Hybrid optical source with semiconductor reflector
First Claim
1. A hybrid optical source, comprising:
- an optical amplifier configured to provide an optical signal having a range of wavelengths;
a semiconductor reflector, mechanically and optically coupled to the optical amplifier, configured to reflect the optical signal over the range of wavelengths to change a direction of propagation of the optical signal; and
a semiconductor-on-insulator chip optically coupled to the semiconductor reflector, wherein the semiconductor-on-insulator chip includes;
a substrate;
an oxide layer disposed on the substrate; and
a semiconductor layer disposed on the oxide layer and having a surface facing the semiconductor reflector, wherein the semiconductor layer includes;
an optical coupler configured to redirect the optical signal to and from a plane of the semiconductor layer;
an optical waveguide configured to convey the optical signal; and
a reflector configured to at least partially reflect a wavelength in the optical signal, wherein the optical amplifier, the semiconductor reflector, the optical coupler, the optical waveguide and the reflector define an optical cavity in the hybrid optical source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid optical source that provides an optical signal having a wavelength is described. This hybrid optical source includes an edge-coupled optical amplifier (such as a III-V semiconductor optical amplifier) aligned to a semiconductor reflector (such as an etched silicon mirror). The semiconductor reflector efficiently couples (i.e., with low optical loss) light out of the optical amplifier in a direction approximately perpendicular to a plane of the optical amplifier. A corresponding optical coupler (such as a diffraction grating or a mirror) fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator chip efficiently couples the light into a sub-micron silicon-on-insulator optical waveguide. The silicon-on-insulator optical waveguide couples the light to additional photonic elements (including a reflector) to complete the hybrid optical source.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hybrid optical source, comprising:
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an optical amplifier configured to provide an optical signal having a range of wavelengths; a semiconductor reflector, mechanically and optically coupled to the optical amplifier, configured to reflect the optical signal over the range of wavelengths to change a direction of propagation of the optical signal; and a semiconductor-on-insulator chip optically coupled to the semiconductor reflector, wherein the semiconductor-on-insulator chip includes; a substrate; an oxide layer disposed on the substrate; and a semiconductor layer disposed on the oxide layer and having a surface facing the semiconductor reflector, wherein the semiconductor layer includes; an optical coupler configured to redirect the optical signal to and from a plane of the semiconductor layer; an optical waveguide configured to convey the optical signal; and a reflector configured to at least partially reflect a wavelength in the optical signal, wherein the optical amplifier, the semiconductor reflector, the optical coupler, the optical waveguide and the reflector define an optical cavity in the hybrid optical source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a processor; memory; and a hybrid optical source, wherein the hybrid optical source includes; an optical amplifier configured to provide an optical signal having a range of wavelengths; a semiconductor reflector, mechanically and optically coupled to the optical amplifier, configured to reflect the optical signal over the range of wavelengths to change a direction of propagation of the optical signal; and a semiconductor-on-insulator chip optically coupled to the semiconductor reflector, wherein the semiconductor-on-insulator chip includes; a substrate; an oxide layer disposed on the substrate; and a semiconductor layer disposed on the oxide layer and having a surface facing the semiconductor reflector, wherein the semiconductor layer includes; an optical coupler configured to redirect the optical signal to and from a plane of the semiconductor layer; an optical waveguide configured to convey the optical signal; and a reflector configured to at least partially reflect a wavelength in the optical signal, wherein the optical amplifier, the semiconductor reflector, the optical coupler, the optical waveguide and the reflector define an optical cavity in the hybrid optical source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing an optical signal having a wavelength, the method comprising:
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outputting an optical signal having a range of wavelengths from an optical amplifier; reflecting the optical signal over the range of wavelengths to change a direction of propagation of the optical signal using a semiconductor reflector mechanically and optically coupled to the optical amplifier; redirecting the optical signal to and from a plane of a semiconductor layer in a semiconductor-on-insulator chip optically coupled to the semiconductor reflector using an optical coupler in the semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor-on-insulator chip includes;
a substrate, an oxide layer disposed on the substrate, and the semiconductor layer disposed on the oxide layer and having a surface facing the semiconductor reflector;conveying the optical signal in an optical waveguide in the semiconductor layer; and at least partially reflecting the wavelength in the optical signal using a reflector in the semiconductor layer, wherein the optical amplifier, the semiconductor reflector, the optical coupler, the optical waveguide and the reflector define an optical cavity.
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Specification