Methods and apparatus for controlling, monitoring and communicating with tunable optical devices and subassemblies

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling, monitoring and communicating with an optical device, photonic integrated circuit or subassembly. The apparatus includes: an optical device or subassembly; and a field programmable device including a programmable hardware gate coupled to the optical device or subassembly. The field programmable device may be configured to implement multiple functions at the gate level to control, monitor and / or communicate with the optical device or subassembly, each of the multiple functions configured as a concurrent process without the use of a microprocessor or microcontroller. In addition, programmable optical devices (such as programmable optical transmitters, optical subassemblies, or tunable laser-based transceivers) with field-programmable device-centric control systems that include software-enabled features provide comprehensive real-time Control and monitor functionality.

Description

[0001] Claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 [0002] This patent application claims U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 082,545, filed November 20, 2014, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Tunable Optical Devices and Subassemblies" number rights. technical field Background technique [0003] Today's fiber-optic-based networks use transceivers as the interface between electrical and optical signals propagating on optical fibers and at other points in the network where information is converted between electronic and optical forms. [0004] Optical devices (including optical, electronic and optoelectronic devices and components) are used to transmit, encode, receive and decode optical data for transmission over optical fibers. Optical devices interface to various electronic circuits that control devices and components, interface data in electronic form on the transmit and receive sides, encode and decode electronic data, perform other functions suc...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] However, it is known that prior art programmable wavelength tunable transmitters (such as transmitter optical subsystem assemblies (TOSAs), transceivers, and other communication optical subassemblies) cannot be programmed in real time and thus lack Flexibility and Responsiveness

Furthermore, due to the lack of real-time programmability of existing installations, the costs associated with the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of data center networks are high

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