Abstract: A silicon photonic device comprises a silicon core having a core refractive index and a structure formed in the silicon core. The structure comprises a first refractive index variation pattern across the core in a first direction (x) and having a first modulation depth (H1), and a second refractive index variation pattern across the core in a second, orthogonal, direction (y) and having a second modulation depth (H2), less than the first modulation depth. The first refractive index variation pattern overlays the second refractive index variation pattern, forming a three-dimensional structure. The first refractive index variation pattern only supports propagation of light having a TM mode between the first direction and a third direction (z) and the second refractive index variation pattern only supports propagation of light having a TE mode between the second direction and the third direction.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for interconnecting photonic devices using an advantageous technique that forms an end-to-end optical path between photonic circuits using photonic wire bonds and a bridging glass member. The photonic wire bonds couple the photonic circuits to respective ends of an optical waveguide formed in the glass member. The end-to-end optical path thus comprises a “composite” optical waveguide that includes the photonic wire bonds and the optical wave-guide. Advantageously, these composite optical waveguides are formed in-place according to a process whereby the various components are placed into at least a rough alignment on a substrate and, after deposition of polymer photoresist, a femtosecond laser beam traces the end-to-end optical path, thereby forming the respective photonic wire bonds and optical waveguide in place.

Abstract: A silicon photonic device (1) comprising: a silicon core (2) having a core refractive index; and a structure formed in the silicon core, comprising: a first refractive index variation pattern (4) across the core in a first direction (x) and having a first modulation depth (Hi); and a second refractive index variation pattern (6) across the core in a second, orthogonal, direction (y) and having a second modulation depth (H2), less than the first modulation depth. The first refractive index variation pattern overlays the second refractive index variation pattern, forming a three-dimensional structure. The first refractive index variation pattern only supports propagation of light having a TM mode between the first direction and a third direction (z) and the second refractive index variation pattern only supports propagation of light having a TE mode between the second direction and the third direction. An optical waveguide coupler is also disclosed.

Abstract: A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module and related method are provided to perform additional packet processing in a communication network. The SFP module is generally configured to at least partially process data packets as they transit from a first networking equipment toward a second networking equipment in order to modify or otherwise update header information of the packets as a function of the content of their data payload. Modifying header information of data packets as they transit between interconnected networking equipments allows interconnected networking equipments to perform packet processing on the modified header information.

Abstract: A silicon photonic device (1) comprising: a silicon core (2) having a core refractive index; and a structure formed in the silicon core, comprising: a first refractive index variation pattern (4) across the core in a first direction (x) and having a first modulation depth (Hi); and a second refractive index variation pattern (6) across the core in a second, orthogonal, direction (y) and having a second modulation depth (H2), less than the first modulation depth. The first refractive index variation pattern overlays the second refractive index variation pattern, forming a three-dimensional structure. The first refractive index variation pattern only supports propagation of light having a TM mode between the first direction and a third direction (z) and the second refractive index variation pattern only supports propagation of light having a TE mode between the second direction and the third direction. An optical waveguide coupler is also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to allow the multiplexing and demultiplexing of Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) data streams exchanged between a Radio Equipment Control (REC) and a plurality of Radio Equipment (RE) in a radio base station system. The device is generally configured to demultiplex a first downlink CPRI data stream received from the REC, generate a plurality of second downlink CPRI data streams from the demultiplexed first downlink CPRI data stream, multiplex a plurality of second uplink CPRI data streams received from the plurality of REs, and generate a first uplink CPRI data stream from the multiplexed plurality of second uplink CPRI data streams.

Abstract: Optical waveguide coupling ratios can be modified for a package by providing a substrate with a photonic circuit disposed on a first section of the substrate and a plurality of optical waveguides formed in glass disposed on a second section of the substrate, the waveguides being connected to the photonic circuit, adjacent ones of the waveguides having a fixed coupling ratio. A three-dimensional region of the glass abutting an end of one or more of the waveguides is lased to change a refractive index of the glass in each three-dimensional region, and thereby extend a length of each waveguide abutting one of the three-dimensional regions so that the coupling ratio between that waveguide and an adjacent waveguide is changed as a function of the extended length. The lasing is controlled based on feedback so that each coupling ratio changed by the lasing varies by less than a target amount.

Abstract: A wavelength converter includes first silicon waveguides and second silicon waveguides intersecting the first silicon waveguides to form an arrayed waveguide. The arrayed waveguide receives optical data signals at the same wavelength at a first input and optical pump signals at different wavelengths at a second input. Microring resonators evanescently couple different ones of the first silicon waveguides to different ones of the second silicon waveguides. Each microring resonator is tuned to the wavelength of the optical data signals or one of the wavelengths of the optical pump signals, so that different combinations of the optical data signals and the optical pump signals are provided at an output of the arrayed waveguide. A non-linear optical media converts the wavelength of each combined optical signal at the output of the arrayed waveguide to yield wavelength converted signals each having a new dedicated wavelength.

Abstract: An optical communications system includes a first plurality of optical components having optical ports, a second plurality of optical components having optical ports and an optical cross-connect. The optical cross-connect includes a block of a single continuous construction and material having a first side adjacent the first optical components and a second side adjacent the second optical components, and a plurality of non-intersecting, continuous waveguides formed within the block and extending from the first side of the block to the second side of the block. The refractive index of each waveguide is different than the surrounding material of the block, and each waveguide changes direction at least once within the block. The waveguides are optically aligned with the optical ports of the first optical components at the first side of the block and with the optical ports of the second optical components at the second side of the block.

