# US 10,120,126 B2 · Method and system for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,126 B2 - Document ID: US10120126B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/830,467 - Filed: 2017-12-04 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-18 - Assignees: Luxtera, Inc. - Applicants: Luxtera, Inc. - Inventors: Brian Welch; Attila Mekis; Steffan Gloeckner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120126B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/12004: {Combinations of two or more optical elements} - G02B 6/124: Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings - G02B 6/125: Bends, branchings or intersections - G02B 6/29386: {Interleaving or deinterleaving, i.e. separating or mixing subsets of optical signals, e.g. combining even and odd channels into a single optical signal} - G02B 6/4213: {the intermediate optical elements being polarisation selective optical elements (G02B6/27 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4215: {the intermediate optical elements being wavelength selective optical elements, e.g. variable wavelength optical modules or wavelength lockers (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4246: {Bidirectionally operating package structures} - H04B 10/40: Transceivers - H04B 10/801: {using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections} - H04J 14/0256: {at the optical channel layer} - G02B 2006/12142: {Modulator} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) ## Abstract Methods and systems for partial integration of wavelength division multiplexing and bi-directional solutions are disclosed and may include, an optical transceiver on a silicon photonics integrated circuit coupled to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). The silicon photonics integrated circuit may include a first modulator and first light source that operates at a first wavelength and a second modulator and second light source that operates at a second wavelength. The transceiver and PLC are operable to modulate a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from the first light source utilizing the first modulator and modulate a second CW optical signal from the second light source utilizing the second modulator. The modulated signals may be communicated from the modulators to the PLC utilizing a first pair of grating couplers in the IC and combined in the PLC. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for optical communication, the method comprising: in 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: modulating a first continuous wave (CW) optical signal from said first light source utilizing said first modulator; modulating a second CW optical signal from said second light source utilizing said second modulator; communicating 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; combining said first and second modulated signals in said PLC; receiving a third modulated optical signal via said PLC; splitting said third modulated optical signal into fourth and fifth modulated optical signals in said PLC; communicating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals to one or more input grating couplers in said silicon photonics integrated circuit; converting said fourth modulated optical signal to a first electrical signal utilizing a first photodetector configured to detect at said first wavelength; and converting said fifth modulated optical signal to a second electrical signal utilizing a second photodetector configured to detect at said second wavelength. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said PLC comprises a directional coupler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second light sources are in a light source assembly coupled to a surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said PLC comprises optical splitters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more output grating couplers comprise single polarization grating couplers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said second one or more input grating couplers comprise polarization splitting grating couplers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said PLC comprises an interleaver multiplexer and an interleaver demultiplexer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a multiplexer for combining said first and second modulated optical signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a demultiplexer for separating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon photonics integrated circuit is in a complementary-metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) die. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said PLC comprises a directional coupler. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said first and second light sources are in a light source assembly coupled to a surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said PLC comprises optical splitters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more output grating couplers comprise single polarization grating couplers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more input grating couplers comprise polarization splitting grating couplers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said PLC comprises an interleaver multiplexer and an interleaver demultiplexer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a multiplexer for combining said first and second modulated optical signals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein said silicon photonics integrated circuit comprises a demultiplexer for separating said fourth and fifth modulated optical signals. ### Claim 20 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.