Abstract: An optical multiplexer and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The multiplexer generally includes a beam splitter and a polarization beam splitter. The beam splitter is generally configured to combine first and second polarized optical signals by reflecting a first polarized optical signal towards a first target and allowing a second polarized optical signal to pass through towards the first target. The polarization beam splitter is generally configured to combine the first and second polarized optical signals with a third polarized optical signal by either (i) reflecting the third polarized optical signal towards a second target and allowing the first and second polarized optical signals to pass through towards the second target, or (ii) reflecting the first and second polarized optical signals towards the second target and allowing the third polarized optical signal to pass through towards the second target.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical device and method of making the same are disclosed. The optical device includes a plurality of detectors on a detector mounting substrate, and a corresponding plurality of lenses on an interior surface of the optical device. Each detector detects light having a unique center wavelength. Each center wavelength corresponds to a channel of the optical device. Each lens focuses light towards a corresponding detector. Each detector has a location corresponding to a focal point of the light focused by a corresponding lens. The method of making the optical device includes placing lenses on a surface of the optical device housing, transmitting light having a plurality of center wavelengths through the lenses, determining locations on a detector mounting substrate where each light beam is focused by a lens, and placing a detector at each location.

Abstract: A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver includes a casing configured to accommodate optical and electrical devices. During normal operation, the casing is connected to a switchboard via a connector in the switchboard, and the optical devices are outside the switchboard, thereby exposing optical devices sensitive to high temperature to the outside air, reducing the operational temperature of the optical device portion relative to the heated portion inside the switchboard. Thus, the present SFP optical transceiver advantageously improves operational performance and extends the life of the device. Also, the present SFP optical transceiver having the optical device portion outside the switchboard advantageously improves the cooling performance for the optical device portion.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical transmitter generally includes a first light source configured to emit light of a first wavelength, a second light source configured to emit light of a second wavelength, a first modulator configured to modulate the light of the first wavelength, and a second modulator configured to modulate the light of the second wavelength. The first modulator has a first anode and a first cathode, and the second modulator has a second anode and a second cathode electrically isolated from the first anode and the first cathode. The modulators (and optionally the light sources) are on a common substrate. A method of transmitting optical signals generally includes modulating light emitted from a first light source using a first modulator, and modulating light emitted from a second light source using a second modulator, where the first modulator receives a first modulation signal, and the second modulator receives a second modulation signal electrically isolated from the first modulation signal.

Abstract: An optical module housing that may be easily seated, locked in and removed from a socket, thereby reducing or eliminating potential damage to the module and socket, and methods for making and using the housing are disclosed. The module housing generally includes a chassis, one or more pivots attached to the chassis, a latch configured to secure the housing in a corresponding slot when in a locked position, a slider configured to be in contact with and/or connected to the latch and to move the latch relative to the chassis, the latch and/or the slider being configured to move on and/or around the pivot(s) and a handle configured to be in contact with and/or connected to the slider such that when the handle moves from a first position to a second position, the slider and latch move to the locked and/or an unlocked positions.

Abstract: Methods, algorithms, architectures, circuits, and/or systems for determining the status of parameters associated with optical transceiver operation are disclosed. The method can include (a) accessing and/or monitoring parametric data for each of a plurality of parameters that are related to operation of the optical transceiver; (b) storing the parametric data in one or more memories; (c) comparing the parametric data for each of the plurality of parameters against at least one of a corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds; and (d) generating one or more states indicating whether the parametric data for a unique one of the parameters has crossed one or more of the corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds. The invention also relates to an optical triplexer, comprising the described optical transceiver.

Abstract: A modulated laser system generally includes a light emission region, a modulation region having a plurality of semiconductive layers, at least one of which includes a quantum well layer having a variable energy bandgap, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region. The laser may be an electro-absorption modulated laser, the light emission region may include a distributed feedback laser, and the modulation region may include an electro-absorption modulator. The laser may be manufactured by forming a lower semiconductive buffer layer on a substrate, an active layer including one or more quantum well layers having the variable energy bandgap on or above the lower semiconductive buffer layer, an upper semiconductive buffer layer on or above the active layer, a contact layer on or above the upper semiconductive buffer layer, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region.

