. 10.
[0076] In a further example, four additional DFB lasers may be
provided, and each of the additional DFB lasers may be paired with
a corresponding one of DFB lasers 1110, 1115, 1120, and 1125. One
such pair is shown as DFB 1107 and DFB 1110. The outputs of the
sides of each DFB in each pair may be provided to couplers, such as
couplers 1077 and 1079, which have outputs that feed into couplers
1030 and 1035, as discussed above.
[0077] In the example shown in FIG. 11, eight DFB lasers can be
selected and temperature tuned to provide outputs at wavelengths
that span a range of 8 THz. With four DFB lasers, the range is
typically 4 THz.
[0078] Although FIGS. 9-11 show example components of a transmitter
block 120, in other implementations, transmitter block 120 may
contain fewer components, different components, differently
arranged components, and/or additional components than those
depicted in FIGS. 9-11. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more
components of transmitter block 120 may perform one or more other
tasks described as being performed by one or more other components
of transmitter block 120.
[0079] Optical receiver 145 may include optical sources, such as
local oscillator lasers, to generate light at frequencies
corresponding to the optical sources of optical transmitter 115. At
optical receiver 145, the light generated by the optical sources
may be mixed with the light received over communication path 130 as
part of the demodulation to generate the information streams DATA-1
to DATA-N.
[0080] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of components
of receiver block 155 of an optical receiver 145. Each receiver
block 155 of optical receiver 145 may include a number of
components, such as groups of optical sources, similar to groups of
optical sources 210, as discussed with respect to FIG. 2. In FIG.
12, one group of optical sources 1210, potentially corresponding to
the optical sources for one receiver block 155, is illustrated.
Control circuit 1220 may select one optical source from a group of
optical sources. The optical signal from the selected optical
source 1215 may be input to an optical hybrid 1230, which may
output a number of signals to balanced detector 1240. Balanced
detector 1240 may convert optical signals, output from optical
hybrid 1230, to electrical signals, which may be amplified by
amplifiers 1250 and 1260 and converted to digital signals
corresponding to the desired information streams.
[0081] Group of optical sources 1210 may include optical sources
1215-1 through 115-J (referred to collectively as "optical sources
1215" or individually as "optical source 1215"). In one
implementation, each optical source 1215 may be a DFB laser
designed to produce light at a particular frequency. The frequency
produced by each optical source 1215 within a group of optical
sources 1210 may differ. In one implementation, each optical source
1215 within a group of optical sources 1210 may produce light at a
frequency that is offset from one another by the FSR of
de-multiplexer 150 (FIG. 1), which may include an AWG.
[0082] Control circuit 1220 may include logic to control the
operation state of optical sources 1215. For example, control
circuit 1220 may include a processor, a microprocessor, an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another type of
logic, to selectively enable and disable optical sources 1215.
Consistent with aspects described herein, control circuit 1215 may
select one optical source 1215 from optical source group 1210.
Accordingly, optical receiver 145 can be tuned to detect data
carried by optical signals having one of a plurality of wavelengths
and is not limited to detecting data carried by an optical signal
having only one wavelength.
[0083] Optical hybrid 130 may include a known 90 degree optical
hybrid circuit and may perform coherent signal demodulation based
on the received optical information signal (i.e., the optical
signal received over communication path 130, and potentially split
by de-muiltiplexer 150) and based on the locally generated optical
signal from one of optical sources 1215. In general, optical hybrid
1230 may mix the optical information signal with the locally
generated optical signal. Optical hybrid 1230 may output four light
signals to balanced detector 1240.
[0084] Balanced detector 1240 may include two pairs of balanced
photodiodes, illustrated as photodiode pairs 1242 and 1244. Each
pair of photodiodes 1242/1244 may generally act to receive a pair
of optical signals from optical hybrid 1230 and generate an output
signal, in the electrical domain, corresponding to the received
information-carrying optical signal.
[0085] Amplifiers 1250/1260, which may include transimpedance
amplifier circuits, may amplify the signals, output from balanced
detector 1240. The amplified signals may be digitized and then
processed by, for example, a digital signal processor, to extract
the original information signals (e.g., DATA-1 through DATA-N).
