US 11,451,301 B2Granted

Light source backup method, apparatus, and system

AssigneeHuawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

InventorsBenbo Xu, Jialin Zhao, Zhen Dong

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Abstract

This application provides an example light source switching apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers, and a phase modulator. The first MMI coupler includes four ports, where first and second ports are located on one side, and third and fourth ports are located on the other side. The second MMI coupler includes three ports, where fifth and sixth ports are located on one side, and a seventh port is located on the other side. The first and the second ports connect to the fifth and the sixth ports, respectively, to form two connections. The phase modulator is disposed on one of the two connections, and the seventh port connects to an optical modulator. Both the third and the fourth ports connect to a light source emitting continuous light, and the phase modulator selects one of the two light sources for output from the seventh port.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A light source switching apparatus, comprising:

a first multi-mode interference (MMI) coupler;
a second MMI coupler;
a phase modulator;
and
a first light source, wherein
the first MMI coupler comprises:
a first port;
a second port;
a third port;
and
a fourth port, wherein
the first port and the second port are located on one side of the first MMI coupler, and the third port and the fourth port are located on the other side of the first MMI coupler;
the second MMI coupler comprises:
a fifth port;
a sixth port;
and
a seventh port, wherein
the fifth port and the sixth port are located on one side of the second MMI coupler, and the seventh port is located on the other side of the second MMI coupler;
the first port and the second port are connected to the fifth port and the sixth port in a one-to-one correspondence to form two connections, wherein:
the phase modulator is disposed on any one of the two connections, and the seventh port is configured to connect to a light modulator, wherein
the third port and the fourth port are each configured to connect to a respective light source of two light sources that outputs continuous light energy;
the phase modulator is configured to select one light source from the two light sources connected to the third port and the fourth port for output from the seventh port;
and
the first light source is connected to the third port, and the first light source, the first MIMI coupler, the second MIMI coupler, and the phase modulator are disposed in a silicon photonic chip, and wherein the fourth port is connected to a second light source that is external to the silicon photonic chip.

21 more elements

A light source backup method, for use on an optical device, wherein the optical device comprises:

two light sources;
a first multi-mode interference (MMI) coupler;
a second MMI coupler;
a phase modulator;
and
an optical modulator, wherein the two light sources are configured to output continuous light energy, wherein
the first MMI coupler comprises:
a first port;
a second port;
a third port;
and
a fourth port, wherein
the first port and the second port are located on one side of the first MMI coupler, and the third port and the fourth port are located on the other side of the first MMI coupler;
the second MMI coupler comprises:
a fifth port;
a sixth port;
and
a seventh port, wherein the fifth port and the sixth port are located on one side of the second MMI coupler, and the seventh port is located on the other side of the second MMI coupler, wherein:
the two light sources are respectively connected to the first port and the second port;
the third port and the fourth port are connected to the fifth port and the sixth port in a one-to-one correspondence to form two connections;
the phase modulator is disposed on any one of the two connections;
and
the seventh port is connected to the optical modulator;
and
the phase modulator is configured to select one of the two light sources to provide continuous light energy for the optical modulator;
and
one of the two light sources, the first MMI coupler, the second MMI coupler, the optical modulator and the phase modulator are disposed in a silicon photonic chip, and the other of the two light sources is disposed outside of the silicon photonic chip;
and
wherein the method comprises:
after detecting that an operating light source in the two light sources fails, turning on the other light source of the two light sources;
and
outputting a π phase signal to the phase modulator, so that continuous light energy output by the other light source enters the optical modulator.

29 more elements

An optical communications system, comprising:

a light source switching apparatus comprising:
a light source, wherein the light source is connected to a third port or a fourth port;
an optical interface wherein the optical interface is configured to connect to an external light source;
a first multi-mode interference (MMI) coupler;
a second MMI coupler;
and
a phase modulator, wherein
the first MMI coupler comprises:
a first port;
a second port;
the third port;
and
the fourth port, wherein
the first port and the second port are located on one side of the first MMI coupler, and wherein
the third port and the fourth port are located on the other side of the first MMI coupler, wherein
the second MMI coupler comprises:
a fifth port;
a sixth port;
and
a seventh port, wherein
the fifth port and the sixth port are located on one side of the second MMI coupler, and
the seventh port is located on the other side of the second MMI coupler, wherein
the first port and the second port are connected to the fifth port and the sixth port in a one-to-one correspondence, to form two connections, wherein
the phase modulator is disposed on any one of the two connections, and the seventh port is configured to connect to a light modulator, wherein
the third port and the fourth port are each configured to connect to a respective light source of two light sources that outputs continuous light energy, and wherein
the phase modulator is configured to select one light source from the two light sources connected to the third port and the fourth port for output from the seventh port;
an optical connector;
an electrical connector;
and
a light source module;
wherein
the light source module comprises:
a light source;
an optical interface;
and
an electrical interface, wherein the light source module is connected to an optical interface of the light source switching apparatus through the optical connector, and wherein the light source is configured to provide continuous light source input for the light source switching apparatus, wherein
the light source module, the optical connector, and the electrical connector are detachably connected to a panel, and wherein
the optical interface and the electrical interface of the light source module face a same direction.

35 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/245,958Filed 30 Apr 2021 · continuation
Priority: CN 201811298477.72 Nov 2018
Published: US 2021/0250098 A112 Aug 2021
Granted: 20 Sep 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04B 10/03
Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing…
H04B 10/501
Transmitters: structural aspects
G02F 1/3136
In an optical waveguide structure: of interferometric switch type
H04B 10/503
Structural aspects: laser transmitters

Family

PCT/CN2019/114266Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Oct 2019
US 2021/0250098 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Aug 2021
US 11,411,652 B2Related patent
US 11,451,301 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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