Integrated CMOS photonic and electronic WDM communication system using optical frequency comb generators

A method for operating an optical data communication system, comprising:

• operating an optical power supply to generate continuous wave light at a single wavelength;
• optically conveying the continuous wave light at the single wavelength from the optical power supply to an optical input port disposed at a side of an electro-optical chip;
• operating the electro-optical chip to receive the continuous wave light at the single wavelength, the electro-optical chip being physically separate from the optical power supply;
• operating a comb generator onboard the electro-optical chip to generate multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light from the continuous wave laser light at the single wavelength;
• conveying the multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light from the comb generator into a substantially U-shaped optical waveguide of a transmit macro onboard the electro-optical chip, the transmit macro including multiple microring resonators positioned along a same side of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide and within an evanescent optical coupling distance from the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide;
• operating the multiple microring resonators within the transmit macro onboard the electro-optical chip to modulate one or more of the multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light to generate modulated light signals that convey digital data;
• and
• conveying the modulated light signals through the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide to an optical output port disposed next to the optical input port at the side of the electro-optical chip.

An electro-optical chip, comprising:

• an optical power supply that outputs continuous wave light at a single wavelength;
• an optical output port disposed on a same side of the electro-optical chip as the optical input port and next to the optical input port;
• a substantially U-shaped optical waveguide optically connected between the optical input port and the optical output port, the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide having a first substantially linear-shaped segment, a curved segment, and a second substantially linear-shaped segment;
• a comb generator disposed along the first substantially linear-shaped segment of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide, the comb generator optically connected to receive the continuous wave light at the single wavelength from the optical power supply, the comb generator configured to generate multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light from the continuous wave laser light at the single wavelength and convey the multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light through the first substantially linear-shaped segment of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide toward the curved segment of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide;
• and
• multiple microring resonators positioned along the second substantially linear-shaped segment of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide and within an evanescent optical coupling distance from the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide, the multiple microring resonators configured to modulate one or more of the multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light to generate modulated light signals that convey digital data, the multiple microring resonators configured to convey the modulated light signals through the second substantially linear-shaped segment of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide toward the optical output port.

A method for operating an electro-optical chip, comprising:

• operating an optical power supply onboard the electro-optical chip to generate continuous wave light at a single wavelength;
• operating a comb generator onboard the electro-optical chip to generate multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light from the continuous wave laser light at the single wavelength;
• conveying the multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light from the comb generator into a substantially U-shaped optical waveguide of a transmit macro onboard the electro-optical chip, the transmit macro including multiple microring resonators positioned along a same side of the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide and within an evanescent optical coupling distance from the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide;
• operating the multiple microring resonators within the transmit macro onboard the electro-optical chip to modulate one or more of the multiple wavelengths of continuous wave light to generate modulated light signals that convey digital data;
• and
• conveying the modulated light signals through the substantially U-shaped optical waveguide to an optical output port disposed next to the optical input port at the side of the electro-optical chip.