Method and system for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions
View Patent ↗Methods and systems for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions are disclosed and may include, an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). The silicon photonics integrated circuit may include a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength. The transceiver and PLC are operable to modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from the first light source utilizing the first modulator and modulate a second CW optical signal from the second light source utilizing the second modulator. The modulated signals may be communicated from the modulators to the PLC utilizing a first pair of grating couplers in the IC and combined in the PLC.
1. A method for optical communication, the method comprising:
in an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprising a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit:
modulating a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator;
modulating a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator;
communicating first and second modulated signals from said first and second modulators to said PLC utilizing one or more output grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;
combining said first and second modulated signals in said PLC;
receiving a third modulated optical signal via said PLC;
splitting said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals in said PLC;
communicating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more input grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;
converting said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and
converting said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said PLC comprises a directional coupler.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second light sources are in a light source assembly coupled to a surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said PLC comprises optical splitters.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more output grating couplers comprise single polarization grating couplers.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said second one or more input grating couplers comprise polarization splitting grating couplers.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said PLC comprises an interleaver multiplexer and an interleaver demultiplexer.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a multiplexer for combining said first and second modulated optical signals.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a demultiplexer for separating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon photonics integrated circuit is in a complementary-metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) die.
11. A system for communication, the system comprising:
an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprising a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit, said system being operable to:
modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator;
modulate a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator;
communicate first and second modulated signals from said first and second modulators to said PLC utilizing one or more output grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;
combine said first and second modulated signals in said PLC;
receive a third modulated optical signal via said PLC;
split said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals in said PLC;
communicate said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more input grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;
convert said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and
convert said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said PLC comprises a directional coupler.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said first and second light sources are in a light source assembly coupled to a surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said PLC comprises optical splitters.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more output grating couplers comprise single polarization grating couplers.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more input grating couplers comprise polarization splitting grating couplers.
17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said PLC comprises an interleaver multiplexer and an interleaver demultiplexer.
18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a multiplexer for combining said first and second modulated optical signals.
19. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a demultiplexer for separating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals.
20. A system for communication, the system comprising:
an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprising a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength coupled to said silicon photonics integrated circuit, said system being operable to:
modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator;
modulate a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator;
communicate first and second modulated signals from said first and second modulators to said PLC utilizing one or more single polarization grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;
combine said first and second modulated signals in said PLC;
receive a third modulated optical signal via said PLC;
split said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals utilizing an optical splitter in said PLC;
communicate said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more polarization splitting grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit;
convert said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and
convert said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength.