Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip comprising an array of modulated sources, each providing a modulated signal output at a channel wavelength different from the channel wavelength of other modulated sources and a wavelength selective combiner having an input optically coupled to received all the signal outputs from the modulated sources and provide a combined output signal on an output waveguide from the chip. The modulated sources, combiner and output waveguide are all integrated on the same chip.

Abstract: A transmission network includes network elements which accept client signals to be transported over a transmission network, particularly an optical transmission network, each of the client signals having one of a plurality of payload rates. The client signals are digitally mapped into first transport frames and, subsequently, digitally mapped into second transport frames for transport across the network infrastructure. The second transport frames having a universal frame rate throughout the transmission network infrastructure supporting a client signal of any frequency, whether the client signal includes a standard client payload or a proprietary client payload.

Abstract: An optical transmitter comprises a monolithic transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) chip that includes an array of modulated sources formed on the PIC chip and having different operating wavelengths approximating a standardized wavelength grid and providing signal outputs of different wavelengths. A wavelength selective combiner is formed on the PIC chip having a wavelength grid passband response approximating the wavelength grid of the standardized wavelength grid. The signal outputs of the modulated sources optically coupled to inputs of the wavelength selective combiner to produce a combined signal output from the combiner. A first wavelength tuning element coupled to each of the modulated sources and a second wavelength tuning element coupled to the wavelength selective combiner. A wavelength monitoring unit is coupled to the wavelength selective combiner to sample the combined signal output.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for dynamic intra node rerouting is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-stage architecture within a network node is provided in which various module cards, including intermediary module cards, are interconnected within a chassis. A connection is established between a first module card and a second module card through an intermediate module card so that traffic may flow internally within the chassis. Failure detection and intra-node recovery are provided within the node by provisioning an intra-node compensated route around a failed module.

Abstract: A delay line for deployment in an equalizer to insert a delay in a signal received by the delay line employs a plurality of cascaded delay stages where the delay per stage provided by an active unit-gain amplifier in each stage that provides sufficient impedance mismatch between the delay stages without substantial deterioration of the frequency response of the client signal undergoing deterioration of the frequency response of the client signal undergoing delay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for tracking a thermally floating wavelength signal channel grid generated at an optical transmitter (Tx) in an optical transmission system or optical network where the wavelengths of the individual Tx signal channels may move in wavelength due to, for example, changes in ambient temperature at the optical transmitter but the channel spacing between Tx signal channels along the thermally floating Tx wavelength grid remains constant.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are described for displaying multiple attributes relative to objects in a network management program. In one embodiment, multiple attributes from a plurality of different standards are coalesced together and the coalesced attributes are displayed by a user interface. These coalesced attributes may be shown in such a manner so that inconsistencies between attributes of objects from different standards are reduced or obviated.

Abstract: A geometrically shaped optical waveguide crossing with minimal transmission loss is described. A symmetrically tapered waveguide intersection is used to minimize loss in the intersecting region where at least two optical waveguides cross one another. The present invention embodies a waveguide crossing that includes tapering the width of the waveguides as they approach the intersecting region, forcing the field of light to contract, reducing asymmetric field distortions, and thus reducing transmission loss and effectively minimizing crosstalk. This is accomplished by focusing light through a perpendicular or near perpendicular intersection by simple linear tapering rather than by the use of a lens or other previously used devices.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip comprising an array of modulated sources, each providing a modulated signal output at a channel wavelength different from the channel wavelength of other modulated sources and a wavelength selective combiner having an input optically coupled to received all the signal outputs from the modulated sources and provide a combined output signal on an output waveguide from the chip. The modulated sources, combiner and output waveguide are all integrated on the same chip.

