Laser module for optical data communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10771160-B2
Application number	US-201715650586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2016
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A laser module includes a laser source and an optical marshalling module. The laser source is configured to generate and output a plurality of laser beams. The plurality of laser beams have different wavelengths relative to each other. The different wavelengths are distinguishable to an optical data communication system. The optical marshalling module is configured to receive the plurality of laser beams from the laser source and distribute a portion of each of the plurality of laser beams to each of a plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module, such that all of the different wavelengths of the plurality of laser beams are provided to each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module. An optical amplifying module can be included to amplify laser light output from the optical marshalling module and provide the amplified laser light as output from the laser module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser module, comprising:
a plurality of lasers configured to respectively generate and output a plurality of laser beams, the plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths relative to each other, the different wavelengths distinguishable to an optical data communication system; and
an optical marshalling module configured to receive the plurality of laser beams as respectively generated and output by the plurality of lasers, the optical marshalling module configured to distribute a portion of each of the plurality of laser beams as respectively generated and output by the plurality of lasers to each of a plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module, such that all of the different wavelengths of the plurality of laser beams are provided to each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module, wherein the optical marshalling module is a passive component,
wherein the optical marshalling module includes either a star coupler or a butterfly waveguide network or a combination of a wavelength combiner and a broadband power splitter,
wherein the star coupler is configured to receive the plurality of laser beams and distribute portions of each of the plurality of laser beams to each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module,
wherein the butterfly waveguide network is configured to receive the plurality of laser beams and distribute portions of each of the plurality of laser beams to each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module,
wherein the wavelength combiner is configured to combine the plurality of laser beams into a multi-wavelength laser beam, and the broadband power splitter is configured to distribute portions of a total power of the multi-wavelength laser beam to each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module.

2. The laser module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical marshalling module is physically separate from the plurality of lasers.

3. The laser module as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lasers is aligned with the optical marshalling module to direct the plurality of laser beams into a respective plurality of optical input ports of the optical marshalling module.

4. The laser module as recited in claim 3 , wherein the optical marshalling module is positioned spaced apart from the plurality of lasers.

5. The laser module as recited in claim 3 , wherein the optical marshalling module is positioned in contact with the plurality of lasers.

6. The laser module as recited in claim 3 , wherein a portion of the optical marshalling module is positioned to overlap a portion of a laser source that includes the plurality of lasers.

7. The laser module as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
an optical waveguide positioned between the plurality of lasers and the optical marshalling module, the optical waveguide configured to direct the plurality of laser beams from the plurality of lasers into respective ones of the plurality of optical input ports of the optical marshalling module.

8. The laser module as recited in claim 7 , wherein the optical waveguide is configured to maintain a polarization of the plurality of laser beams between the plurality of lasers and the optical marshalling module.

9. The laser module as recited in claim 3 , wherein the optical marshalling module is configured to maintain a polarization of each of the plurality of laser beams between the plurality of optical input ports of the optical marshalling module and the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module.

10. The laser module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lasers and the optical marshalling module are implemented together within a planar lightwave circuit.

11. The laser module as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lasers is a distributed feedback laser.

12. The laser module as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a thermal spreader component disposed proximate to the plurality of lasers, the thermal spreader component configured to spread a thermal output of the plurality of lasers to provide substantial uniformity in temperature-dependent wavelength drift among the plurality of lasers.

13. The laser module as recited in claim 12 , wherein the optical marshalling module includes the thermal spreader component.

14. The laser module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical marshalling module is configured such that each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module receives a similar amount of optical power of any given one of the plurality of laser beams within a factor of five.

15. The laser module as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
an optical amplifying module configured to amplify laser light received from each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module, the optical amplifying module configured to provide amplified laser light for each of the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module to a corresponding plurality of optical output ports of the optical amplifying module.

16. The laser module as recited in claim 15 , wherein the optical amplifying module and the optical marshalling module are physically separate components.

17. The laser module as recited in claim 16 , wherein the optical marshalling module is aligned with the optical amplifying module to direct laser light from the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module into a respective plurality of optical input ports of the optical amplifying module.

18. The laser module as recited in claim 17 , wherein the optical amplifying module is positioned spaced apart from the optical marshalling module.

19. The laser module as recited in claim 17 , wherein the optical amplifying module is positioned in contact with the optical marshalling module.

20. The laser module as recited in claim 17 , wherein a portion of the optical amplifying module is positioned to overlap a portion of the optical marshalling module.

21. The laser module as recited in claim 17 , further comprising:
an optical waveguide positioned between the optical marshalling module and the optical amplifying module, the optical waveguide configured to direct laser light from the plurality of optical output ports of the optical marshalling module into respective ones of the plurality of optical input ports of the optical amplifying module.

22. The laser module as recited in claim 21 , wherein the optical waveguide is configured to maintain a polarization of the laser light between the optical marshalling module and the optical amplifying module.

23. The laser module as recited in claim 17 , wherein the optical amplifying module is configured to maintain a polarization of laser light between the plurality of optical input ports of the optical amplifying module and the plurality of optical output ports of the optical amplifying module.

24. The laser module as recited in claim 15 , wherein both the optical marshalling module and the optical amplifying module are implemented together within a planar lightwave circuit.

25. The laser module as recited in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of lasers and the optical marshalling module and the optical amplifying module are implemented together within a planar lightwave circuit.

Assignees

• Ayar Labs Inc

Inventors

• Sun Chen
• Meade Roy Edward
• Wade Mark
• Wright Alexandra
• Stojanovic Vladimir
• Ram Rajeev
• Popovic Milos
• Van Orden Derek

Classifications

• H01S5/0268 Primary

  Integrated waveguide grating router, e.g. emission of a multi-wavelength laser array is combined by a "dragon router" · CPC title

• H01S5/02325

  Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches · CPC title

• H04B10/506

  Multiwavelength transmitters · CPC title

• H01S5/4012

  Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms · CPC title

• H01S5/02476

  Heat spreaders, i.e. improving heat flow between laser chip and heat dissipating elements · CPC title