Abstract: A thermo-optic phase shifter includes a substrate having a cavity formed into an upper region of the substrate. The thermo-optic phase shifter includes an optical waveguide disposed above the substrate. The optical waveguide extends across and above the cavity. The thermo-optic phase shifter also includes a heater device disposed along a lateral side of the optical waveguide. The heater device extends across and above the cavity. The cavity is formed by an undercut etching process after the optical waveguide and the heater device is formed. The optical waveguide can be formed to include one or more segments that pass over the cavity. Also, a second heater device can be included such that the one or more segments of the optical waveguide that extend over the cavity are bracketed by heater devices. Thermal transmission structures can be included to enhance heat transfer between the heater device(s) and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An electro-optical semiconductor chip includes a ring-shaped optical waveguide circumscribing an interior region of a microring resonator device. A bus optical waveguide extends past the ring-shaped optical waveguide, such that an optical coupling region exists therebetween. A doped ring of silicon is disposed within the interior region of the microring resonator device. An inner region of silicided silicon is formed along an inner edge of the doped ring of silicon. An outer region of silicided silicon is formed along an outer edge of the doped ring of silicon. A first plurality of electrical contacts electrically contact the outer region of silicided silicon. A second plurality of electrical contacts electrically contact the inner region of silicided silicon. A voltage differential between the first and second pluralities of electrical contacts controls an electrical current flow through the doped ring of silicon to control a temperature of the ring-shaped optical waveguide.

Abstract: An electro-optical semiconductor chip includes a ring-shaped optical waveguide and a bus optical waveguide extending past the ring-shaped optical waveguide, such that an optical coupling region exists therebetween. A doped-silicon non-silicided region is disposed outside of the ring-shaped optical waveguide and within thermal communication with the ring-shaped optical waveguide. An inner contact region is formed of silicided silicon along an inner side of the doped-silicon non-silicided region. An outer contact region is formed of silicided silicon along an outer side of the doped-silicon non-silicided region. A first plurality of electrical contacts electrically contact the inner contact region. A second plurality of electrical contacts electrically contact the outer contact region.

Abstract: An electro-optic receiver includes a bus optical waveguide and a plurality of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) receiver slices positioned along the bus optical waveguide. Each of the plurality of WDM receiver slices includes a WDM element optically coupled to the bus optical waveguide, a photodetector, and a receiver circuit. The photodetector is optically connected to the WDM element by both a first optical connection and a second optical connection. The WDM element conveys a first component of input light through the first optical connection to the photodetector, and a second component of input light through the second optical connection to the photodetector, where first and second components of input light travel in opposite directions through the bus optical waveguide. The receiver circuit generates an electrical data signal from photocurrents received from the photodetector.

Abstract: A thermo-optic phase shifter includes a substrate having a cavity formed into an upper region of the substrate. The thermo-optic phase shifter includes an optical waveguide disposed above the substrate. The optical waveguide extends across and above the cavity. The thermo-optic phase shifter also includes a heater device disposed along a lateral side of the optical waveguide. The heater device extends across and above the cavity. The cavity is formed by an undercut etching process after the optical waveguide and the heater device is formed. The optical waveguide can be formed to include one or more segments that pass over the cavity. Also, a second heater device can be included such that the one or more segments of the optical waveguide that extend over the cavity are bracketed by heater devices. Thermal transmission structures can be included to enhance heat transfer between the heater device(s) and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A thermo-optic phase shifter includes a substrate having a cavity formed into an upper region of the substrate. The thermo-optic phase shifter includes an optical waveguide disposed above the substrate. The optical waveguide extends across and above the cavity. The thermo-optic phase shifter also includes a heater device disposed along a lateral side of the optical waveguide. The heater device extends across and above the cavity. The cavity is formed by an undercut etching process after the optical waveguide and the heater device is formed. The optical waveguide can be formed to include one or more segments that pass over the cavity. Also, a second heater device can be included such that the one or more segments of the optical waveguide that extend over the cavity are bracketed by heater devices. Thermal transmission structures can be included to enhance heat transfer between the heater device(s) and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical distribution network includes a fore-positioned optical multiplexer section that has a plurality of optical inputs and a plurality of intermediate optical outputs. Each of the plurality of optical inputs of the fore-positioned optical multiplexer section receives a respective one of a plurality of input light signals of different wavelengths. The fore-positioned optical multiplexer section multiplexes a unique subset of the plurality of input light signals onto each of the plurality of intermediate optical outputs. The optical distribution network also includes an optical coupler section that has a plurality of optical inputs respectively optically connected to the plurality of intermediate optical outputs of the fore-positioned optical multiplexer section. The optical coupler section distributes a portion of each light signal received at each of the plurality of optical inputs of the optical coupler section to each and every one of a plurality of optical outputs of the optical coupler section.

Abstract: A thermo-optic phase shifter includes a substrate having a cavity formed into an upper region of the substrate. The thermo-optic phase shifter includes an optical waveguide disposed above the substrate. The optical waveguide extends across and above the cavity. The thermo-optic phase shifter also includes a heater device disposed along a lateral side of the optical waveguide. The heater device extends across and above the cavity. The cavity is formed by an undercut etching process after the optical waveguide and the heater device is formed. The optical waveguide can be formed to include one or more segments that pass over the cavity. Also, a second heater device can be included such that the one or more segments of the optical waveguide that extend over the cavity are bracketed by heater devices. Thermal transmission structures can be included to enhance heat transfer between the heater device(s) and the optical waveguide.