NeoPhotonics Patent Grants

Method and apparatus for bias control with a large dynamic range for Mach-Zehnder modulators

Granted: January 9, 2024
Patent Number: 11870407
Improved dither detection, measurement, and voltage bias adjustments for an electro-optical modulator are described. The electro-optical modulator generally includes RF electrodes and phase heaters interfaced with semi-conductor waveguides on the arms of Mach-Zehnder interferometers, where a processor is connected to output a bias tuning voltage to the electro-optical modulator for controlling optical modulation. A variable gain amplifier (VGA) can be configured with AC coupling…

Method for wavelength control of silicon photonic external cavity tunable laser

Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number: 11811195
A tunable solid state laser device are described comprising a semiconductor based gain chip and a silicon photonic filter chip with tuning capability. The silicon photonic filter chip can comprises an input-output silicon waveguide, at least two ring resonators formed with silicon waveguides, one or more connecting silicon waveguides interfacing with the ring resonators, a separate heater associated with each ring resonator, a temperature sensor configured to measure the chip…

Method and apparatus for phase-matched optical and RF wave propagations for semiconductor-based MZM modulators

Granted: June 27, 2023
Patent Number: 11686990
Optical modulators with semiconductor based optical waveguides interacting with an RF waveguide in a traveling wave structure. The semiconductor optical waveguide generally comprise a p-n junction along the waveguide. To reduce the phase walk-off between the optical signal and the RF signal, the traveling wave structure can comprise one or more compensation sections where the phase walk-off is reversed. The compensation sections can comprise a change in dopant concentrations, extra…

Indium phosphide based optical transmitter with single parameter driven phase correction for temporal variation

Granted: March 14, 2023
Patent Number: 11604396
Optical modulators are described having a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which the Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises optical waveguides formed from semiconductor material. The optical modulator additionally comprises a plurality of phase shifters configured to interface with the plurality of interconnected optical waveguides such that at least one phase shifter of the plurality of phase shifters is interfaced…

High frequency optical modulator with laterally displaced conduction plane relative to modulating electrodes

Granted: February 7, 2023
Patent Number: 11573476
Optical modulators are described having a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which the Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises optical waveguides formed from semiconductor material. The optical modulator also comprises a ground plane spaced away in a distinct plane from transmission line electrodes formed from the association of the pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The ground plane…

Method and apparatus for bias control with a large dynamic range for Mach-Zehnder modulators

Granted: November 22, 2022
Patent Number: 11509275
Improved dither detection, measurement, and voltage bias adjustments for an electro-optical modulator are described. The electro-optical modulator generally includes RF electrodes and phase heaters interfaced with semi-conductor waveguides on the arms of Mach-Zehnder interferometers, where a processor is connected to output a bias tuning voltage to the electro-optical modulator for controlling optical modulation. A variable gain amplifier (VGA) can be configured with AC coupling…

Adjustable grid tracking transmitters and receivers

Granted: November 1, 2022
Patent Number: 11487068
Optical telecommunication receivers and transmitters are described comprising dispersive elements and adjustable beam steering elements that are combined to provide optical grid tracking to adjust with very low power consumption to variations in the optical grid due to various changes, such as temperature fluctuations, age or other environmental or design changes. Thus, high bandwidth transmitters or receivers can be provides with low power consumption and/or low cost designs.

Indium phosphide based optical transmitter with single parameter driven phase correction for temporal variation

Granted: September 14, 2021
Patent Number: 11119380
Optical modulators are described having a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which the Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises optical waveguides formed from semiconductor material. The optical modulator additionally comprises a plurality of phase shifters configured to interface with the plurality of interconnected optical waveguides such that at least one phase shifter of the plurality of phase shifters is interfaced…

Planar lightwave circuit optical splitter/mixer

Granted: July 13, 2021
Patent Number: 11061187
Planar waveguide junctions are described with a waggled transition section connecting input waveguide sections with output waveguides sections, in which the waggled transitions have alternating segments matching the input waveguide and output waveguides to efficiently transition the optical signal. The planar waveguide junctions can be used to form efficient optical splitters, mixers, or taps.

