Optical communication interface

US11594854B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Arista Networks, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Alexey Kovsh · Dortmund, DE
• David Towne · San Carlos, US
• Peter Parkinson · Santa Clara, US
• Andreas Bechtolsheim · Stanford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 24, 2020
• Grant date: Feb 28, 2023
• Expiry date: Apr 5, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/5027
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include optical transmitters and transceivers with improved reliability. In some embodiments, the optical transmitters are used in network devices, such as in conjunction with a network switch. In one embodiment, lasers are operated at low power to improve reliability and power consumption. The output of the laser may be modulated by a non-direct modulator and received by integrated optical components, such as a modulator and/or multiplexer. The output of the optical components may be amplified by a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). Various advantageous configurations of lasers, optical components, and SOAs are disclosed. In some embodiments, SOAs are configured as part of a pluggable optical communication module, for example.