Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. In addition, optical taps may be more readily employed on the PIC to measure outputs of the lasers, such as widely tunable lasers (WTLs), without crossing waveguides.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.

Abstract: A device may include a substrate. The device may include a carrier mounted to the substrate. The device may include a transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mounted on the carrier. The transmitter PIC may include a plurality of lasers that generate an optical signal when a voltage or current is applied to one of the plurality of lasers. The device may include a first microelectromechanical structure (MEMS) mounted to the substrate. The first MEMS may include a first set of lenses. The device may include a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) mounted to the substrate. The PLC may be optically coupled to the plurality of lasers by the first set of lenses of the first MEMS. The device may include a second MEMS, mounted to the substrate, that may include a second set of lenses, which may be configured to optically couple the PLC to an optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an optical receiver including an optical source, including a substrate; a laser provided on the substrate, the laser having first and second sides and outputting first light from the first side and second light from the second side, the first light output from the first side of the laser has a first power and the second light output from the second side has a second power; and a first modulator that receives the first light and a second modulator that receives the second light, such that the power of the first light at an input of the first modulator is substantially equal to the power of the second light at an input of the second modulator.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, one or more spare Widely Tunable Lasers (WTLs) are integrated on a PIC. In the event that a channel, including, for example, a laser, a modulator and a semiconductor optical amplifier in a transmitter or Tx PIC, or a laser, optical hybrid, and photodiodes, for example, in a receiver PIC (Rx PIC), includes one or more defective devices, a spare channel is selected that includes a widely tunable laser (WTL) which may be tuned to the wavelength associated with any of the channels on the PIC. Accordingly, the spare channel replaces the defective channel or the lowest performing channel and outputs modulated optical signals at the wavelength associated with the defective channel. Thus, even though a defective channel may be present, a die consistent with the present disclosure may still output or receive the desired channels because the spare channel replaces the defective channel.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, one or more spare Widely Tunable Lasers (WTLs) are integrated on a PIC. In the event that a channel, including, for example, a laser, a modulator and a semiconductor optical amplifier in a transmitter or Tx PIC, or a laser, optical hybrid, and photodiodes, for example, in a receiver PIC (Rx PIC), includes one or more defective devices, a spare channel is selected that includes a widely tunable laser (WTL) which may be tuned to the wavelength associated with any of the channels on the PIC. Accordingly, the spare channel replaces the defective channel or the lowest performing channel and outputs modulated optical signals at the wavelength associated with the defective channel. Thus, even though a defective channel may be present, a die consistent with the present disclosure may still output or receive the desired channels because the spare channel replaces the defective channel.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, one or more spare Widely Tunable Lasers (WTLs) are integrated on a PIC. In the event that a channel, including, for example, a laser, a modulator and a semiconductor optical amplifier in a transmitter or Tx PIC, or a laser, optical hybrid, and photodiodes, for example, in a receiver PIC (Rx PIC), includes one or more defective devices, a spare channel is selected that includes a widely tunable laser (WTL) which may be tuned to the wavelength associated with any of the channels on the PIC. Accordingly, the spare channel replaces the defective channel or the lowest performing channel and outputs modulated optical signals at the wavelength associated with the defective channel. Thus, even though a defective channel may be present, a die consistent with the present disclosure may still output or receive the desired channels because the spare channel replaces the defective channel.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise.

Abstract: A device may include a substrate. The device may include a carrier mounted to the substrate. The device may include a transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mounted on the carrier. The transmitter PIC may include a plurality of lasers that generate an optical signal when a voltage or current is applied to one of the plurality of lasers. The device may include a first microelectromechanical structure (MEMS) mounted to the substrate. The first MEMS may include a first set of lenses. The device may include a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) mounted to the substrate. The PLC may be optically coupled to the plurality of lasers by the first set of lenses of the first MEMS. The device may include a second MEMS, mounted to the substrate, that may include a second set of lenses, which may be configured to optically couple the PLC to an optical fiber.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. In addition, optical taps may be more readily employed on the PIC to measure outputs of the lasers, such as widely tunable lasers (WTLs), without crossing waveguides.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. In addition, optical taps may be more readily employed on the PIC to measure outputs of the lasers, such as widely tunable lasers (WTLs), without crossing waveguides.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. In addition, optical taps may be more readily employed on the PIC to measure outputs of the lasers, such as widely tunable lasers (WTLs), without crossing waveguides.

Abstract: A device may include a substrate. The device may include a carrier mounted to the substrate. The device may include a transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mounted on the carrier. The transmitter PIC may include a plurality of lasers that generate an optical signal when a voltage or current is applied to one of the plurality of lasers. The device may include a first microelectromechanical structure (MEMS) mounted to the substrate. The first MEMS may include a first set of lenses. The device may include a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) mounted to the substrate. The PLC may be optically coupled to the plurality of lasers by the first set of lenses of the first MEMS. The device may include a second MEMS, mounted to the substrate, that may include a second set of lenses, which may be configured to optically couple the PLC to an optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an optical receiver including a laser including a gain section; and a first tunable reflector configured to output a reference signal; a first coupler formed over the substrate; a shutter variable optical attenuator formed over the substrate, the shutter variable optical attenuator including an input port configured to receive the first portion of the reference signal from the laser; and an output port configured to provide or to block, based on a control signal, the first portion of the reference signal from the laser; and a second coupler including a first port configured to receive the first portion of the reference signal from the shutter variable optical attenuator; and a second port configured to (i) provide the first portion of the reference signal from the shutter variable optical attenuator to an optical analyzer or (ii) receive a data signal from a transmitter.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.