[0086] In operation, optical receiver 145 and/or optical receive
blocks 155 may be configured and/or tuned in a manner similar to
the tuning of optical transmitter 115. Thus, control circuit 1220
may select one optical source from each of a number of groups of
optical sources 1210. In some implementations, a coarse-grain
tuning element, such as a thin-film heater, may be used to shift
the spectral operating range of optical receiver 145 while smaller,
fine-grain tuning, may be performed with tuning elements, such as
heaters, associated with each optical source group 1210 or each
optical source 1215.
[0087] Although FIG. 12 shows example components of an optical
receiver 145, in other implementations, optical receiver 145 may
contain fewer components, different components, differently
arranged components, and/or additional components than those
depicted in FIG. 12. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more
components of optical receiver 145 may perform one or more other
tasks described as being performed by one or more other components
of optical receiver 145.
[0088] Optical receiver 145, as illustrated in FIG. 12, may be
implemented using a number of potential configurations of optical
and/or electrical components. Two exemplary implementations will
next be discussed with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0089] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating one example implementation
of an optical receiver 145. For clarity, tuning elements, such as
tuning elements similar to tuning elements 335, 340, and 345 are
not illustrated in FIG. 13, but may, in certain implementations, be
included.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 13, four DFB lasers 1310, 1315, 1320, and
1325 may operate with optical couplers 1330 and 1335, to provide an
input to two optical hybrids 1230 and two corresponding balanced
detectors 1240. Lasers 1310, 1315, 1320, and 1325 may generate
light that is transmitted through optical splitters/couplers 1330
and 1335. Control circuit 1220 may control, at any particular time,
one of lasers 1310, 1315, 1320, and 1325 to be enabled while the
other ones are not enabled. As shown, optical couplers 1330 and
1335 may thus operate to supply light from the enabled laser to
each of optical hybrids 1230. A second input to each of optical
hybrids 1230 may include the received optic information signal,
such as the signal received over communication path 130. The
received optical information signal may be demultiplexed, by
de-multiplexer 150 (e.g., an AWG), before being input to optical
hybrids 1230.
[0091] Each of optical hybrids 1230 are shown as including four
optical couplers 1340, 1345, 1350, and 1355, and a phase shift
element 1360. In one implementation, optical couplers 1340, 1345,
1350, and 1355 may include, for example, 2.times.2 optic couplers
and phase shift element 1360 may include a 90 degree phase
shifter.
[0092] Optical couplers 1330 and 1335 (as well as couplers 1340 and
1345) may include known multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers.
Such couplers have "ports" through which optical signals may be
input to or output from the couplers. In the example shown in FIG.
13, each port of couplers 1330, 1335, 1340, and 1345 is efficiently
connected to either supply or receive light.
[0093] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating second example
implementation of an optical receiver 145. For clarity, tuning
elements, such as tuning elements similar to tuning elements 335,
340, and 345 are not illustrated in FIG. 14, but may, in certain
implementations, be included.
[0094] Optical receiver 145, as shown in FIG. 14, is similar to
optical receiver 145, as shown in FIG. 13, except that four
dual-output lasers 1410, 1415, 1420, and 1425 are illustrated
instead of the four single-sided lasers (1310, 1315, 1320, and
1325). One output of each of dual-output lasers 1410, 1415, 1420,
and 1425 may be input to the pair of optical couplers 1430 and
1440, while the other output of lasers 1410, 1415, 1420, and 1425
may be input to the pair of optical couplers 1450 and 1460. Optic
couplers 1430/1440 may each provide an input to the upper optical
hybrid 1230, shown in FIG. 14, and optical couplers 1450/1460 may
each provide an input to the lower optical hybrid 1230, shown in
FIG. 14. Optical hybrids 1230 and balanced detectors 1240 may
otherwise function as described with respect to FIG. 13.
[0095] Although FIGS. 13 and 14 show example components of an
optical receiver 145, in other implementations, optical receiver
145 may contain fewer components, different components, differently
arranged components, and/or additional components than those
depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14. Alternatively, or additionally, one or
more components of optical receiver 145 may perform one or more
other tasks described as being performed by one or more other
components of optical receiver 145.
[0096] For example, FIG. 15 shows an alternative optical receiver
1500 including four local oscillator lasers (DFB-1 to DFB-4), for
example, each of which supplying light at a different wavelength.
Control circuit 1501 is also provided that is coupled to each of
lasers DFB-1 to DFB-4 to selectively turn on or activate each
laser. Couplers C1 and C2 are configured to receive the outputs
from laser pairs DFB-1/DFB-2 and DFB3/DFB-4, respectively. Coupler
C1 has outputs or ports 1501 and 1502, which supply power split
portions of the light output from the selected laser (e.g., DFB-1)
to optical switches 1510 and 1520, respectively. Similarly, coupler
C2 has outputs or ports 1503 and 1504, which supply power split
portions of the light output from the selected laser (e.g., DFB-1)
to optical switches 1510 and 1520, respectively.
[0097] Optical switch 1510 may include a Mach-Zehnder (MZ)
interferometer having couplers 1511 and 1514 and waveguide arms
1512 and 1514 extending there between. A heater, such as thin film
heater 1571 may be provided adjacent to optical switch 1510 to
thereby adjust the temperature thereof. In response to changes in
temperature of optical switch 1510 one of outputs 1501 and 1503 is
optically coupled, in a known manner, to optical hybrid 1230-2 and
the other output is optically coupled to "dump" port 1515, such
that any light supplied by the deselected output (1501 or 1503) is
not fed to optical hybrid 1230-2.
[0098] Optical switch 1520 may also include a MZ interferometer
having couplers 1521 and 1524 and waveguide arms 1522 and 1523
extending there between. Heater 1572 may also be provided to adjust
the temperature of optical switch 1520 so that one of outputs 1502
and 1504 is optically coupled to optical hybrid 1230-1 in a manner
similar to that described above in regard to optical switch
1510.
[0099] In one example, demultiplexer 150 (FIG. 1) may include an
AWG, and, in a further example, polarization multiplexed WDM
optical signals are supplied from transmitter 115. These
polarization multiplexed optical signals may be polarization
demultiplexed to provide optical signals having a first (e.g., TE)
and second (e.g., TM) polarizations. The optical signals having a
given polarization may then be demultiplexed based on wavelength.
Examples of WDM demultiplexing and polarization demultiplexing are
described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/572,179, filed on
Oct. 1, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference. Accordingly, demultiplexer 150 may supply pairs of
optical signals at each wavelength, such that one optical signal in
the pair has a TE polarization and the other has a TM polarization.
In FIG. 15, the TE polarized optical signal is supplied to optical
hybrid 1230-2 on input 1530 and the TM polarized optical signal is
supplied to optical hybrid 1230-1 on input 1532.
[0100] In operation, one of local oscillator lasers DFB-1 to DFB-4
is activated, which, for purposes of the present discussion, the
activated laser is DFB-1. Light from DFB-1 is power split by
coupler C1, such that one portion of the light is provided to
switch 1510 on output 1501 and the other is fed to switch 1520 on
output 1502. Optical switches 1510 and 1520 are controlled by
heaters 1571 and 1572, respectively, such that output 1501 is
optically coupled to and supplies the first portion of the light to
optical hybrid 1230-2 and output 1502 is optically coupled to and
supplies the second portion of the light to optical hybrid 1230-1.
The first portion of the light is mixed in a known manner with the
TE optical signal in optical hybrid 1230-2 and the resulting
outputs are fed to balanced detectors 1240 (see FIG. 12). Further,
the second portion of the light is mixed with the TM optical signal
in optical hybrid 1230-1 and the resulting outputs are supplied to
other balanced detectors. The electrical signals generated by the
balanced detectors in response to the received optical signals are
subsequently processed, as discussed above.
[0101] The foregoing description provides illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be
acquired from practice of the embodiments.
[0102] Even though particular combinations of features are recited
in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these
combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the
possible embodiments. In fact, many of these features may be
combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or
disclosed in the specification.
[0103] No element, act, or instruction used in the present
application should be construed as critical or essential unless
explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article "a"
is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is
intended, the term "one" or similar language is used. Further, the
phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on"
unless explicitly stated otherwise.
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