# US 10,313,019 B2 · Method and system for redundant light sources by utilizing two inputs of an integrated modulator

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- Number: US 10,313,019 B2
- Document ID: US10313019B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/639,515
- Filed: 2017-06-30
- Published: 2018-01-04
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-01
- Assignees: Luxtera, Inc.
- Applicants: Luxtera, Inc.
- Inventors: Greg Young; Peter DeDobbelaere
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313019B2

## CPC

- H04B 10/541: {Digital intensity or amplitude modulation}
- H04B 10/032: using working and protection systems {(H04J14/0287 takes precedence)}
- H04B 10/503: {Laser transmitters}
- H04B 10/505: {using external modulation}
- G02F 1/212: {Mach-Zehnder type}
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

Methods and systems for redundant light sources by utilizing two inputs of an integrated modulator are disclosed and may include: an optoelectronic transmitter integrated in a semiconductor die with first and second laser sources coupled to the semiconductor die, said optoelectronic transmitter comprising an optical modulator with a first input waveguide coupled to the first laser source and second input waveguide coupled to the second laser source, the optoelectronic receiver being operable to: configure the first laser source to provide an optical signal to the first input of the optical modulator; and if the first laser source does not provide an optical signal, configure the second laser source to provide an optical signal to the second input of the optical modulator. The first laser source may be optically coupled to the first input waveguide and the second laser source optically coupled to the second input waveguide using grating couplers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for communication, the method comprising:
in an optoelectronic transmitter integrated in a semiconductor die with first and second laser sources coupled to the semiconductor die, said optoelectronic transmitter comprising an optical modulator with a first input waveguide coupled to the first laser source and second input waveguide coupled to the second laser source:
applying a bias current to the first laser source to provide an optical signal to the first input of the optical modulator; and
if the first laser source does not provide an optical signal, applying a bias current to the second laser source to provide an optical signal to the second input of the optical modulator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising optically coupling the first laser source to the first input waveguide and the second laser source to the second input waveguide using grating couplers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical modulator comprises a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) modulator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical modulator comprises a ring modulator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the optoelectronic transmitter comprises a plurality of modulators, each with two laser sources.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting modulated optical signals from the optoelectronic transmitter using the optical signal from the first laser source or the second laser source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second laser sources are integrated in an optical source assembly coupled to the semiconductor die.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical modulator comprises a high speed modulation section and a bias section.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor die comprises a silicon photonics die.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein the silicon photonics die comprises a silicon complementary-metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) photonics die.

### Claim 11

A system for communication, the system comprising:
an optoelectronic transmitter integrated in a semiconductor die with first and second laser sources coupled to the semiconductor die, said optoelectronic transmitter comprising an optical modulator with a first input waveguide coupled to the first laser source and second input waveguide coupled to the second laser source, the optoelectronic transmitter being operable to:
apply a bias current to the first laser source to provide an optical signal to the first input of the optical modulator; and
if the first laser source does not provide an optical signal, apply a bias current to the second laser source to provide an optical signal to the second input of the optical modulator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the first laser source is optically coupled to the first input waveguide and the second laser source is optically coupled to the second input waveguide using grating couplers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the optical modulator comprises a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) modulator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the optical modulator comprises a ring modulator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the optoelectronic transmitter comprises a plurality of modulators, each with two laser sources.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the optoelectronic transmitter is operable to transmit modulated optical signals from the optoelectronic transmitter using the optical signal from the first laser source or the second laser source.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the first and second laser sources are integrated in an optical source assembly coupled to the semiconductor die.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the optical modulator comprises a high speed modulation section and a bias section.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system according to claim 11, wherein the semiconductor die comprises a silicon complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) photonic die.

### Claim 20

A system for communication, the system comprising:
an optoelectronic transmitter integrated in a silicon photonics die with first and second laser sources optically coupled to the silicon photonics die using grating couplers, said optoelectronic transmitter comprising an optical modulator with a first input waveguide coupled to the first laser source and second input waveguide coupled to the second laser source, the optoelectronic transmitter being operable to:
apply a bias current to the first laser source to provide an optical signal to the first input of the optical modulator; and
if the first laser source does not provide an optical signal, apply a bias current to the second laser source to provide an optical signal to the second input of the optical modulator.