Abstract: A light-emitting device, multi-channel light-emitting device, and method(s) of making the same are disclosed. The light-emitting device can include a substrate; a lower contact layer on or over the substrate comprising a first lower contact in a first region and a plurality of second lower contacts in a second region; a plurality of light-emitting thin film devices on or over the first lower contact in the first region; a plurality of light-modulating thin film devices on or over the plurality of second lower contacts in the second region; a plurality of first upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-emitting thin film devices; a plurality of second upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-modulating thin film devices; and an isolation region between the first and second regions, electrically separating the plurality of first upper contacts and the plurality of second upper contacts.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical transmitter generally includes a first light source configured to emit light of a first wavelength, a second light source configured to emit light of a second wavelength, a first modulator configured to modulate the light of the first wavelength, and a second modulator configured to modulate the light of the second wavelength. The first modulator has a first anode and a first cathode, and the second modulator has a second anode and a second cathode electrically isolated from the first anode and the first cathode. The modulators (and optionally the light sources) are on a common substrate. A method of transmitting optical signals generally includes modulating light emitted from a first light source using a first modulator, and modulating light emitted from a second light source using a second modulator, where the first modulator receives a first modulation signal, and the second modulator receives a second modulation signal electrically isolated from the first modulation signal.

Abstract: A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver includes a casing configured to accommodate optical and electrical devices. During normal operation, the casing is connected to a switchboard via a connector in the switchboard, and the optical devices are outside the switchboard, thereby exposing optical devices sensitive to high temperature to the outside air, reducing the operational temperature of the optical device portion relative to the heated portion inside the switchboard. Thus, the present SFP optical transceiver advantageously improves operational performance and extends the life of the device. Also, the present SFP optical transceiver having the optical device portion outside the switchboard advantageously improves the cooling performance for the optical device portion.

Abstract: Methods, architectures, circuits, and/or systems for monitoring operating parameters and/or generating status indications associated with electronic device operation are disclosed. The method can include (i) monitoring a first operating parameter related to operation of the electronic device to determine a first parameter value, (ii) calculating a difference between the first parameter value and a predetermined value for the first operating parameter, (iii) monitoring a second operating parameter on which thresholds for operational warnings and/or alarms are based to determine a second parameter value, (iv) updating or changing the thresholds based on a predetermined change or event in the second parameter value, (v) comparing the difference to the updated or changed thresholds, and (vi) generating a corresponding one of the operational warnings and/or alarms when the difference crosses at least one of the thresholds in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A modulated laser system generally includes a light emission region, a modulation region having a plurality of semiconductive layers, at least one of which includes a quantum well layer having a variable energy bandgap, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region. The laser may be an electro-absorption modulated laser, the light emission region may include a distributed feedback laser, and the modulation region may include an electro-absorption modulator. The laser may be manufactured by forming a lower semiconductive buffer layer on a substrate, an active layer including one or more quantum well layers having the variable energy bandgap on or above the lower semiconductive buffer layer, an upper semiconductive buffer layer on or above the active layer, a contact layer on or above the upper semiconductive buffer layer, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region.

Abstract: A circuit, optical transceiver and/or methods for using the same may be useful for determining average power, extinction ratio, and/or modulation amplitude when monitoring an optical transceiver and/or optical network. The circuit generally comprises a photodiode configured to generate a first current responsive to an optical signal, a current mirror coupled to a first terminal of the photodiode, and a detector coupled to a second terminal of the photodiode. The current mirror is configured to produce a second current equal to or proportional to the first current, and the detector is configured to determine a power or amplitude of the optical signal. Further, the present scheme may communicate information using a low speed signal superimposed on or combined with the relatively high speed optical signal.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical device and method of making the same are disclosed. The optical device includes a plurality of detectors on a detector mounting substrate, and a corresponding plurality of lenses on an interior surface of the optical device. Each detector detects light having a unique center wavelength. Each center wavelength corresponds to a channel of the optical device. Each lens focuses light towards a corresponding detector. Each detector has a location corresponding to a focal point of the light focused by a corresponding lens. The method of making the optical device includes placing lenses on a surface of the optical device housing, transmitting light having a plurality of center wavelengths through the lenses, determining locations on a detector mounting substrate where each light beam is focused by a lens, and placing a detector at each location.

