Planar lightwave circuit active connector

Abstract

An assembly of waveguide wavelength multiplexers and demultiplexers, together with continuous wave (CW) laser transmitters that interface to grating couplers on a silicon photonics chip, providing CW sources, multiplexed output and optionally multiplexed input, all using a single photonic lightwave circuit (PLC).

1 . A planar lightwave circuit (PLC) chip, comprising:
 a demultiplexer structure having an input and a plurality of outputs, the demultiplexer structure configured to provide light on the input to the plurality of outputs on a wavelength selective basis;   a multiplexer structure having a plurality of inputs and an output, the multiplexer structure configured to provide light on the plurality of inputs to the output on a wavelength selective basis; and   a plurality of waveguides, each having waveguide inputs and waveguide outputs, the waveguide outputs optimized for transmission of light into a silicon photonics chip.   
     
     
         2 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of waveguides includes at least a number of waveguides equal to a number of inputs of the plurality of inputs of the multiplexer structure. 
     
     
         3 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 1 , wherein the demultiplexer structure comprises an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). 
     
     
         4 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplexer structure comprises an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). 
     
     
         5 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 1 , wherein the demultiplexer structure comprises a first arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and the multiplexer structure comprises a second arrayed waveguide grating. 
     
     
         6 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the demultiplexer structure and the multiplexer structure comprises an Eschelle grating. 
     
     
         7 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 1 , wherein the input waveguide, the plurality of output waveguides, the output waveguide, the plurality of input waveguides, and the plurality of waveguides comprise glass waveguides. 
     
     
         8 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 7 , wherein the waveguides are formed of layers of glass. 
     
     
         9 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 8 , wherein the layers of glass are on a silicon substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 8 , wherein the layers of glass are on a quartz substrate. 
     
     
         11 . A planar lightwave circuit chip, comprising:
 a substrate;   a plurality of structures on the substrate, the structures including:   a first plurality of waveguides, each waveguide of the first plurality of waveguides coupling a corresponding one of a first plurality of inputs and a corresponding one of a first plurality of outputs, the first plurality of outputs being on a first side of the chip;   a demultiplexer including a demultiplexer input waveguide and a plurality of demultiplexer output waveguides; and   a multiplexer including a plurality of multiplexer input waveguides and a multiplexer output waveguide, the inputs of the plurality of multiplexer input waveguides being on the first side of the chip.   
     
     
         12 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 11 , wherein the demultiplexer is a wavelength selective demultiplexer. 
     
     
         13 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of demultiplexer output waveguides are on the first side of the chip. 
     
     
         14 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 11 , wherein the demultiplexer and the multiplexer each comprise an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). 
     
     
         15 . A planar lightwave circuit chip, comprising:
 a first plurality of waveguides to couple light from each of a first plurality of discrete inputs to corresponding first discrete outputs;   a multiplexer structure to selectively couple light at predefined wavelengths from each of a second plurality of discrete inputs to a first single discrete output; and   a demultiplexer structure to couple light from a first single discrete input to a second plurality of discrete outputs in a wavelength selective manner;   means for directing light to or from the first discrete outputs and the second plurality of discrete inputs in substantially a first direction.   
     
     
         16 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the multiplexer structure and the demultiplexer structure comprise an arrayed wavelength grating (AWG). 
     
     
         17 . The planar lightwave circuit chip of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the multiplexer structure and the demultiplexer structure comprise an Eschelle grating. 
     
     
         18 . The planar lightwave circuit of  claim 15 , wherein the means for directing light to or from the first discrete outputs and the second plurality of discrete inputs in substantially a first direction comprises an edge with an angled polish. 
     
