Systems and methods for providing a stable wavelength reference in an integrated photonic circuit
First Claim
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1. An integrated photonic circuit, comprising:
- a wavelength reference coupled to a source of light with spectral content and configured to estimate a first wavelength of light, wherein the wavelength reference comprises a waveguide structure, and wherein the waveguide structure is formed at least in part from silicon, silicon nitride, silica, or indium phosphide;
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature associated with the wavelength reference; and
a processing component configured to perform an adjustment to the estimate of the first wavelength of light based at least in part on the sensed temperature.
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward designs and methods improving optical sensing, wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) telecommunication transceivers, WDM add/drops, and spectrometer techniques that may benefit from a stable wavelength reference. The disclosed designs and methods are useful in the manufacture of a stable wavelength reference that may compensate for temperature variations.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated photonic circuit, comprising:
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a wavelength reference coupled to a source of light with spectral content and configured to estimate a first wavelength of light, wherein the wavelength reference comprises a waveguide structure, and wherein the waveguide structure is formed at least in part from silicon, silicon nitride, silica, or indium phosphide; a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature associated with the wavelength reference; and a processing component configured to perform an adjustment to the estimate of the first wavelength of light based at least in part on the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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operating a light source to emit light into an integrated photonic circuit comprising active circuitry that emits heat during an operation; transmitting a first portion of the light to a wavelength reference, wherein the wavelength reference has a sensitivity to the heat from the active circuitry; estimating a wavelength value of a second portion of the light; determining an operating temperature associated with a time at which a peak light energy of the first portion of the light was transmitted into the wavelength reference; determining an adjustment to apply to an estimate of the wavelength value of the second portion of the light based at least in part on the operating temperature and a known temperature dependence of the wavelength reference; and compensating for a change in performance by the wavelength reference caused by temperature variation by applying the adjustment to the estimate of the wavelength value of the second portion of the light to generate an absolute wavelength value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device, comprising:
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active circuitry; and a wavelength reference coupled to the active circuitry, comprising; a waveguide structure formed from a material sensitive to temperature variations caused by a thermal gradient associated with the active circuitry; and a temperature sensor disposed near the waveguide structure configured to sense an ambient temperature near the waveguide structure, wherein the waveguide structure comprises a spiral Bragg grating, and wherein the temperature sensor is disposed at a center of the spiral such that the waveguide structure coils around a circumference of the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification