Method and system for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions

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.

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.