Abstract: Device and method for processing an optical signal. The device includes a photonic device arranged between a first input/output and second input/output and optically communicating with the inputs/outputs by a signal path for transmission of an optical signal in a first or second direction between the first input/output and second input/output. The device includes an optical gain element for amplifying the optical signal. The device includes a path switching circuit including a first signal amplification path connectable between the first input/output and the photonic device for optically coupling the signal path to and from the optical gain element, and a second signal amplification path connectable between the photonic device and the second input/output for optically coupling the signal path to and from the optical gain element. The path switching circuit selectively connects the first or second signal amplification path into the signal path.

Abstract: An optical connector for a photonic circuit. The optical connector includes a first part, fixable to a photonic circuit, having at least one slab of optically transparent material, the at least one slab including a first lens. The optical connector includes a second part, movable between a connected position adjacent the first part and a disconnected position removed from the first part. The second part includes at least one slab of optically transparent material, the at least one slab including a second lens located to be in alignment with the first lens in the connected position. One or more guiding elements are arranged to direct light to the second lens. The second part is configured to connect the one or more guiding elements to an optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical module (100) comprising: a photonic integrated circuit, PIC, chip (102) having a surface layer and comprising at least one optical circuit; an electronic integrated circuit, EIC, chip (104) having a surface layer and comprising at least one electrical circuit; a molded substrate (106), wherein the PIC chip and the EIC chip are embedded in the molded substrate and the PIC chip is arranged with its surface layer generally at a first surface of the molded substrate; at least one redistribution layer, RDL, (108) located at the first surface of the molded substrate and having at least one opening (110) for receiving at least one optical fibre connection (208) to the PIC chip and at least one electrical connection with the PIC chip; at least one RDL (112) provided at a second surface of the molded substrate; and at least one electrical interconnection (114) between the RDLs at the first and second surfaces, through the molded substrate.

Abstract: An optical interconnect for optically coupling at least a first optical integrated circuit and a second optical integrated circuit. The optical interconnect comprises at least two layers of optically transparent material. There is a first optical waveguide arranged along a surface of a first one of the at least two layers of optically transparent material. There is further a first non-guided optical path extending from the first optical waveguide through the at least two layers of optically transparent material. A first reflective element is arranged to receive light from at least one of the first non-guided optical path and the first optical waveguide and direct the light to the other of the first non-guided optical path and the first optical waveguide. At least one lens is arranged at a boundary between two of the at least two layers of optically transparent material. The at least one lens is arranged to receive and focus light travelling along the first non-guided optical path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for switching an optical signal. In one aspect, an optical switching apparatus comprises a first beam splitting apparatus configured to split a first optical input signal into first and second optical signals, wherein the first optical signal has substantially the same polarization state as the second optical signal. The apparatus also comprises a switching matrix comprising a plurality of first outputs of the switching matrix and a plurality of second outputs of the switching matrix, each first output of the switching matrix associated with a respective one of the second outputs of the switching matrix, the switching matrix configured to selectively direct the first optical signal to a selected one of the first outputs of the switching matrix and to selectively direct the second optical signal to the second output of the switching matrix associated with the selected first output of the switching matrix.

Abstract: A method (100) is disclosed for filtering an optical signal to generate at least one electrical output. The method comprises receiving an optical signal (110) and directing at least a part of the optical signal through an n×m array of wavelength selective elements (120), the n×m array comprising n parallel groups, each group comprising m coupled wavelength selective elements. The method further comprises photodetecting an output from each of the n groups of coupled wavelength selective elements (130), and electrically selecting at least one of the photodetected outputs (140). Also disclosed are an optical filtering module (200, 300) a controller (400) for an optical filtering module and a computer program.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling optical powers of optical channels in an optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes is described herein. The method comprises obtaining a reference optical power. The method also includes determining an optical power of an optical channel generated by an optical transmitter of a node. The method further includes applying an attenuation to the optical channel to reduce the optical power of the optical channel to the reference optical power. In some implementations, the method is performed by a network controller operating in the optical communications network.

Abstract: Device (200,300) and method (500) for processing an optical signal. The device (200,300) comprises a photonic device (202,302) arranged between a first input/output (204,304) and a second input/output (206,306) and optically communicating with the inputs/outputs by a signal path (208,308) for transmission of an optical signal in a first or second direction between the first input/output (204,304) and the second input/output (206,306). The device (200,300) comprises an optical gain element (210,310) for amplifying the optical signal.

Abstract: A network (100) for a data center is disclosed. The network comprises computing resources (120), storage resources (110), and a switching apparatus (130). The switching apparatus (130) comprises a plurality of electrical switching components (140) configured to provide packet switching for traffic between computing resources or between computing and storage resources, and an optical switching fabric (150) configured to select an electrical switching component to provide packet switching between computing resources (120) and to provide connectivity between the plurality of electrical switching components (140) and the computing and storage resources (120, 110). Also disclosed is a method (400) for configuring a Virtual Performance Optimised Data Center (vPOD) in a network.

