Fast tunable hybrid laser with a silicon-photonic switch
US9780524B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/187
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable laser includes a reflective silicon optical amplifier (RSOA) with a reflective end and an interface end and an array of narrow-band reflectors, which each have a different center wavelength. It also includes a silicon-photonic optical switch, having an input port and N output ports that are coupled to a different narrow-band reflector in the array of narrow-band reflectors. The tunable laser also includes an optical waveguide coupled between the interface end of the RSOA and the input of the silicon-photonic optical switch. The frequency of this tunable laser can be tuned in discrete increments by selectively coupling the input port of the silicon-photonic optical switch to one of the N output ports, thereby causing the RSOA to form a lasing cavity with a selected narrow-band reflector coupled to the selected output port. The tunable laser also includes a laser output optically coupled to the lasing cavity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.