Abstract: The device includes an optical waveguide on a base. The waveguide is configured to guide a light signal through a light-transmitting medium. A light sensor is also positioned on the base. The light sensor including a ridge extending from slab regions. The slab regions are positioned on opposing sides of the ridge. A light-absorbing medium is positioned to receive at least a portion of the light signal from the light-transmitting medium included in the waveguide. The light-absorbing medium is included in the ridge and also in the slab regions. The light-absorbing medium includes doped regions positioned such that an application of a reverse bias across the doped regions forms an electrical field in the light-absorbing medium included in the ridge.

Abstract: The optical device includes a waveguide and a light sensor on a base. The light sensor includes a light-absorbing medium configured to receive a light signal from the waveguide. The light sensor also includes field sources for generating an electrical field in the light-absorbing medium. The field sources are configured so the electrical field is substantially parallel to the base.

Abstract: An optical system includes optical devices that each has functional sides between lateral sides. The functional sides include a top side and a bottom side. A first one of the devices has an optical amplifier, a first waveguide, and a first port. A second one of the devices has a second port optically aligned with a second waveguide. The second device is positioned over one of the functional sides of the first device. The optical amplifier is optically positioned between the first waveguide and the first port such that a light signal from the first waveguide enters the amplifier and travels through the amplifier. The first port is configured to receive the light signal from the optical amplifier and change the direction that the light signal is traveling such that the light signal exits the first device traveling in a direction that is toward the second device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical component includes forming a mask on an optical component precursor. The method also includes etching through at least a portion of the mask so as to etch an underlying medium concurrently with remaining mask and transfer a feature of an upper surface of the mask onto an upper surface of the underlying medium. The etch can be configured such that a ratio of the underlying medium etch rate to the mask etch rate is less than about 1.5:1. In some instances, the underlying medium is silicon and the mask is a photoresist.

Abstract: An optical component is disclosed. The optical component includes a tap waveguide and a primary waveguide positioned on a base. The tap waveguide is configured to receive a portion of a light signal traveling along the primary waveguide. The portion of the light signal received by the tap waveguide is the tapped portion of the light signal. A direction changing region is configured to receive the tapped portion of the light signal from the tap waveguide and to direct the tapped portion of the light signal travels away from the base. A light sensor is configured to receive the tapped portion of the light signal from the direction changing region.

Abstract: An optical filter is disclosed. The filter includes a light distribution component having an output side. A plurality of array waveguides are configured to deliver a light signal into the light distribution component such that the light signal is incident on the output side of the light distribution component. The array waveguides are configured to adjust the location where the light signal is incident on the output side.