Method and system for optical power monitoring of a light source assembly coupled to a silicon photonically-enabled integrated circuit
Methods and systems for optical power monitoring of a light source coupled to a silicon integrated circuit (chip) are disclosed and may include, in a system comprising an optical source coupled to the chip: emitting a primary beam from a front facet of a laser in the optical source assembly and a secondary beam from a back facet of the laser, directing the primary beam to an optical coupler in the chip, directing the secondary beam to a surface-illuminated photodiode in the chip, and monitoring an output power of the laser utilizing an output signal from the photodiode. The primary beam may comprise an optical source for a photonics transceiver in the chip. The focused primary beam and the secondary beam may be directed to the chip using reflectors in a lid of the optical source.
1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
in a system comprising an optical source coupled to an integrated circuit:
emitting a primary beam from a front facet of a laser in the optical source and a secondary beam from a back facet of the laser;
directing the primary beam to an optical coupler in the integrated circuit;
directing the secondary beam to a surface-illuminated photodiode in the integrated circuit;
monitoring an output power of the laser utilizing an output signal from the surface-illuminated photodiode; and
monitoring a power coupled to the integrated circuit by tapping off a portion of the primary beam's already coupled power and directing it through a waveguide to a second photodiode.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the primary beam is an optical source for a photonics transceiver in the integrated circuit.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises a silicon complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface-illuminated photodiode comprises a silicon, silicon-germanium, or germanium photodiode.
5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising focusing the primary beam utilizing a ball lens.
6. The method according to claim 5 , comprising directing the focused primary beam to the optical coupler using a first reflector in a lid of the optical source.
7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising directing the secondary beam to the surface-illuminated photodiode utilizing a second reflector in the lid of the optical source.
8. The method according to claim 6 , comprising directing a portion of the secondary and/or primary beam to the surface-illuminated photodiode utilizing specular and/or diffuse reflectors.
9. A system for communication, the system comprising:
an optical source coupled to an integrated circuit, said system being operable to:
emit a primary beam from a front facet of a laser in the optical source and a secondary beam from a back facet of the laser;
direct the primary beam to an optical coupler in the integrated circuit;
direct the secondary beam to a surface-illuminated photodiode in the integrated circuit;
monitor an output power of the laser utilizing an output signal from the surface-illuminated photodiode; and
monitoring of the power coupled to the integrated circuit by tapping off a portion of the primary beam's already coupled power and directing it through a waveguide to a second photodiode.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the primary beam is an optical source for a photonics transceiver in the integrated circuit.
11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises a silicon complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip.
12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the surface-illuminated photodiode comprises a silicon, silicon-germanium, or germanium photodiode.
13. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the system is operable to focus the primary beam utilizing a ball lens.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the system is operable to direct the focused primary beam to the optical coupler using a first reflector in a lid of the optical source.
15. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the system is operable to direct a portion of the secondary and/or primary beam to the surface-illuminated photodiode using specular and/or diffuse reflectors.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the system is operable to direct the secondary beam to the surface-illuminated photodiode utilizing a second reflector in the lid of the optical source.
17. A system for communication, the system comprising:
an optical source coupled to a CMOS chip, said system being operable to:
emit a primary beam from a front facet of a laser in the optical source and a secondary beam from a back facet of the laser;
reflect the primary beam to a grating coupler in the CMOS chip;
reflect the secondary beam to a surface-illuminated photodiode in the CMOS chip;
monitor an output power of the laser utilizing an output signal from the surface-illuminated photodiode; and
monitoring of the power coupled to the CMOS chip by tapping off a portion of the primary beam's already coupled power and directing it through a waveguide to a second photodiode.
18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the primary beam is an optical source for a photonics transceiver in the CMOS chip.
19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the surface-illuminated photodiode comprises a silicon, silicon-germanium, or germanium photodiode.
20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the system is operable to focus the primary beam utilizing a ball lens.
21. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the system is operable to direct the focused primary beam to the optical coupler using a first reflector in a lid of the optical source.
22. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the system is operable to direct a portion of the secondary and/or primary beam to the surface-illuminated photodiode using specular and/or diffuse reflectors.
23. The system according to claim 21 , wherein the system is operable to direct the secondary beam to the surface-illuminated photodiode utilizing a second reflector in the lid of the optical source.