Laser and laser signal combiner

Abstract

An optical communication system for transmitting multiple optical beams, each at a different wavelength is disclosed. The optical communication system includes a laser array having multiple laser transmitters transmitting multiple optical beams, each at a different wavelength. The optical communication system further includes a diffraction grating optically coupled to the laser array, the diffraction grating diffracting each of the optical beams at a substantially equal diffraction angle to form a combined optical beam. The combined beam is then focused into an optical communication media.

1 . An optical communication system, comprising: 
 a laser array having a plurality of laser transmitters transmitting a plurality of optical beams at a plurality of different wavelengths;    a diffraction grating optically coupled to said laser array, the diffraction grating diffracting each of the optical beams at a substantially equal diffraction angle to form a combined optical beam; and    an optical communication media optically coupled to the diffraction grating, the optical communication media receiving the combined optical beam.    
     
     
         2 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of optical beams transmitted by the laser array is incident upon the diffraction grating at a different angle of incidence.  
     
     
         3 . The optical communication system of  claim 2  wherein the angle of incidence on the grating for each of the plurality of optical beams transmitted by the laser array varies in accordance with separation in wavelength between optical beams formed by adjacent laser transmitters.  
     
     
         4 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  further comprising a collimating lens optically coupled between the laser array and diffraction grating, wherein the collimating lens collimates the transmit optical beams and forwards collimated beams to the diffraction grating.  
     
     
         5 . The optical communication system of  claim 4  further comprising a focusing lens optically coupled between the diffraction grating and the optical communication media wherein the focusing lens focuses the combined optical beam into the optical communication media.  
     
     
         6 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  wherein spacing in wavelength between optical beams formed by adjacent lasers in the laser array is nonlinear.  
     
     
         7 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver coupled to the optical communication media.  
     
     
         8 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more electro-absorption modulators monolithically integrated with one or more of the plurality of laser transmitter in the laser array, wherein the electro-absorption modulators modulate the optical beam of a corresponding laser transmitter in accordance with an information signal.  
     
     
         9 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  wherein the diffraction grating comprises a reflection diffraction grating.  
     
     
         10 . The optical communication system of  claim 1  wherein the diffraction grating comprises a transmission diffraction grating.  
     
     
         11 . The optical communication system of  claim 4  further comprising a beam splitter optically coupled between the collimating lens and the diffraction grating, wherein the beam splitter separates the collimated optical beams from the diffracted optical beams.  
     
     
         12 .- 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . An optical communication system comprising: 
 a laser array having a plurality of laser transmitters transmitting a plurality of optical beams at a plurality of different wavelengths;    a waveguide grating coupler optically coupled to said laser array wherein a diffraction order of the grating matches a propagating mode of the waveguide; and    an optical communication media optically coupled to the waveguide grating coupler, wherein the optical communication media receives the combined optical beam.    
     
     
         21 . The optical communication system of  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of optical beams transmitted by the laser array is incident upon the waveguide grating coupler at a different angle of incidence.  
     
     
         22 . The optical communication system of  claim 21  wherein the angle of incidence on the waveguide grating coupler for each of the plurality of optical beams transmitted by the laser array varies in accordance with separation in wavelength between optical beams formed by adjacent laser transmitters.  
     
     
         23 . The optical communication system of  claim 20  further comprising a collimating lens optically coupled to the laser array, wherein the collimating lens collimates the plurality of transmitted optical beams and forwards the collimated optical beams to a micro-mirror that aligns the collimated optical beams with the waveguide grating.  
     
     
         24 . An optical communication system comprising: 
 a laser array having a plurality of laser transmitters formed on a common substrate transmitting a plurality of optical beams at a plurality of different wavelengths;    an arrayed waveguide grating monolithically formed on the common substrate, wherein the arrayed waveguide grating receives the plurality of transmit optical beams and combines the plurality of optical beams into a combined optical beam; and    an optical communication media optically coupled to the arrayed waveguide grating, wherein the optical communication media receives the combined optical beam.    
     
     
         25 . The optical communication system of  claim 24  wherein length of individual waveguides in the arrayed waveguide grating are such that the plurality of optical beams are coupled to the optical communication media.