METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED POWER COMBINERS
First Claim
1. A system for processing optical signals, the system comprising:
- a chip comprising an optical power combiner, said optical power combiner comprising input optical waveguides, optical couplers, and output optical waveguides, said chip being operable to;
receive optical signals in each of said input optical waveguides;
phase-modulate one or both received optical signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, wherein said first optical coupler generates output signals having substantially equal optical powers; and
phase-modulate one or both output signals of said first optical coupler to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, wherein said second optical coupler generates an output signal in a first of said output optical waveguides having an optical power of essentially zero and an output signal in a second of said output optical waveguides having a maximized optical power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for integrated power combiners is disclosed and may include receiving optical signals in input optical waveguides and phase-modulating the signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, where the first optical coupler may generate output signals having substantially equal optical powers. Output signals of the first optical coupler may be phase-modulated to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, which may generate an output signal having an optical power of essentially zero and a second output signal having a maximized optical power. Optical signals received by the input optical waveguides may be generated utilizing a polarization-splitting grating coupler to enable polarization-insensitive combining of optical signals. Optical power may be monitored using optical detectors. The monitoring of optical power may be used to determine a desired phase offset between the signals received at the first optical coupler.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for processing optical signals, the system comprising:
a chip comprising an optical power combiner, said optical power combiner comprising input optical waveguides, optical couplers, and output optical waveguides, said chip being operable to; receive optical signals in each of said input optical waveguides; phase-modulate one or both received optical signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, wherein said first optical coupler generates output signals having substantially equal optical powers; and phase-modulate one or both output signals of said first optical coupler to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, wherein said second optical coupler generates an output signal in a first of said output optical waveguides having an optical power of essentially zero and an output signal in a second of said output optical waveguides having a maximized optical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for processing optical signals, the method comprising:
a chip comprising a polarization controller, said polarization controller comprising an input optical waveguide, optical couplers, and a polarization-splitting grating coupler, said chip being operable to; generate two output signals from a first optical coupler that receives an input signal from said input optical waveguide; phase modulate one or both of said two output signals to configure a phase offset between said two generated output signals before communicating signals with said phase offset to a second optical coupler; phase modulate one or both optical signals generated by said second optical coupler to configure a phase offset between signals communicated to said polarization-splitting grating coupler; and launch an optical signal of a desired polarization into an optical fiber via said polarization-splitting grating coupler by combining said signals communicated to said polarization-splitting grating coupler. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for processing optical signals, the system comprising:
a chip comprising a polarization-insensitive splitter, said polarization-insensitive splitter comprising an optical coupler and a polarization-splitting grating coupler, said chip being operable to; generate two optical signals from a single input optical signal received by said polarization-splitting grating coupler; phase modulate one or both output signals of said polarization-splitting grating coupler to configure a phase offset between signals communicated to said optical coupler; and generate two output optical signals of essentially equal magnitude at outputs of said optical coupler. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for processing optical signals, the system comprising:
a chip comprising a power equalizer, said power equalizer comprising two input optical waveguides, an optical coupler, and two output optical waveguides, said chip being operable to; phase modulate one or both signals received from said input optical waveguides to configure a phase offset between signals communicated to said optical coupler; and generate two output optical signals of essentially equal magnitude in said two output optical waveguides at outputs of said optical coupler. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
Specification