Patent · US Active

Optical modules having an improved optical signal to noise ratio

US11929826B2 · kind B2 · utility

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22Claims
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Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 2018
Grant dateMar 12, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04J14/06
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Consistent with the present disclosure, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided that has 2 N channels (N being an integer). The PIC is optically coupled to N optical fibers, such that each of N polarization multiplexed optical signals are transmitted over a respective one of the N optical fibers. In another example, each of the N optical fibers supply a respective one of N polarization multiplexed optical signals to the PIC for coherent detection and processing. A multiplexer and demultiplexer may be omitted from the PIC, such that the optical signals are not combined on the PIC. As a result, the transmitted and received optical signals incur less loss and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. In addition, optical taps may be more readily employed on the PIC to measure outputs of the lasers, such as widely tunable lasers (WTLs), without crossing waveguides.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.