Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus operates a control loop for a tunable optical device. A digital reference signal is converted to an analog reference signal and then introduced into the optical path of the tunable optical device. An analog feedback signal, corresponding to the digital reference signal, is recovered from the tunable optical device. The analog feedback signal is converted to a digital feedback signal. The apparatus sends tuning information to the tunable optical device based on analysis of the digital reference signal and the digital feedback signal. In one embodiment, the tuning information is used for wavelength locking of the tunable optical device. In another embodiment, the operation of the control loop is synchronized with another function of the tunable optical device.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus operates a control loop for a tunable optical device. A digital reference signal is converted to an analog reference signal and then introduced into the optical path of the tunable optical device. An analog feedback signal, corresponding to the digital reference signal, is recovered from the tunable optical device. The analog feedback signal is converted to a digital feedback signal. The apparatus sends tuning information to the tunable optical device based on analysis of the digital reference signal and the digital feedback signal. In one embodiment, the tuning information is used for wavelength locking of the tunable optical device. In another embodiment, the operation of the control loop is synchronized with another function of the tunable optical device.

Abstract: The present application discloses a software architecture. In one embodiment, the software architecture is an apparatus comprising a processor, a real time thread comprising a real-time module that can be executed by the processor, a non-real-time thread comprising a non-real-time module that can be executed by the processor or a separate processor independently of the real-time thread, and a external communication thread executed by the processor for handling communications between the real-time thread and the non-real-time thread. In another embodiment, the architecture is a process comprising executing a real time thread comprising a real-time module, executing a non-real-time thread comprising a non-real-time module independently of the real-time thread, and executing a external communication thread for handling communications between the real-time thread and the non-real-time thread. Other embodiments are described and claimed.