MULTIPLE-WAVELENGTH LASER
First Claim
1. A multiple-wavelength laser source, comprising:
- a multiple-mode laser configured to output a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths, with a first spacing between a given pair of adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths that is smaller than a width of a given channel in an optical link, wherein the multiple-mode laser includes;
a gain medium; and
a cavity, surrounding the gain medium, having a first end with a reflecting mirror over the range of wavelengths and a second end with a partially reflecting mirror over the range of wavelengths;
an optical waveguide optically coupled to the second end; and
a set of ring-resonator filters optically coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein a given ring-resonator filter in the set of ring-resonator filters is configured to output a corresponding subset of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on a free spectral range and a quality factor of the given ring-resonator filter,wherein a given subset of the set of wavelengths includes at least a first group of wavelengths and, if the given subset of the set of wavelengths includes an adjacent second group of wavelengths, a second spacing between the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link, andwherein a given group of wavelengths, which can include one of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths, includes at least a first wavelength and, if the given group of wavelengths includes an adjacent second wavelength, the first wavelength and the second wavelength are separated by the first spacing, thereby facilitating optical modulation of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths in the given subset of the set of wavelengths.
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Abstract
In a multiple-wavelength laser source, a multiple-mode laser outputs a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths onto an optical waveguide, where a spacing between adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths is smaller than a width of channels in an optical link. Furthermore, a set of ring-resonator filters in the multiple-wavelength laser source, which are optically coupled to the optical waveguide, output corresponding subsets of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on free spectral ranges and quality factors of the set of ring-resonator filters. These subsets may include one or more groups of wavelengths, with another spacing between adjacent groups of wavelengths that is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link. In addition, the one or more groups of wavelengths may include one or more wavelengths, with the spacing between adjacent wavelengths in the given group of wavelengths.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multiple-wavelength laser source, comprising:
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a multiple-mode laser configured to output a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths, with a first spacing between a given pair of adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths that is smaller than a width of a given channel in an optical link, wherein the multiple-mode laser includes; a gain medium; and a cavity, surrounding the gain medium, having a first end with a reflecting mirror over the range of wavelengths and a second end with a partially reflecting mirror over the range of wavelengths; an optical waveguide optically coupled to the second end; and a set of ring-resonator filters optically coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein a given ring-resonator filter in the set of ring-resonator filters is configured to output a corresponding subset of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on a free spectral range and a quality factor of the given ring-resonator filter, wherein a given subset of the set of wavelengths includes at least a first group of wavelengths and, if the given subset of the set of wavelengths includes an adjacent second group of wavelengths, a second spacing between the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link, and wherein a given group of wavelengths, which can include one of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths, includes at least a first wavelength and, if the given group of wavelengths includes an adjacent second wavelength, the first wavelength and the second wavelength are separated by the first spacing, thereby facilitating optical modulation of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths in the given subset of the set of wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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11. The multiple-wavelength laser source of claim 11, wherein the multi-mode laser includes a Fabry-Perot laser.
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19. A system, comprising a multiple-wavelength laser source, wherein the multiple-wavelength laser source includes:
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a multiple-mode laser configured to output a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths, with a first spacing between a given pair of adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths that is smaller than a width of a given channel in an optical link, wherein the multiple-mode laser includes; a gain medium; and a cavity, surrounding the gain medium, having a first end with a reflecting mirror over the range of wavelengths and a second end with a partially reflecting mirror over the range of wavelengths; an optical waveguide optically coupled to the second end; and a set of ring-resonator filters optically coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein a given ring-resonator filter in the set of ring-resonator filters is configured to output a corresponding subset of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on a free spectral range and a quality factor of the given ring-resonator filter, wherein a given subset of the set of wavelengths includes at least a first group of wavelengths and, if the given subset of the set of wavelengths includes an adjacent second group of wavelengths, a second spacing between the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link, and wherein a given group of wavelengths, which can include one of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths, includes at least a first wavelength and, if the given group of wavelengths includes an adjacent second wavelength, the first wavelength and the second wavelength are separated by the first spacing, thereby facilitating optical modulation of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths in the given subset of the set of wavelengths.
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20. A method for outputting a set of wavelengths, comprising:
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generating the set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths using a multiple-mode laser, wherein a first spacing between a pair of adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths is smaller than a width of a given channel in an optical link; conveying the set of wavelengths in an optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the multiple-mode laser; and outputting, for use in the optical link, a first subset of the set of wavelengths using a first ring-resonator filter coupled to the optical waveguide and a second subset of the set of wavelengths using a second ring-resonator filter coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein the first subset of the set of wavelengths is output based on a first free spectral range and a first quality factor of the first ring-resonator filter and the second subset of the set of wavelengths is output based on a second free spectral range and a second quality factor of the second ring-resonator filter, wherein a given subset of the set of wavelengths, which can include one of the first subset of the set of wavelengths and the second subset of the set of wavelengths, includes at least a first group of wavelengths and, if the given subset of the set of wavelengths includes an adjacent second group of wavelengths, a second spacing between the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link, and wherein a given group of wavelengths, which can include one of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths, includes at least a first wavelength and, if the given group of wavelengths includes an adjacent second wavelength, the first wavelength and the second wavelength are separated by the first spacing, thereby facilitating optical modulation of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths in the given subset of the set of wavelengths.
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Specification