Method and system for multi-mode integrated receivers
View Patent ↗A method and system for multi-mode integrated receivers are disclosed and may include receiving an optical signal from an optical fiber coupled to a chip comprising a photonic circuit. The photonic circuit may comprise an optical coupler, one or more multi-mode optical waveguides, and a detector. The received optical signal may be coupled to a plurality of optical modes in the one or more multi-mode optical waveguides, which are communicated to a detector to generate an electrical signal from the communicated modes. The optical coupler may comprise a grating coupler. The chip may comprise a CMOS chip, and the optical fiber may comprise a single-mode or a multi-mode fiber. The detector may comprise a germanium or silicon-germanium photodiode, and/or a waveguide detector. The optical fiber may be coupled to a top surface of the chip and the multi-mode optical waveguides may comprise rib waveguides.
1. A method for processing optical signals, the method comprising:
in a chip comprising a photonic circuit, said photonic circuit comprising an optical coupler, one or more multi-mode optical waveguides, and a detector:
coupling an optical signal from an optical fiber coupled to said chip
to a plurality of optical modes in said one or more multi-mode optical waveguides utilizing said optical coupler;
communicating said plurality of optical modes to a detector utilizing said one or more multi-mode optical waveguides; and
generating an electrical signal from said communicated plurality of optical modes.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said optical coupler comprises a grating coupler.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said chip comprises a CMOS chip.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber comprises a single-mode fiber.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber is a multi-mode fiber.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said detector comprises a germanium photodiode.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said detector comprises a silicon-germanium photodiode.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said optical detector comprises a waveguide detector.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber is coupled to a top surface of said chip.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more multi-mode optical waveguides comprise rib waveguides.
11. A system for processing optical signals, the system comprising:
a chip comprising a photonic circuit, said photonic circuit comprising an optical coupler, one or more multi-mode optical waveguides, and a detector, said chip being operable to:
couple an optical signal from an optical fiber coupled to said chip
to a plurality of optical modes in said one or more multi-mode optical waveguides utilizing said optical coupler;
communicate said plurality of optical modes to a detector utilizing said one or more multi-mode optical waveguides; and
generate an electrical signal from said communicated plurality of optical modes.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said optical coupler comprises a grating coupler.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said chip comprises a CMOS chip.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said optical fiber comprises a single-mode fiber.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said optical fiber is a multi-mode fiber.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said detector comprises a germanium photodiode.
17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said detector comprises a silicon-germanium photodiode.
18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said optical detector comprises a waveguide detector.
19. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said optical fiber is coupled to a top surface of said chip.
20. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more multi-mode optical waveguides comprise rib waveguides.