A method for operating an electro-optical chip, comprising:
- receiving a single wavelength of continuous wave light at an optical input port of an electro-optical chip from a laser external to the electro-optical chip;
- conveying the single wavelength of continuous wave light from the optical input port to an optical input of a comb generator onboard the electro-optical chip, the comb generator having an optical output optically connected to an optical input of an optical splitter onboard the electro-optical chip;
- operating the comb generator to generate a plurality of distinct wavelengths of continuous wave light from the single wavelength of continuous wave light;
- transmitting the plurality of distinct wavelengths of continuous wave light through the optical output of the comb generator to the optical input of the optical splitter;
- conveying the plurality of distinct wavelengths of continuous wave light through the optical power splitter such that a portion of each of the plurality of distinct wavelengths of continuous wave light is conveyed through each of a plurality of optical outputs of the optical splitter to a respective plurality of optical waveguides of a respective plurality of transmit macros onboard the electro-optical chip, wherein each optical waveguide of the plurality of transmit macros has a substantially U-shaped portion that includes a linear-shaped optical input waveguide segment, a curved waveguide segment, and a linear-shaped optical output waveguide segment, wherein the linear-shaped optical input waveguide segments of the plurality of transmit macros are respectively optically connected to the plurality of optical outputs of the optical splitter;
- operating a set of microring resonators positioned within an evanescent optical coupling distance of a given one of the plurality of linear-shaped optical output waveguide segments of the plurality of transmit macros to modulate light of a particular wavelength traveling through the given one of the plurality of linear-shaped optical output waveguide segments to generate at least one modulated light signal;
- and
- conveying the at least one modulated light signal to a given optical output of the electro-optical chip, wherein the given optical output of the electro-optical chip is one of a plurality of optical outputs of the electro-optical chip respectively optical connected the plurality of linear-shaped optical output waveguide segments of the plurality of transmit macros, the plurality of optical outputs of the electro-optical chip located on a same side of the electro-optical chip.