Method and apparatus for phase-matched optical and RF wave propagations for semiconductor based MZM modulators

Granted: June 29, 2021
Patent Number: 11048139
Optical modulators with semiconductor based optical waveguides interacting with an RF waveguide in a traveling wave structure. The semiconductor optical waveguide generally comprise a p-n junction along the waveguide. To reduce the phase walk-off between the optical signal and the RF signal, the traveling wave structure can comprise one or more compensation sections where the phase walk-off is reversed. The compensation sections can comprise a change in dopant concentrations, extra…

Apparatus and method for analog electronic fiber dispersion and bandwidth pre-compensation (EDPC) for use in 50 Gbps and greater PAMn optical transceivers

Granted: January 12, 2021
Patent Number: 10892827
Cost-effective high-data-rate optical data transceivers are presented, comprising an electronic analog transversal filter simultaneously providing one or more of bandwidth compensation and forward impairment compensations for the transmitted optical signal.

Dynamically-distributable multiple-output pump for fiber optic amplifier

Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number: 10855045
A multiple-output laser component is described with a plurality of diode lasers in a common package, each of the diode lasers having distinct electrical control and optically coupled to a distinct output fiber, the component configured such that up to a maximum total output power can be selectively and dynamically partitioned among said diode lasers. The dynamic allocation can be based on demand for laser power in a fiber optic coupled to each diode laser. The multi-output laser…

High frequency optical modulator with laterally displaced conduction plane relative to modulating electrodes

Granted: September 1, 2020
Patent Number: 10761396
Optical modulators are described having a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which the Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises optical waveguides formed from semiconductor material. The optical modulator also comprises a ground plane spaced away in a distinct plane from transmission line electrodes formed from the association of the pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The ground plane…

Compact, energy efficient mach-zehnder interferometers and optical attenuators

Granted: February 4, 2020
Patent Number: 10551643
Mach-Zehnder interferometers comprise heater elements configured to have projections in the plane of optical waveguides positioned such that two adjacent sections of one optical waveguide arms are heated by a common heater element. The heater and at least a substantial section of the heated waveguide segments can be curved. Configurations of an optical waveguide arm can comprise an outer curved heated section, an inner curved heated section, and a loopback waveguide section connecting…

Method and apparatus for phase-matched optical and RF wave propagations for semiconductor-based MZM modulators

Granted: September 17, 2019
Patent Number: 10416525
Optical modulators with semiconductor based optical waveguides interacting with an RF waveguide in a traveling wave structure. The semiconductor optical waveguide generally comprise a p-n junction along the waveguide. To reduce the phase walk-off between the optical signal and the RF signal, the traveling wave structure can comprise one or more compensation sections where the phase walk-off is reversed. The compensation sections can comprise a change in dopant concentrations, extra…

Planar optical phase shifters with efficient heater placement

Granted: July 9, 2019
Patent Number: 10345629
Energy efficient thermo-optic phase shifters have a configuration with two sections of a waveguide adjacent for heating by a common heater. A loop section can connect the two heated waveguide sections. Further improved efficiency can be achieved in which the heated sections are curved to allow closer placement of the adjacent waveguides. The heater can be curved to follow the configuration of the curved heated waveguide sections. Energy efficiency gains can be up to approximately a…

Semiconductor tunable laser package with tunable optical filters subassembly

Granted: July 2, 2019
Patent Number: 10340660
A tunable laser configured in a small package subassembly including a gain chip positioned in the interior space between first and second tunable filter subassemblies. The tunable laser is packaged in either a rectangular or cylindrical housing, with an electrical input interface positioned at one end of the housing.

Scalable optical switches and switching modules

Granted: July 2, 2019
Patent Number: 10338320
Telecommunications switches are presented, including expandable optical switches that allow for a switch of N inputs×M outputs to be expanded arbitrarily to a new number of N inputs and/or a new number of M outputs. Switches having internal switch blocks controlling signal bypass lines are also provided, with these switches being useful for the expandable switches.

Planar lightwave circuit optical splitter / mixer

Granted: June 25, 2019
Patent Number: 10330863
Planar waveguide junctions are described with a waggled transition section connecting input waveguide sections with output waveguides sections, in which the waggled transitions have alternating segments matching the input waveguide and output waveguides to efficiently transition the optical signal. The planar waveguide junctions can be used to form efficient optical splitters, mixers, or taps.

Compact, energy efficient Mach-Zehnder interferometers and optical attenuators

Granted: May 28, 2019
Patent Number: 10302975
Mach-Zehnder interferometers comprise heater elements configured to have projections in the plane of optical waveguides positioned such that two adjacent sections of one optical waveguide arms are heated by a common heater element. The heater and at least a substantial section of the heated waveguide segments can be curved. Configurations of an optical waveguide arm can comprise an outer curved heated section, an inner curved heated section, and a loopback waveguide section connecting…