Abstract: A wavelength converter includes first silicon waveguides and second silicon waveguides intersecting the first silicon waveguides to form an arrayed waveguide. The arrayed waveguide receives optical data signals at the same wavelength at a first input and optical pump signals at different wavelengths at a second input. Microring resonators evanescently couple different ones of the first silicon waveguides to different ones of the second silicon waveguides. Each microring resonator is tuned to the wavelength of the optical data signals or one of the wavelengths of the optical pump signals, so that different combinations of the optical data signals and the optical pump signals are provided at an output of the arrayed waveguide. A non-linear optical media converts the wavelength of each combined optical signal at the output of the arrayed waveguide to yield wavelength converted signals each having a new dedicated wavelength.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical interconnect includes 3D printing a plurality of non-intersecting and spaced apart optical waveguides from a material that guides electromagnetic waves in the optical spectrum after being cross-linked or polymerized in a region activated by the 3D printing. At least some of the optical waveguides change direction at least once by about 90°. The method further includes encasing at least each end of the optical waveguides with a material having a lower index of refraction than the material from which the optical waveguides are formed by 3D printing, to secure the optical waveguides. A corresponding 3D printing apparatus is also described.

Abstract: Wavelength-based optical power provisioning is provided by multiplexing a plurality of continuous wave light beams at different wavelengths onto a single optical fiber as a multiplexed light source and demultiplexing the multiplexed light source based on wavelength at a photonic unit coupled to the optical fiber to recover the continuous wave light beams. The recovered continuous wave light beams are split into a plurality of light beams by the photonic unit, each light beam having the same wavelength and the same or lower power as one of the recovered continuous wave light beams so that at least one of the light beams generated by the photonic unit has a higher power than the other light beams generated by the photonic unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical interconnect includes 3D printing a plurality of non-intersecting and spaced apart optical waveguides from a material that guides electromagnetic waves in the optical spectrum after being cross-linked or polymerized in a region activated by the 3D printing. At least some of the optical waveguides change direction at least once by about 90°. The method further includes encasing at least each end of the optical waveguides with a material having a lower index of refraction than the material from which the optical waveguides are formed by 3D printing, to secure the optical waveguides. A corresponding 3D printing apparatus is also described.

Abstract: An optical communications system includes a first plurality of optical components having optical ports, a second plurality of optical components having optical ports and an optical cross-connect. The optical cross-connect includes a block of a single continuous construction and material having a first side adjacent the first optical components and a second side adjacent the second optical components, and a plurality of non-intersecting, continuous waveguides formed within the block and extending from the first side of the block to the second side of the block. The refractive index of each waveguide is different than the surrounding material of the block, and each waveguide changes direction at least once within the block. The waveguides are optically aligned with the optical ports of the first optical components at the first side of the block and with the optical ports of the second optical components at the second side of the block.

Abstract: Methods and systems for distributing multicast signals carried by an incoming light wave are disclosed. According to one aspect, the invention provides a method of controlling an optical device. The method includes dynamically controlling a plurality of optical attenuators of the optical device based on control signals indicative of changes to a multicast group.

Abstract: Optical components are provided for use in information and communications technology (ICT) systems. For example, an optical assembly includes an optical module configured to modulate continuous wave optical beams of different powers into a plurality of modulated optical signals at different powers and couple the modulated optical signals onto different length optical mediums, so that lower power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to shorter ones of the optical mediums and higher power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to longer ones of the optical mediums. An optical power splitter includes a plurality of optical couplers configured to input continuous wave optical beams of the same power and output a plurality of continuous wave optical beams at different powers.

Abstract: A chassis includes a plurality of continuous wave lasers each operable to emit a continuous wave optical beam at the same power as the other lasers, and a plurality of optical couplers operable to input the continuous wave optical beams of the same power and output a plurality of continuous wave optical beams at different powers. The chassis further includes a plurality of optical assemblies operable to modulate the continuous wave optical beams of different powers into a plurality of modulated optical signals at different powers and couple the modulated optical signals onto different length optical mediums so that lower power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to shorter ones of the optical mediums and higher power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to longer ones of the optical mediums.

Abstract: Optical waveguide coupling ratios can be modified for a package by providing a substrate with a photonic circuit disposed on a first section of the substrate and a plurality of optical waveguides formed in glass disposed on a second section of the substrate, the waveguides being connected to the photonic circuit, adjacent ones of the waveguides having a fixed coupling ratio. A three-dimensional region of the glass abutting an end of one or more of the waveguides is lased to change a refractive index of the glass in each three-dimensional region, and thereby extend a length of each waveguide abutting one of the three-dimensional regions so that the coupling ratio between that waveguide and an adjacent waveguide is changed as a function of the extended length. The lasing is controlled based on feedback so that each coupling ratio changed by the lasing varies by less than a target amount.

Abstract: Wavelength-based optical power provisioning is provided by multiplexing a plurality of continuous wave light beams at different wavelengths onto a single optical fiber as a multiplexed light source and demultiplexing the multiplexed light source based on wavelength at a photonic unit coupled to the optical fiber to recover the continuous wave light beams. The recovered continuous wave light beams are split into a plurality of light beams by the photonic unit, each light beam having the same wavelength and the same or lower power as one of the recovered continuous wave light beams so that at least one of the light beams generated by the photonic unit has a higher power than the other light beams generated by the photonic unit.

Abstract: A chassis includes a plurality of continuous wave lasers each operable to emit a continuous wave optical beam at the same power as the other lasers, and a plurality of optical couplers operable to input the continuous wave optical beams of the same power and output a plurality of continuous wave optical beams at different powers. The chassis further includes a plurality of optical assemblies operable to modulate the continuous wave optical beams of different powers into a plurality of modulated optical signals at different powers and couple the modulated optical signals onto different length optical mediums so that lower power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to shorter ones of the optical mediums and higher power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to longer ones of the optical mediums.