Variable optical attenuator assisted control of optical devices

A method comprising:

• in response to:
• determining, at a controller of a device, that one or more of:
• heater power overhead is unavailable to reduce heater power for laser wavelength tracking;
• and the heater power is at or below a given lower heater power;
• and determining that laser current is increased to assist with ring resonator modulator control for the laser wavelength tracking:
• controlling, using one or more power monitors of the device configured to monitor output power, attenuation of a variable optical attenuator (VOA) to control the output power into a target output power range,
• the device comprising:
• a laser configured to produce an optical signal;
• an optical waveguide configured to:
• receive the optical signal at an input;
• and
• convey the optical signal to an output;
• a ring resonator modulator configured to modulate the optical signal on the optical waveguide, wherein the laser and the ring resonator modulator are uncooled;
• a heater configured to heat the ring resonator modulator;
• the configured to attenuate the optical signal on the optical waveguide;
• one or more power monitors configured to monitor:
• modulation of the optical signal on the optical waveguide;
• and the output power of the optical signal;
• and the controller.