Abstract: Embodiments herein describe attaching (or bonding) alignment parts to a photonic die so that these alignment parts can then be used to passively align a FAU to the photonic die. In one embodiment, the alignment part (or parts) is aligned to a photonic die using a mounting FAU. The mounting FAU (along with the mated alignment parts) can then be actively aligned to the photonic die. When aligned, the alignment parts can be bonded (e.g., using cured epoxy) to the photonic die. The mounting FAU can then be lifted off, leaving the alignment parts attached to the photonic die. Later, a final product FAU (which may have a different shape than the mounting FAU) can then be passively aligned to the photonic die using the previously mounted alignment part or parts.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an optical assembly such as a wavelength multiplexers/demultiplexers (MDM). One example optical assembly generally includes: one or more wavelength filters configured to separate a plurality of wavelengths of an optical signal into respective optical signals; and a lens array comprising a first angled facet configured to reflect the optical signal to the one or more wavelength filters, wherein the lens array is configured to receive one or more of the respective optical signals from the one or more wavelength filters and focus the one or more of the respective optical signals before reaching an optical interface for a photonic chip.

Abstract: Embodiments here describe a Faraday rotator ball lens that can be used in an optical device to focus received light and prevent back reflections from reaching a light source. In one embodiment, the isolator ball lens includes an optic axis that should be aligned with the direction of the received light in order to rotate the light so that back reflections cannot reach the light source. To do so, the isolator ball lens is placed on a holder which is then vibrated, shaken, or an aerodynamic levitation is applied in the presence of a magnetic field. The magnetic field is aligned with a desired direction of the optic axis of the isolator ball lens as the ball lens. As a result, when the ball lens is moved, the magnetic field rotates the ball lens and aligns its optic axis in the desired direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to digitize an input electrical signal. A sequence of nonuniformly spaced optical pulses impinges an optical modulator, where the pulses are modulated by the electrical input signal, the optical pulses being detected by one or more photoreceivers, the photoreceiver outputs being electrically sampled in analog-to-digital converters and then processed in a digital signal processor (DSP) in order to measure the electrical input signal. The series of nonuniform pulses are formed by interleaving L uniformly spaced pulse streams each of repetition period T and where fmax, the maximum allowable spectral frequency of the input electrical signal, is greater than 4·L·f/2, where f=1/T.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to digitize an input electrical signal. A sequence of nonuniformly spaced optical pulses impinges an optical modulator, where the pulses are modulated by the electrical input signal, the optical pulses being detected by one or more photoreceivers, the photoreceiver outputs being electrically sampled in analog-to-digital converters and then processed in a digital signal processor (DSP) in order to measure the electrical input signal. The series of nonuniform pulses are formed by interleaving L uniformly spaced pulse streams each of repetition period T and where fmax, the maximum allowable spectral frequency of the input electrical signal, is greater than 4·L·f/2, where f=1/T.