Abstract: A method (100) is disclosed for filtering an optical signal to generate at least one electrical output. The method comprises receiving an optical signal (110) and directing at least a part of the optical signal through an n×m array of wavelength selective elements (120), the n×m array comprising n parallel groups, each group comprising m coupled wavelength selective elements. The method further comprises photodetecting an output from each of the n groups of coupled wavelength selective elements (130), and electrically selecting at least one of the photodetected outputs (140). Also disclosed are an optical filtering module (200, 300) a controller (400) for an optical filtering module and a computer program.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switching arrangement (23) comprises a set of input ports (61), a set of output ports (65); a switching matrix; and a plurality of de-multiplexers each comprising an aggregate port (62) and a plurality of tributary ports (64), each aggregate port being connected to an input port and each tributary port being connected to the switching matrix (57), the switching matrix being coupled between the tributary ports and the output ports. The wavelength selective optical switching arrangement is configured to receive at an input port a group of optical signals, each optical signal being transmitted on a different wavelength and being assigned to one of a plurality of destination nodes.

Abstract: An optical coupler (40; 50) comprises a substrate (41). A first waveguide element (45) is provided in a first layer with respect to the substrate, wherein the first waveguide element (45) comprises a first end (45a) and a second end (45b), and wherein the first end (45a) of the first waveguide element (45) is coupled to input/output light to/from a first end of the optical coupler. A second waveguide element (43) is provided in a second layer, the second layer arranged adjacent to the first layer, wherein the second waveguide element (43) comprises a first end (43a) and a second end (43b), and wherein the first end (43a) of the second waveguide element (43) is coupled to input/output light to/from a second end of the optical coupler.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling optical powers of optical channels in an optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes is described herein. The method comprises obtaining a reference optical power. The method also includes determining an optical power of an optical channel generated by an optical transmitter of a node. The method further includes applying an attenuation to the optical channel to reduce the optical power of the optical channel to the reference optical power. In some implementations, the method is performed by a network controller operating in the optical communications network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for switching an optical signal. In one aspect, an optical switching apparatus comprises a first beam splitting apparatus configured to split a first optical input signal into first and second optical signals, wherein the first optical signal has substantially the same polarization state as the second optical signal. The apparatus also comprises a switching matrix comprising a plurality of first outputs of the switching matrix and a plurality of second outputs of the switching matrix, each first output of the switching matrix associated with a respective one of the second outputs of the switching matrix, the switching matrix configured to selectively direct the first optical signal to a selected one of the first outputs of the switching matrix and to selectively direct the second optical signal to the second output of the switching matrix associated with the selected first output of the switching matrix.

Abstract: A transport network is configured to connect one or more optical rings of optical add and drop devices with one or more digital units in a radio access network. The transport network comprises a first electronic cross-connect and a second electronic cross-connect. A switch is provided for connecting the first electronic cross-connect and/or the second electronic cross-connect to the one or more digital units. The first and second electronic cross-connects are each coupled to at least one of the one or more optical rings of optical add and drop devices.

Abstract: In an optical transceiver, an optical transmitter coupled to a reconfigurable optical channel-add apparatus has first and second add paths, an add micro-ring resonator, and first and second optical attenuators, reconfigurable to selectively block an optical channel from an optical transmitter in one of the first and second add paths. The add micro-ring resonator is reconfigurable selectively to add an optical channel from the first add path to an optical waveguide to travel towards the first add-drop port or to add an optical channel from the second add path to the optical waveguide to travel towards the second add-drop port. An optical receiver is coupled to a reconfigurable optical channel-drop apparatus having a drop micro-ring resonator, and first and second drop paths.

Abstract: An optical beam spot size convertor is provided having a body. The body comprises a first optical waveguide having a first refractive index and a plurality of second optical waveguides each having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. The first optical waveguide is arranged to receive an input optical beam. The first optical waveguide is further arranged such that light from the input optical beam is coupled from the first optical waveguide into the plurality of second optical waveguides. The body further comprises an output optical waveguide and a reflective part coupled to the plurality of second optical waveguides and to the output optical waveguide. The reflective part is arranged to focus optical beams received from the plurality of second optical waveguides into a single optical beam which is directed to the output optical waveguide.

Abstract: A network (100) for a data center is disclosed. The network comprises computing resources (120), storage resources (110), and a switching apparatus (130). The switching apparatus (130) comprises a plurality of electrical switching components (140) configured to provide packet switching for traffic between computing resources or between computing and storage resources, and an optical switching fabric (150) configured to select an electrical switching component to provide packet switching between computing resources (120) and to provide connectivity between the plurality of electrical switching components (140) and the computing and storage resources (120, 110). Also disclosed is a method (400) for configuring a Virtual Performance Optimised Data Center (vPOD) in a network.

Abstract: An optical coupler (40; 50) comprises a substrate (41). A first waveguide element (45) is provided in a first layer with respect to the substrate, wherein the first waveguide element (45) comprises a first end (45a) and a second end (45b), and wherein the first end (45a) of the first waveguide element (45) is coupled to input/output light to/from a first end of the optical coupler. A second waveguide element (43) is provided in a second layer, the second layer arranged adjacent to the first layer, wherein the second waveguide element (43) comprises a first end (43a) and a second end (43b), and wherein the first end (43a) of the second waveguide element (43) is coupled to input/output light to/from a second end of the optical coupler.

Abstract: An optical source comprises a first laser arranged to generate a first optical signal having a first state of polarization (SOP) and a first optical frequency; a second laser arranged to generate a second optical signal having a second SOP, substantially orthogonal to the first SOP, and having a second optical frequency, different from the first optical frequency by a preselected frequency difference; a polarisation beam coupler arranged to combine the first optical signal and the second optical signal into a composite optical signal comprising both the first optical signal and the second optical signal having said substantially orthogonal SOPs; and an output arranged to output the composite optical signal.