Abstract: An out-of-band (OOB) signal detector is disclosed. The OOB signal detector may include a first node configured to receive an alternating current (AC) portion and a direct current (DC) portion of an electrical signal. The AC portion may include modulated OOB data carried by the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may also include a current to voltage processing circuit configured to extract the AC portion of the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may additionally include a limiting amplifier circuit configured to receive the extracted AC portion and to generate an amplified signal based on the extracted AC portion. The OOB signal detector may further include an analog-to-digital convertor circuit configured to sample the amplified signal and to generate a digital sample that represents the modulated OOB data.

Abstract: An out-of-band (OOB) signal detector is disclosed. The OOB signal detector may include a first node configured to receive an alternating current (AC) portion and a direct current (DC) portion of an electrical signal. The AC portion may include modulated OOB data carried by the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may also include a current to voltage processing circuit configured to extract the AC portion of the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may additionally include a limiting amplifier circuit configured to receive the extracted AC portion and to generate an amplified signal based on the extracted AC portion. The OOB signal detector may further include an analog-to-digital convertor circuit configured to sample the amplified signal and to generate a digital sample that represents the modulated OOB data.

Abstract: An out-of-band (OOB) signal detector is disclosed. The OOB signal detector may include a first node configured to receive an alternating current (AC) portion and a direct current (DC) portion of an electrical signal. The AC portion may include modulated OOB data carried by the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may also include a current to voltage processing circuit configured to extract the AC portion of the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may additionally include a limiting amplifier circuit configured to receive the extracted AC portion and to generate an amplified signal based on the extracted AC portion. The OOB signal detector may further include an analog-to-digital convertor circuit configured to sample the amplified signal and to generate a digital sample that represents the modulated OOB data.

Abstract: An out-of-band (OOB) signal detector is disclosed. The OOB signal detector may include a first node configured to receive an alternating current (AC) portion and a direct current (DC) portion of an electrical signal. The AC portion may include modulated OOB data carried by the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may also include a current to voltage processing circuit configured to extract the AC portion of the electrical signal. The OOB signal detector may additionally include a limiting amplifier circuit configured to receive the extracted AC portion and to generate an amplified signal based on the extracted AC portion. The OOB signal detector may further include an analog-to-digital convertor circuit configured to sample the amplified signal and to generate a digital sample that represents the modulated OOB data.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a signal generator configured to generate a switching signal and a switching unit coupled to the signal generator. The switching unit may be configured to generate a pulsed current based on the switching signal using a first voltage. The integrated circuit may also include an inductive unit coupled to the switching unit. The inductive unit may be configured to receive the pulsed current and to generate a second voltage different from the first voltage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a signal generator configured to generate a switching signal and a switching unit coupled to the signal generator. The switching unit may be configured to generate a pulsed current based on the switching signal using a first voltage. The integrated circuit may also include an inductive unit coupled to the switching unit. The inductive unit may be configured to receive the pulsed current and to generate a second voltage different from the first voltage.

Abstract: Out-of-band data communication of diagnostic and/or configuration data is performed using transceivers in a data or communication network. A light beam or other carrier is modulated with high-speed data and out-of-band diagnostic and/or configuration data to create a double modulated data signal. A physical layer signal is created that includes modulations of the double modulated signal. The physical layer signal is transmitted onto a physical link. The diagnostic and/or configuration data can be transmitted in the out-of-band signal without substantially reducing or otherwise interfering with the transmission rate of the high-speed data.

Abstract: Out-of-band data communication of diagnostic or other data is performed using transceivers in a data or communication network. A light beam or other carrier is modulated with high-speed data and out-of-band data to create a double modulated data signal. A physical layer signal is created that includes modulations of the double modulated signal. The physical layer signal is transmitted onto a physical link. The diagnostic or other data can be transmitted in the out-of-band signal without substantially reducing or otherwise interfering with the transmission rate of the high-speed data.

Abstract: An electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) system may comprise one or more EDC solution application modules. The EDC system may include a solution transition module. The solution transition module may be configured to determine a path between a first EDC solution performed by a first EDC solution application module and a second EDC solution performed by a second EDC solution application module. The solution transition module may be configured to provide transition instructions to an EDC solution application module. The transition instructions may include one or more intermediate EDC solutions disposed along a path between a first EDC solution and a second EDC solution.

