Integrated laser transceiver

A system comprising:

• a printed circuit board;
• a photonic integrated circuit operably coupled to the printed circuit board, the photonic integrated circuit comprising:
• a substrate,
• an integrated laser mechanically placed on the substrate and adapted to output optical signals,
• a laser optical coupler aligned with the integrated laser to receive the optical signals and spaced apart from an output of the laser by a gap distance of less than or equal to 500 nanometers, and
• an optical waveguide positioned in optical communication with the laser optical coupler;
• and
• an optical fiber operably coupled to the photonic integrated circuit and in optical communication with the optical waveguide.

A method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• placing a laser on the substrate;
• depositing a first cladding layer on the substrate and surrounding the laser, the first cladding layer comprising a laser optical coupler aligned with an output of the laser;
• and
• depositing an optical waveguide on the first cladding layer such that the optical waveguide is in optical communication with the laser optical coupler.