Method and apparatus to generate and monitor optical signals and control power levels thereof in a planar lightwave circuit
US7099360B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/4087
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical transmitter includes an external cavity laser array formed in a PLC, a trench-based detector array and an AWG. The external cavity laser is formed using an array of substantially similar laser gain blocks and an array of gratings formed in waveguides connected to the gain blocks. Each grating defines the output wavelength for its corresponding external cavity laser. Each detector of the detector array includes a coupler to cause a portion of a corresponding laser output signal of the laser array to propagate through a first sidewall of a trench and reflect off a second sidewall of the trench to a photodetector. In one embodiment, the photodetector outputs a signal indicative of the power level of the reflected signal, which a controller uses to control the laser array to equalize the power of the laser output signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.