     
         19 . A device for use in a data communication system, comprising:
 a plurality of lasers, each laser configured to emit light about a different wavelength than other lasers of the plurality of lasers;   a silicon chip including a plurality of modulators to provide modulated light signals through impression of data signals on the light emitted from the lasers;   a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) chip including a first plurality of waveguides to couple light from the lasers and the silicon chip, and a wavelength selective light multiplexer to couple light modulated by the plurality of modulators of the silicon chip into a single output.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the light multiplexer comprises an arrayed waveguide grating. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the PLC includes an edge with an angle polish for directing light between the first plurality of waveguides and the silicon chip. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the PLC includes an edge with an angle polish for directing light between an input to the light multiplexer and the silicon chip. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a prism positioned to direct light between the silicon chip and the plurality of modulators. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the silicon chip includes a plurality of grating couplers to receive the light emitted by the lasers. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the grating couplers is optimized for a particular wavelength of light. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein an output waveguide of the light multiplexer is coupled to a fiber optic line. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the output waveguide of the light multiplexer is coupled to the fiber optic line by a capillary. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of lenses, each positionable by a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), are each positioned to couple light from a corresponding one of the plurality of lasers into a corresponding one of the first plurality of waveguides of the PLC. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the silicon chip and the PLC are butt-coupled together. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the PLC further includes a wavelength selective light demultiplexer. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein an input waveguide associated with the light demultiplexer is coupled to a second fiber optic line. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the silicon chip includes a plurality of photodetectors. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein each of the plurality of photodetectors is positioned to receive light output from a different one of a plurality of output waveguides associated with the light demultiplexer. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the silicon chip includes a plurality of transimpedance amplifiers to amplify signals from the photodetectors. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the silicon chip includes a plurality of grating couplers to receive light output from output waveguides of the light demultiplexer, and the silicon chip is configured to route light from the grating couplers to the photodetectors. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the silicon chip includes a plurality of transimpedance amplifiers to amplify signals from the photodetectors. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 31 , further a comprising a second silicon chip including a plurality of photodetectors to detect light from the plurality of output waveguides of the light demultiplexer. 
     
     
         37 . A method of processing light useful in a communications system, comprising:
 passing light from a multiwavelength light source through at least one waveguide of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) and into a silicon chip;   modulating the light using a plurality of modulators of the silicon chip;   passing the modulated light out of the silicon chip and through a wavelength selective multiplexer structure of the PLC; and   providing light output from the wavelength selective multiplexer structure to a fiber optic line.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the wavelength selective multiplexer structure is an arrayed waveguide grating. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one waveguide and the wavelength selective multiplexer structure are on a common substrate. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the light from the lasers is passed into the silicon chip by way of grating couplers on a first surface of the silicon chip. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the modulated light is passed out of the silicon chip through the first surface of the silicon chip. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the modulated light is passed out of the silicon chip by way of grating couplers on the first surface of the silicon chip. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the multiwavelength light source comprises a plurality of lasers. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one waveguide comprises a plurality of waveguides. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each of the plurality of waveguides passes light from a separate one of the plurality of lasers. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one waveguide comprises an input waveguide of a wavelength selective demultiplexer of the PLC. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising multiplexing light from the plurality of lasers into a single beam, passing the beam through a fiber optic line, and wherein the input waveguide of the wavelength selective demultiplexer of the PLC receives light of the beam passed through the fiber optic line. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of lasers are positioned about a front plate of switch. 
     
     
         49 . A device for use in a data communication system, comprising:
 a multi-wavelength light source;   a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) including a wavelength selective demultiplexer and a wavelength selective multiplexer;   at least one fiber optic line coupling the multi-wavelength light source and in input waveguide of the demultiplexer of the PLC;   a silicon photonics chip including a plurality of modulators; and   means for directing light from output waveguides of the demultiplexer of the PLC into the silicon photonics chip for modulation by the modulators and means for directing light modulated by the modulators of the silicon photonics chip from the silicon photonics chip into input waveguides of the multiplexer of the PLC.   
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the multi-wavelength light source comprises a plurality of lasers. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the multi-wavelength light source comprises a plurality of lasers and a second PLC with a multiplexer to combine light from the plurality of lasers. 
     
     
         52 . A method of processing light in a communication system, comprising:
 generating a plurality of beams of light, each beam at a different wavelength;   splitting each of the beams of light into corresponding second beams of light;   providing each of the corresponding second beams of light to corresponding ones of a second plurality of silicon photonics chips, each having a plurality of modulators;   modulating the second beams of light using the modulators; and   multiplexing beams of modulated light by a plurality of multiplexers, each multiplexer receiving a different beam of the beams of modulated light from each of the silicon photonics chips.