VCSEL with integrated optical filter
View Patent ↗An example of an optical source includes a VCSEL and a filter. The filter is positioned on the VCSEL and is configured and arranged such that an input to the filter from the VCSEL comprises a directly modulated optical data signal, and a corresponding output of the filter comprises an amplitude and/or phase modulated optical data signal, optimized for long-distance transmission in the optical fiber.
1. An optical source comprising:
a directly modulated Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), including:
a bottom mirror;
a top mirror; and
an active region between the bottom mirror and top mirror; and
a filter positioned in a fixed position on the VCSEL above the top mirror of the VCSEL, the filter including a top contact and a bottom contact and configured to allow modulation of light passing through the filter, where an input to the filter from the VCSEL comprises a directly modulated optical data signal, and a corresponding output of the filter comprises at least one of an amplitude modulation optical data signal, a phase modulation optical data signal, or an optical data signal that incorporates both amplitude and phase modulation.
2. An optical source in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a Fabry-Perot cavity comprising:
a bottom mirror section, positioned in the fixed position directly on top of the top mirror of the VCSEL;
a top mirror section; and
a lasing cavity spacer region interposed between the top and bottom mirror sections.
3. An optical source in accordance with claim 2 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom mirror sections comprises a Distributed Bragg Reflector.
4. An optical source in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a tunable filter such that a change in the input modulated optical data signal corresponds to a change in a predetermined characteristic of the filter.
5. An optical source in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the filter and directly modulated VCSEL are substantially spectrally matched with each other at an operating temperature of the optical source.
6. An optical source in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises an integrated optical filter.
7. An optical source in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the VCSEL includes a top mirror upon which the filter is positioned.
8. A Transmitter Optical Subassembly (TOSA) comprising:
a directly modulated VCSEL, including:
a bottom mirror;
a top mirror; and
an active region between the bottom mirror and top mirror;
a filter positioned in a fixed position on the top mirror of the VCSEL, the filter including a top contact and a bottom contact and configured to allow modulation of light passing through the filter, where an input to the filter from the VCSEL comprises a directly modulated optical data signal, and a corresponding output of the filter comprises at least one of an amplitude modulation optical data signal, a phase modulation optical data signal, or an optical data signal that incorporates both amplitude and phase modulation;
a transmit node coupled to the filter and configured to transmit an optical signal to an optical fiber; and
a connection node coupled to the VCSEL and configured to receive one or more electrical signals for configuring the VCSEL.
9. A TOSA in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the filter comprises a Fabry-Perot cavity comprising:
a bottom mirror section;
a top mirror section; and
a lasing cavity spacer region interposed between the top and bottom mirror sections.
10. A TOSA in accordance with claim 8 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom Fabry-Perot mirror sections comprises a distributed Bragg reflector.
11. A TOSA in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the filter comprises a tunable filter such that a change in the input modulated optical data signal corresponds to a change in a predetermined characteristic of the filter.
12. A TOSA in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the filter and directly modulated VCSEL are substantially spectrally matched with each other at an operating temperature of the optical source.
13. A TOSA in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the filter comprises an integrated optical filter.
14. A TOSA in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the VCSEL includes a top mirror upon which the filter is positioned.
15. An optical transceiver comprising:
a Receiver Optical Subassembly (ROSA) configured to receive an optical signal and generate a corresponding electrical signal;
a post-amplifier configured to process the electrical signal generated by the ROSA; and
a Transmitter Optical Subassembly (TOSA) configured to transmit an optical signal to an optical fiber, and the TOSA comprises:
a directly modulated Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), including:
a bottom mirror;
a top mirror; and
an active region between the bottom mirror and top mirror; and
a filter positioned on the VCSEL, the VCSEL including a bottom mirror section in direct contact with the top mirror of the VCSEL, the filter including a top contact and a bottom contact and configured to allow modulation of light passing through the filter, where an input to the filter from the VCSEL comprises a directly modulated optical data signal, and a corresponding output of the filter comprises at least one of an amplitude modulation optical data signal, a phase modulation optical data signal, or an optical data signal that incorporates both amplitude and phase modulation; and a laser driver configured to provide electrical signals to the TOSA.
16. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the optical transceiver is one of a 1 Gb/s laser transceiver, a 2 GB/s laser transceiver, a 4 Gb/s laser transceiver, a 8 Gb/s laser transceiver, or a 10 Gb/s laser transceiver.
17. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the optical transceiver substantially conforms with one of the following form factors; XFP; SFP; SFF.
18. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises an integrated optical filter.
19. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a Fabry-Perot cavity comprising:
a bottom mirror section;
a top mirror section; and
a lasing cavity spacer region interposed between the top and bottom mirror sections.
20. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the filter and VCSEL are substantially spectrally matched with each other at an operating temperature of the VCSEL.