Method and system for control of laser emissions for safety

A method of safely using an external light source module emitting a continuous wave laser signal to an optical module that has an input port, an optical transmission port, an optical receiver port, and a photonics chip, and a memory, the photonics chip generating a modulated optical signal from the continuous wave laser signal received at the input port and modulating optical signals transmitted through the transmission port and received optical signals from the optical receiver port, the method comprising:

• setting the continuous wave laser signal emitted by the external light source module to a low power level;
• receiving the continuous wave laser signal from the external light source by the input port of the optical module;
• determining the power of the received continuous wave laser signal received by the optical module;
• comparing the received power to a predetermined power level via a controller;
• and
• changing the power of the continuous wave laser signal to high power if the received power exceeds the predetermined power level.

An optical switch comprising:

• an optics module for generating modulated optical signals, the optics module having an optical input for receiving a continuous wave laser signal, an optical transmission port, an optical receiver port, and a photonics chip, wherein the photonics chip generates a modulated optical signal from the continuous wave laser signal received at the optical input and modulates optical signals transmitted through the transmission port and received optical signals from the optical receiver port;
• an external light source emitting a continuous wave laser signal optically coupled to the optical input of the optics module;
• and
• a controller coupled to the optics module and the external light source module, wherein the controller is operable to:
• initially control the power to the continuous wave laser signal at a low level that does not damage a human eye;
• determine whether a received power of the continuous wave laser signal at the low level by the optics module is within a predetermined power level to indicate proper coupling of the continuous wave laser signal to the optics module;
• and
• increase the power of the continuous wave laser signal at a high level to allow the optics module to transmit modulated optical signals.