Abstract: A light-emitting device, multi-channel light-emitting device, and method(s) of making the same are disclosed. The light-emitting device can include a substrate; a lower contact layer on or over the substrate comprising a first lower contact in a first region and a plurality of second lower contacts in a second region; a plurality of light-emitting thin film devices on or over the first lower contact in the first region; a plurality of light-modulating thin film devices on or over the plurality of second lower contacts in the second region; a plurality of first upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-emitting thin film devices; a plurality of second upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-modulating thin film devices; and an isolation region between the first and second regions, electrically separating the plurality of first upper contacts and the plurality of second upper contacts.

Abstract: A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver includes a casing configured to accommodate optical and electrical devices. During normal operation, the casing is connected to a switchboard via a connector in the switchboard, and the optical devices are outside the switchboard, thereby exposing optical devices sensitive to high temperature to the outside air, reducing the operational temperature of the optical device portion relative to the heated portion inside the switchboard. Thus, the present SFP optical transceiver advantageously improves operational performance and extends the life of the device. Also, the present SFP optical transceiver having the optical device portion outside the switchboard advantageously improves the cooling performance for the optical device portion.

Abstract: A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver includes a casing configured to accommodate optical and electrical devices. During normal operation, the casing is connected to a switchboard via a connector in the switchboard, and the optical devices are outside the switchboard, thereby exposing optical devices sensitive to high temperature to the outside air, reducing the operational temperature of the optical device portion relative to the heated portion inside the switchboard. Thus, the present SFP optical transceiver advantageously improves operational performance and extends the life of the device. Also, the present SFP optical transceiver having the optical device portion outside the switchboard advantageously improves the cooling performance for the optical device portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical power monitoring circuit including an automatic power control (APC) loop and a microcontroller unit (MCU), and a method for monitoring the same. The APC loop comprises a laser diode (LD) and a feedback loop to maintain a laser optical power. The MCU is configured to (i) monitor a bias current using a current sense circuit, (ii) monitor a rate of change of the bias current with time, and (iii) adjust a target power of the APC loop. By monitoring the bias current and the rate of change, and comparing them against thresholds, the target power can be adjusted by the MCU, to prevent roll-over in the laser diode, damage to the laser, and/or a hard failure in the data links that use the laser.

Abstract: An optical module housing that may be easily seated, locked in and removed from a socket, thereby reducing or eliminating potential damage to the module and socket, and methods for making and using the housing are disclosed. The module housing generally includes a chassis, one or more pivots attached to the chassis, a latch configured to secure the housing in a corresponding slot when in a locked position, a slider configured to be in contact with and/or connected to the latch and to move the latch relative to the chassis, the latch and/or the slider being configured to move on and/or around the pivot(s) and a handle configured to be in contact with and/or connected to the slider such that when the handle moves from a first position to a second position, the slider and latch move to the locked and/or an unlocked positions.

Abstract: A circuit, optical transceiver and/or methods for using the same may be useful for determining average power, extinction ratio, and/or modulation amplitude when monitoring an optical transceiver and/or optical network. The circuit generally comprises a photodiode configured to generate a first current responsive to an optical signal, a current mirror coupled to a first terminal of the photodiode, and a detector coupled to a second terminal of the photodiode. The current mirror is configured to produce a second current equal to or proportional to the first current, and the detector is configured to determine a power or amplitude of the optical signal. Further, the present scheme may communicate information using a low speed signal superimposed on or combined with the relatively high speed optical signal.