Integrated selectable waveguide for optical networking components

An integrated optical circuit comprising:

• a first optical device providing an optical signal at an output port;
• a second optical device having an input port, the input port being offset from the output port;
• and
• a selectable waveguide device coupled between the output port of the first optical device and the input port of the second optical device, the selectable waveguide device including a propagation layer having a first index of refraction and a plurality of electrodes located adjacent the propagation layer such that, selectively energizing a subset of the electrodes, creates a waveguide path having a second index of refraction to correct for the offset.

A hybrid optical circuit comprising:

• a first optical device providing an optical signal at an output port;
• a second optical device having an input port, the input port being offset from the output port;
• a selectable waveguide device coupled between the output port of the first optical device and the input port of the second optical device, the selectable waveguide device including a propagation layer having a first index of refraction and a plurality of electrodes located adjacent the propagation layer such that selectively energizing a subset of the electrodes creates a waveguide path having a second index of refraction to correct for the offset;
• a substrate upon which the first optical device, the second optical device, and the selectable waveguide device are mounted;
• and
• a control circuit mounted on the substrate and coupled to the selectable waveguide to select the subset of electrodes to create the waveguide path.

A method of correcting the offset between an optical signal from a first optical device and an input port of a second optical device, the method comprising:

• providing a selectable waveguide device between the first optical device and the second optical device, the selectable waveguide device having a propagation layer of a first index of refraction and having a plurality of electrodes located adjacent the propagation layer such that, upon application of voltage to the electrodes, the electrodes form waveguide regions within the propagation layer of a second index of refraction, the waveguide regions defining a plurality of selectable waveguide paths;
• coupling the optical signal into the propagation layer for propagation along a nominal optical path;
• and
• applying a voltage signal to a subset of the plurality of electrodes to selectively couple the optical signal from the nominal optical path into one of the plurality of selectable waveguide paths, such that the optical signal is coupled into the second optical device.

A method of compensating for misalignment between an optical transmitter and an optical receiver comprising:

• activating a first optical path in a propagation layer;
• transmitting a first optical signal into the propagation layer;
• measuring an intensity of the first optical signal at the optical receiver;
• activating a second optical path in a propagation layer;
• transmitting a second optical signal into the propagation layer, the second optical signal being substantially identical to the first optical signal;
• measuring an intensity of the second optical signal at the optical receiver;
• selecting the first optical path for subsequent transmissions if the intensity of the first optical signal is greater than the intensity of the second optical signal;
• and
• selecting the second optical path for subsequent transmissions if the intensity of the first optical signal is less than the intensity of the second optical signal.

A method comprising:

• providing a plurality of electrodes;
• energizing a first subset of the electrodes to define a first optical path in a propagation layer;
• energizing a second subset of the electrodes to define a second optical path in the propagation layer;
• and
• selecting one of the first and second optical paths to compensate for a misalignment between an optical transmitter and an optical receiver.