Method and system for cassette based wavelength division multiplexing

• US 10,348,437 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Luxtera Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Welch, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldekidan, Hibret A
• Application Number:
  US15/585,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20170237516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 398 68, 398 67, 398 79, 398135, 398138, 398139, 398183
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 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 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems

Abstract

A method and system is provided for cassette based wavelength division multiplexing and may include an optical system with an aggregating cassette. The optical system may include optical transceivers, with each generating optical signals at a different wavelength. The aggregating cassette may include one or more multiplexers coupled to each of the optical transceivers via optical fibers. The optical transceivers may generate modulated optical signals at one of the different wavelengths. The optical fibers may communicate one of the modulated optical signals from each of the optical transceivers to the one or more multiplexers. The modulated optical signals may be multiplexed to one or more output optical fibers. The multiplexed signals may be communicated to one or more receiving demultiplexers using the one or more output optical fibers. The one or more demultiplexers may demultiplex said multiplexed signals into separate wavelength signals.

Claims

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

in an optical system comprising an aggregating cassette and N optical transceivers, where N is an integer greater than one, said aggregating cassette comprising N multiplexers coupled to the N optical transceivers via optical fibers;

generating, by each of said N optical transceivers, N modulated optical signals at wavelengths different from others of said N transceivers, wherein each optical signal is generated by a single laser for each wavelength and split into said N optical signals and modulated by modulators in said N optical transceivers;

communicating, using said optical fibers, said N modulated optical signals from each of said N optical transceivers to each of said N multiplexers; and

multiplexing, using said N multiplexers, N modulated optical signals at N different wavelengths to each of N optical fibers.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating said multiplexed signals to one or more receiving demultiplexers using said N optical fibers.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising demultiplexing, using said N demultiplexers, said multiplexed signals into separate wavelength signals.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising communicating said separate wavelength signals to a corresponding receive optical system comprising one or more receive optical transceivers.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of optical transceivers comprises a laser source coupled to a silicon photonic die.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of optical transceivers comprises two laser sources coupled to a silicon photonics die.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising demultiplexing optical signals received from said N optical fibers.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said different wavelengths are centered around 1300 nm.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical transceivers are integrated on a plurality of silicon photonics die.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said each of said optical transceivers is integrated on a separate silicon photonics die.

11. A system for optical communication, the system comprising:

an optical system comprising an aggregating cassette and N optical transceivers, where N is an integer greater than one, said aggregating cassette comprising N multiplexers coupled to each of the N optical transceivers via optical fibers, said optical system being operable to;

generate, by each of said N optical transceivers, N modulated optical signals at wavelengths different from others of said N transceivers, wherein each optical signal is generated by a single laser for each wavelength and split into said N optical signals and modulated by modulators in said N optical transceivers;

communicate, using said optical fibers, said N modulated optical signals from each of said N optical transceivers to said N multiplexers; and

multiplex, using said N multiplexers, said N modulated optical signals at N different wavelengths to each of N optical fibers.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said optical system is operable to communicate said multiplexed signals to one or more receiving demultiplexers using said N optical fibers.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said optical system is operable to demultiplex, using said N demultiplexers, said multiplexed signals into separate wavelength signals.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said optical system is operable to communicate said separate wavelength signals to a corresponding receive optical system comprising one or more receive optical transceivers.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of optical transceivers comprises a laser source coupled to a silicon photonic die.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of optical transceivers comprises two laser sources coupled to a silicon photonics die.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said optical system is operable to demultiplex optical signals received from said N optical fibers.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said different wavelengths are centered around 1300 nm.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of optical transceivers are integrated on a plurality of silicon photonics die.

20. A system for optical communication, the system comprising:

an optical system comprising an aggregating cassette and N optical transceivers, where N is an integer greater than one, said aggregating cassette comprising N multiplexers coupled to each of the N optical transceivers via N optical fibers, said optical system being operable to;

generate, by each of said N optical transceivers, N modulated optical signals at wavelengths different from others of said N transceivers wherein each optical signal is generated by a single laser for each wavelength and split into said N optical signals and modulated by modulators in said N optical transceivers;

communicate, using said optical fibers, said N modulated optical signals from each of said N optical transceivers to said N multiplexers; and

multiplex, using said N multiplexers, said N modulated optical signals at N different wavelengths to each of N optical fibers.