# US 12,009,630 B2 · Method and system for control of laser emissions for safety > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,630 B2 - Document ID: US12009630B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/154,847 - Filed: 2021-01-21 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-08 - Assignees: Quanta Computer Inc. - Applicants: Quanta Computer Inc. - Inventors: Chang-Sheng Lin; Hsiao-Hsien Weng; Zong-Syun He - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009630B2 ## CPC - H01S 3/1305: {Feedback control systems} - G02B 6/4246: {Bidirectionally operating package structures} - H01S 5/0261: {Non-optical elements, e.g. laser driver components, heaters (H01S5/0265 takes precedence)} - H01S 5/0617: {using memorised or pre-programmed laser characteristics} - H01S 5/06825: {Protecting the laser, e.g. during switch-on/off, detection of malfunctioning or degradation} - H01S 5/0683: by monitoring the optical output parameters - H01S 5/4025: {Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar (H01S5/42 takes precedence)} - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A system and method for safe use of an optics assembly with an external light source and an optically coupled optics module is disclosed. The system includes an external light module emitting a continuous wave laser through an output port. An optics module has an input port and a memory. The optics module generates a modulated optical signal. The memory stores the power level of the continuous wave laser signal received by the optics module. An optical jumper is provided for coupling the output port with the input port. A communication bus is coupled between a controller and the external light source module. The controller sets the external light source at a low power level and transitions the external light source to a high power level when the stored power level of the continuous wave laser signal received by the optics module exceeds a predetermined level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for safe operation of an optical assembly, the system comprising: an external light module emitting a continuous wave laser signal through an output port; an optics module having an input port, an optical transmission port, an optical receiver port, 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, wherein the memory stores the power level of the continuous wave laser signal received by the optics module; an optical jumper for coupling the output port with the input port; a controller operable to set the external light source at a low power level and transition the external light source to a high power level when the stored power level of the continuous wave laser signal received by the optics module exceeds a predetermined level; and a communication bus coupled between the controller and the external light source module to allow the controller to set the external light source power level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external light source module includes a form factor housing pluggable into a socket in an optical switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined level is an expected input power of the continuous wave laser signal received by the optics module if the optical jumper is properly connecting the output port to the input port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is an EEPROM. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the low power level is a power level where the continuous wave laser signal does not damage a human eye. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication bus is an I2C bus and wherein the controller sends control signals through the communication bus to the external light source module to set the power of the continuous wave laser signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a second communication bus between the controller and the optics module, wherein the controller receives the stored power level from the memory through the second communication bus. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the predetermined power level, and the determined received power from the optics module, to a memory of the optics module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the memory is an EEPROM accessible by the controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the external light source module includes a form factor housing pluggable into a socket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined power level is the input power of the continuous wave laser received by the optical module if an optical jumper properly couples the continuous wave laser signal to the optical module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the low power level is at a level where the continuous wave laser signal does not damage a human eye. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The optical switch of claim 14, wherein the controller is a central processing unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The optical switch of claim 14, wherein the external light source is one of a plurality of external light sources, and the optics module is one of a plurality of optics modules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The optical switch of claim 14, further comprising a faceplate including a socket, wherein the external light source module includes a form factor housing plugged into the socket. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The optical switch of claim 14, wherein the optics module includes a memory storing the predetermined power level and the determined received power from the optics module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The optical switch of claim 14, wherein the controller is coupled to the external light source module through an I2C bus and is coupled to the optics module through a SPI bus.