Abstract: A microprocessor is used to control the temperature of a laser emitter and thereby regulate the wavelength of optical signals from the laser. A serial interface in the microprocessor provides input and output lines to a host device, and temperature lookup tables are stored in nonvolatile memory. Control logic processes information stored in the memory as well as information on operating conditions of the laser emitter to precisely control the temperature of the laser emitter. A thermo-electric cooler adjusts the temperature of the laser emitter.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an optical transmitter. Proximate to startup of the optical transmitter, the laser bias to the optical transmitter is increased from a minimum to a setpoint according to a predefined function. After the laser bias setpoint is reached, the electrical modulation amplitude is increased from a minimum to a setpoint according to a predefined function. Proximate to shutdown of the optical transmitter, the electrical modulation amplitude is decreased from the setpoint to the minimum according to a predefined function. After the electrical modulation amplitude minimum is reached, the laser bias to the optical transmitter is decreased from a setpoint to a minimum according to a predefined function.

Abstract: Controlling a thermo electric cooler (TEC) in a transceiver using a microcontroller. The microcontroller is used to control functionality in addition to the TEC control functionality. Specifically, the TEC is controlled using a control algorithm in the microcontroller. The microcontroller sends signals to a switching device that controls current through TEC.

Abstract: An optical transmitter having an electro-optic transducer mounted directly on a temperature sensor. Due to the close proximity of the electro-optic transducer and the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor more accurately measures the temperature of the electro-optic transducer. This permits for more refined control of the frequency characteristics of optical light emitted by the electro-optic transducer since the emitted optical frequencies of most electro-optic transducers are heavily temperature dependent.

Abstract: An electro-optic transducer die that includes both an optically emissive PN junction diode and a temperature sensing PN junction diode. Since the temperature sensing PN junction diode is in the very same die as the optically emissive PN junction diode, there is very little thermal resistance between the optically emissive PN junction diode and the temperature sensing PN junction diode. Accordingly, the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing PN junction diode more accurately tracks the actual temperature of the optically emissive PN junction diode.

Abstract: An optical transmit assembly having a temperature sensor patterned on an electro-optic transducer die. Due to the close proximity of the electro-optic transducer junction and the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor more accurately measures the temperature of the electro-optic transducer junction. This permits for more refined control of the frequency characteristics of optical light emitted by the electro-optic transducer junction since the emitted optical frequencies of most electro-optic transducers are heavily temperature dependent.

Abstract: An optical transmit assembly in which a laser and temperature sensor are mounted on a first substrate without other heat generating components. Other heat generating components may be mounted on a second substrate that is separated from the first substrate by a thermally resistance mechanism. Accordingly, heat that is generated by other components is not as easily transferred to the laser and temperature sensor. This allows the temperature of the temperature sensor to more closely track the temperature of the laser, and allows for more efficient cooling of the laser.

Abstract: A loss of signal assert and de-assert level programming mechanism in an optical transceiver coupled to a host computing system. A control module is connected to the host so as to receive the programmable loss of signal level. A post-amplifier detects when the receive power drops below a loss of signal level. However, in this case, instead of the loss of signal level being static, a loss of signal level adjustment mechanism changes the loss of signal level detected by the post-amplifier as directed by the programmable loss of signal level received from the host. The loss of signal assert and de-assert levels may be calibrated by comparing receive power to the threshold for assertion and de-assertion of the loss of signal.

Abstract: An operational optical transceiver configured to update operational firmware using an optical link of the transceiver. The optical transceiver includes at least one processor and a system memory capable of receiving firmware. The optical transceiver receives an optical signal over the optical link containing the update firmware. The optical transceiver then recovers the firmware from the optical signal. Finally, the optical transceiver provides to the system memory the recovered firmware, which when executed by the at least one processor alters the operation of the transceiver.

Abstract: One example of a method for operating a transceiver includes selecting a first operating wavelength from a set of operating wavelengths. Next, a first control value is accessed that corresponds to the first operating wavelength. The first control value also corresponds to a first operating temperature of the transceiver, and the first operating temperature resides within a range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. Finally, the transceiver is operated substantially at the first operating temperature.

Abstract: Out-of-band data communication of diagnostic or other data is performed using transceivers in a data or communication network. A light beam or other carrier is modulated with high-speed data and out-of-band data to create a double modulated data signal. A physical layer signal is created that includes modulations of the double modulated signal. The physical layer signal is transmitted onto a physical link. The diagnostic or other data can be transmitted in the out-of-band signal without substantially reducing or otherwise interfering with the transmission rate of the high-speed data.