Low-cost transceiver approach

A method for communicating signals, the method comprising:

• in a transceiver comprising a CMOS chip and a plurality of semiconductor lasers coupled to said CMOS chip:
• communicating optical source signals from said plurality of semiconductor lasers into said CMOS chip;
• generating, using said optical source signals, first optical signals;
• transmitting said first optical signals from said CMOS chip to optical fibers coupled to said CMOS chip;
• receiving second optical signals from optical fibers;
• and
• converting said second optical signals to electrical signals for use by said CMOS chip.

A communication system comprising:

• a CMOS chip, and a plurality of semiconductor lasers coupled with said CMOS chip;
• wherein said plurality of semiconductor lasers communicate optical source signals into said CMOS chip, said optical source signals for generation of first optical signals that are transmitted from said CMOS chip to optical fibers coupled to said CMOS chip;
• and
• wherein second optical signals are received from said optical fibers and converted to electrical signals for use by said CMOS chip.

A system for two-way communication of optical signals comprising:

• a CMOS chip and a plurality of semiconductor lasers;
• wherein:
• optical source signals are communicated into said CMOS chip utilizing said plurality of semiconductor lasers;
• optical signals representative of electronic signals received from the electronic circuitry of said CMOS chip are communicated from said CMOS chip over one or more optical fibers coupled to said CMOS chip;
• and
• electronic signals representative of optical signals received over one or more optical fibers coupled to said CMOS chip are communicated to electronic circuitry of said CMOS chip.

A method for communicating signals, the method comprising:

• in a transceiver comprising a CMOS chip and a plurality of semiconductor lasers coupled with said CMOS chip:
• communicating optical source signals into said CMOS chip utilizing said plurality of semiconductor lasers;
• generating first optical signals in said CMOS chip based on said optical source signals;
• transmitting said first optical signals from said CMOS chip to optical fibers coupled to said CMOS chip;
• and
• receiving second optical signals from optical fibers and converting said second optical signals to electrical signals for use by said CMOS chip.