Systems and methods for distributing optical signals using a photonic integrated circuit

A method for distributing light, the method including:

• generating a first laser signal at a first light source;
• coupling the first laser signal into an input port of a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage having (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network, the first light source and the first PIC being located in different environments that have at least one different environmental parameter that includes at least one of ambient temperature and temperature stability;
• and
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first laser signal in the first S/A stage to provide a first plurality of amplified light signals.

A light-distribution system comprising:

• a first light source for providing a first laser signal;
• and
• a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage that includes (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network, wherein the first S/A stage is configured to receive the first laser signal and provide a first plurality of amplified light signals based on the first light signal;
• wherein the first light source and first PIC are optically coupled via an optical path that is configured to enable the first light source and the first PIC to be remotely located with respect to one another, wherein the first splitting network receives the first laser signal and distributes it into a first plurality of light signals, and further wherein the first amplification stage includes a plurality of SOA, each SOA of the plurality thereof amplifying a different light signal of the first plurality thereof to produce a different one of the first plurality of amplified light signals, a first SOA of the plurality of SOA being modulated.

A light-distribution system comprising:

• a first light source for providing a first laser signal;
• and
• a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage that includes (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network, wherein the first S/A stage is configured to receive the first laser signal and provide a first plurality of amplified light signals based on the first light signal;
• a first plurality of modulator arrays, wherein each modulator array of the first plurality thereof is configured to modulate at least one wavelength component of a different amplified light signal of the first plurality thereof;
• and
• wherein the first light source and first PIC are optically coupled via an optical path that is configured to enable the first light source and the first PIC to be remotely located with respect to one another.

A light-distribution system comprising:

• a first light source for providing a first laser signal;
• and
• a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage that includes (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network, wherein the first S/A stage is configured to receive the first laser signal and provide a first plurality of amplified light signals based on the first light signal;
• a second S/A stage that includes (1) a second amplification stage comprising at least one SOA and (2) a second splitting network, wherein the second S/A stage is configured to receive a first amplified light signal of the first plurality thereof and provide a second plurality of amplified light signals based on the first amplified light signal;
• and
• wherein the first light source and first PIC are optically coupled via an optical path that is configured to enable the first light source and the first PIC to be remotely located with respect to one another.

A light-distribution system comprising:

• a first light source for providing a first laser signal;
• and
• a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage that includes (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network, wherein the first S/A stage is configured to receive the first laser signal and provide a first plurality of amplified light signals based on the first light signal;
• wherein the first S/A stage comprises a plurality of modulator arrays that is configured to receive a plurality of light signals from the first optical-power splitting network and provide a plurality of modulated light signals to the first amplification stage;
• and
• wherein the first light source and first PIC are optically coupled via an optical path that is configured to enable the first light source and the first PIC to be remotely located with respect to one another.

A method for distributing light, the method including:

• generating a first laser signal at a first light source;
• coupling the first laser signal into an input port of a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage having (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network,
• locating the first light source in a first environment and locating the first PIC in a second environment;
• and
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first laser signal in the first S/A stage to provide a first plurality of amplified light signals.

A method for distributing light, the method including:

• generating a first laser signal at a first light source;
• coupling the first laser signal into an input port of a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage having (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network;
• and
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first laser signal in the first S/A stage to provide a first plurality of amplified light signals.

A method for distributing light, the method including:

• generating a first laser signal at a first light source;
• coupling the first laser signal into an input port of a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage having (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network;
• and
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first laser signal in the first S/A stage to provide a first plurality of amplified light signals
• imprinting a marker tone on a first amplified light signal of the first plurality thereof by modulating a first SOA of the plurality thereof.

A method for distributing light, the method including:

• generating a first laser signal at a first light source;
• coupling the first laser signal into an input port of a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage having (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network;
• and
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first laser signal in the first S/A stage to provide a first plurality of amplified light signals;
• wherein the first plurality of amplified light signals is provided as amplified modulated light signals by operations that include:
• splitting the first laser signal into a plurality of light signals;
• modulating at least one wavelength component of each light signal of the plurality thereof to provide a plurality of modulated light signals;
• and
• amplifying each modulated light signal of the plurality thereof.

A method for distributing light, the method including:

• generating a first laser signal at a first light source;
• coupling the first laser signal into an input port of a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a first splitting/amplification (S/A) stage having (1) a first amplification stage comprising at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and (2) a first optical-power splitting network;
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first laser signal in the first S/A stage to provide a first plurality of amplified light signals;
• optically coupling a first amplified light signal of the first plurality thereof into a second S/A stage;
• and
• splitting and amplifying the optical energy of the first amplified light signal in the second S/A stage to provide a second plurality of amplified light signals.