Optical interconnect for switch applications

Abstract

A switch module includes a switch integrated circuit (IC), a silicon photonics chips, and an interface having removably coupled first side and second side. The first side includes a lens array optically coupled to a SiP chip and the second side includes a connector having a plurality of planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) optically coupled to another lens array.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical connector for a silicon photonics chip, comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of lenses at least partially within the housing;   a plurality of planar lightwave circuits (PLCs), positioned at least partially within the housing, to pass light to or receive light from the lenses;   a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the PLCs.   
     
     
         2 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses are arranged in a plurality of linear arrays. 
     
     
         3 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses form a matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , where the plurality of lenses provide part of an expanded beam connector. 
     
     
         5 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses are at a first opening of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of PLCs include at least one optical multiplexer and at least one optical demultiplexer. 
     
     
         7 . The optical connector of  claim 6 , wherein the optical multiplexer and the optical demultiplexer include arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs). 
     
     
         8 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of PLCs include an optical multiplexer and a second of the plurality of PLCs include an optical demultiplexer. 
     
     
         9 . The optical connector of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of PLCs are positioned in parallel to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is part of a cable. 
     
     
         11 . An optical system, comprising:
 a silicon photonics (SiP) integrated circuit (IC) chip including a plurality of grating couplers for use in passing light through a boundary of the SiP IC chip, a plurality of modulators for modulating light received by at least first set of the plurality of grating couplers and provided to a second set of the plurality of grating couplers, and a plurality of photodiodes for generating electrical signals based on light received by at least a third set of the plurality of grating couplers;   a first array of lenses positioned on top of the SiP chip to pass light from the plurality of grating couplers;   an optical cable connector coupled to the SiP IC, the optical cable connector including a second array of lenses positioned to pass light from the first array of lenses, and a plurality of planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) positioned to receive light from the second array of lenses.   
     
     
         12 . The optical system of  claim 11 , wherein the first array of lenses and the second array of lenses form an expanded beam optical connector. 
     
     
         13 . The optical system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of PLCs include a first PLC for providing first input optical signals to the first set of grating couplers, a second PLC for receiving output optical signals from the second set of grating couplers, and a third PLC for providing second input optical signals to the third set of grating couplers. 
     
     
         14 . The optical system of  claim 13  wherein the second PLC includes an optical demultiplexer and the third PLC includes an optical multiplexer. 
     
     
         15 . The optical system of  claim 14  wherein the optical demultiplexer and the optical multiplexer include arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs). 
     
     
         16 . The optical system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of fiber assemblies coupled to the plurality of PLCs. 
     
     
         17 . A switch module comprising:
 a switch integrated circuit (IC) chip including a switch for routing inputs to outputs of the switch IC chip;   a silicon photonics (SiP) chip including photodetectors for use in converting first optical signals to first electrical signals and modulators for modulating second optical signals in accordance with second electrical signals, outputs of the photodetectors being coupled to inputs of the switch IC chip and outputs of the switch IC chip being coupled to the modulators; and   an interface including a first side and a second side, the first side including a first lens array optically coupled to the SiP chip, the second side including a connector having a plurality of planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) optically coupled to a second lens array, the second lens array and the first lens array positioned to pass light to each other.