Vertically integrated optical transceivers for wavelength division multiplexing

A wavelength-division multiplexing device comprising:

• a plurality of optical elements arranged in one or more linear arrays and configured to receive a plurality of spectral beams, wherein an individual optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to:
• reflect one or more spectral beams of the plurality of spectral beams, and
• transmit one or more other spectral beams of the plurality of spectral beams;
• a first reflecting surface configured to reflect the plurality of spectral beams towards the plurality of optical elements;
• a second reflecting surface configured to reflect an output beam towards an output optical interface, the output beam formed by iterative reflections of the plurality of spectral beams from the first reflecting surface and at least some of the plurality of optical elements, and wherein the output optical interface is configured to optically couple to an external optical fiber;
• and
• one or more mechanical couplers configured to affix the wavelength-division multiplexing device to an optical chip device.

An optical transceiver comprising:

• a photonic integrated circuit comprising:
• one or more optical modulators to encode a transmitted electronic signal in a plurality of spectral beams;
• a plurality of optical couplers, an individual optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers configured to direct a respective spectral beam away from a plane of the photonic integrated circuit;
• a plurality of optical interconnects, an individual optical interconnect of the plurality of optical interconnects configured to deliver the respective spectral beam of the plurality of spectral beams to the individual optical coupler;
• and
• a wavelength-division multiplexing block comprising a plurality of optical elements configured to:
• iteratively combine the plurality of spectral beams into a combined beam;
• and
• an optical fiber interface configured to direct the combined beam to an external optical fiber.

A wavelength-division multiplexing block configured to:

• receive multiple spectral beams directed away from a plane of a photonic integrated circuit at an angle 70 degrees or more to the plane;
• combine the multiple spectral beams into a combined beam;
• and
• output the combined beam to an external optical fiber.

A method comprising:

• generating, using a plurality of light sources, a plurality of spectral beams, an individual spectral beam of the plurality of spectral beams generated by a respective light source of the plurality of light sources;
• delivering, via a plurality of optical interconnects positioned within a plane of a photonic integrated circuit, the plurality of spectral beams to a plurality of optical couplers;
• directing, using the plurality of optical couplers, the plurality of spectral beams away from the plane of the photonic integrated circuit, an individual optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers directing a respective spectral beam of the plurality of spectral beams;
• re-shaping, using one or more lenses, the plurality of spectral beams directed away from the plane of the photonic integrated circuit;
• iteratively combining, using a spectral multiplexer, the plurality of spectral beams into a combined beam;
• and
• directing, using an optical fiber interface, the combined beam to an external optical fiber.