Abstract: Optical autodiscovery is provide between two optical modules to insure that when an optical signal is coupled between the two optical module, the optical signal from a first module does not interfere with operation of a second module. The autodiscovery is implemented by sending an optical identification signal from the first optical module via the coupling to the second optical module from which signal, the second optical module can verify and determined acceptance of the coupled first optical module. During this autodiscovery process, the optical identification signal from the first optical module may be attenuated or shifted in optical spectrum so as not to interfere with the operation of the second optical module. Autodiscovery may also be employed in cases where a first optical module is to receive an optical signal from a second module.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for a PON transceiver comprises a single monolithic chip having a modulated transmitter laser diode of a first wavelength, ?1, for generating a first communication signal outgoing from the chip via an input/output port and a receiving photodetector for receiving a second communication signal of a second wavelength, ?2, onto chip incoming from the input/output port and a monitoring photodetector for receiving a portion of the first communication signal to monitor the laser diode output power.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for recovering a client signal clock. The present invention is able to more effectively remove jitter within a clock signal by providing a phase shifting element in the feedback of a PLL system to compensate for sudden changes in an input reference clock. The PLL system provides flexible clock recovery so that it can accommodate various payload types because it extracts a client clock signal independent of a corresponding justification count number.

Abstract: A monolithic receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) chip includes a plurality of optical signal channels together with other active elements integrated on a semiconductor chip, which chips further include a wavelength selective decombiner comprising a supergrating or an Echelle grating which provides for a more compact chip compared to an integrated on-chip arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) functioning as a wavelength selective decombiner.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for providing a plurality of internal VLANs within a networking element/node are described. Internal VLAN topologies are provisioned so that a particular VLAN(S) communicate traffic to corresponding applications. This segregation of internal traffic across a VLAN topology reduces the amount of interference between the traffic. Redundancy across the VLAN topology is provided so that traffic may be switched to another path in the event of a failure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for utilizing a probe card for testing in-wafer photonic integrated circuits (PICs) comprising a plurality of in-wafer photonic integrated circuit (PIC) die formed in the surface of a semiconductor wafer where each PIC comprises one or more electro-optic components with formed wafer-surface electrical contacts. The probe card has a probe card body with at least one row of downwardly dependent, electrically conductive contact probes. The probe body is transversely translated over the surface of the wafer to a selected in-wafer photonic integrated circuit (PIC) die. Then, the contact probes of the probe card are brought into engagement with surface electrical contacts of the selected photonic integrated circuit (PIC) die for testing the operation of electro-optic components in the selected in-wafer photonic integrated circuit (PIC) die.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip comprising an array of modulated sources, each providing a modulated signal output at a channel wavelength different from the channel wavelength of other modulated sources and a wavelength selective combiner having an input optically coupled to received all the signal outputs from the modulated sources and provide a combined output signal on an output waveguide from the chip. The modulated sources, combiner and output waveguide are all integrated on the same chip.

Abstract: An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip comprising an array of modulated sources, each providing a modulated signal output at a channel wavelength different from the channel wavelength of other modulated sources and a wavelength selective combiner having an input optically coupled to received all the signal outputs from the modulated sources and provide a combined output signal on an output waveguide from the chip. The modulated sources, combiner and output waveguide are all integrated on the same chip.

Abstract: A monolithic optical transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) comprises a plurality of integrated modulated sources which, when all operated at constant current, display a power output that varies as a function of array position similar to a quadratic-shaped curve and, further, forming an array of signal channels each having a different wavelength output. An optical combiner/decombiner is integrated in the circuit and has at least one free space region with a plurality of ordered bands along its edge where the zero order band is substantially at a longitudinal centerline of the free space region and where, on either side of this band, is a first order band followed by additional higher order bands.

Abstract: A forward error correction (FEC) communication device that includes a transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) or a receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) and a FEC device for FEC coding at least one channel with a first error rate and at least one additional channel with a second error rate, wherein the first error rate is greater than the second error rate. The TxPIC chip is a monolithic multi-channel chip having an array of modulated sources integrated on the chip, each operating at a different wavelength, wherein at least one of the modulated sources is modulated with a respective FEC encoded signal. The TxPIC also includes an integrated wavelength selective combiner for combining the channels for transport over an optical link.