Method and system for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions

• US 10,120,126 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Luxtera Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Welch, Brian, Mekis, Attila, Gloeckner, Steffan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Application Number:
  US15/830,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 398 79, 398 82, 398 83, 398 84, 398 65
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12142 Modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/124 Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/125 Bends, branchings or intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29386 Interleaving or deinterleaving, i.e. separating or mixing subsets of optical signals, e.g. combining even and odd channels into a single optical signal
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4213 the intermediate optical elements being polarisation selective optical elements G02B6/27 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4215 the intermediate optical elements being wavelength selective optical elements, e.g. variable wavelength optical modules or wavelength lockers G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0256 at the optical channel layer

Abstract

Methods and systems for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions are disclosed and may include, an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). The silicon photonics integrated circuit may include a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength. The transceiver and PLC are operable to modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from the first light source utilizing the first modulator and modulate a second CW optical signal from the second light source utilizing the second modulator. The modulated signals may be communicated from the modulators to the PLC utilizing a first pair of grating couplers in the IC and combined in the PLC.

Claims

1. A method for optical communication, the method comprising:

in an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprising a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

modulating a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator;

modulating a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator;

communicating first and second modulated signals from said first and second modulators to said PLC utilizing one or more output grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

combining said first and second modulated signals in said PLC;

receiving a third modulated optical signal via said PLC;

splitting said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals in said PLC;

communicating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more input grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

converting said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and

converting said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said PLC comprises a directional coupler.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second light sources are in a light source assembly coupled to a surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said PLC comprises optical splitters.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more output grating couplers comprise single polarization grating couplers.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second one or more input grating couplers comprise polarization splitting grating couplers.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said PLC comprises an interleaver multiplexer and an interleaver demultiplexer.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a multiplexer for combining said first and second modulated optical signals.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a demultiplexer for separating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon photonics integrated circuit is in a complementary-metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) die.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprising a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit, said system being operable to;

modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator;

modulate a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator;

communicate first and second modulated signals from said first and second modulators to said PLC utilizing one or more output grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

combine said first and second modulated signals in said PLC;

receive a third modulated optical signal via said PLC;

split said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals in said PLC;

communicate said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more input grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

convert said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and

convert said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said PLC comprises a directional coupler.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said first and second light sources are in a light source assembly coupled to a surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said PLC comprises optical splitters.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more output grating couplers comprise single polarization grating couplers.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more input grating couplers comprise polarization splitting grating couplers.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said PLC comprises an interleaver multiplexer and an interleaver demultiplexer.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a multiplexer for combining said first and second modulated optical signals.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a demultiplexer for separating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals.

20. A system for communication, the system comprising:

an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprising a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit, said system being operable to;

modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator;

modulate a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator;

communicate first and second modulated signals from said first and second modulators to said PLC utilizing one or more single polarization grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

combine said first and second modulated signals in said PLC;

receive a third modulated optical signal via said PLC;

split said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals utilizing an optical splitter in said PLC;

communicate said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more polarization splitting grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;

convert said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and

convert said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength.