Patent ID: 9054493
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. A multiple-wavelength laser source, comprising: a multiple-mode laser configured to output a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths, with a first spacing between a given pair of adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths that is smaller than a width of a given channel in an optical link in a set of optical links having the same channel width, wherein the multiple-mode laser includes: a gain medium; and a cavity, surrounding the gain medium, having a first end with a reflecting minor over the range of wavelengths and a second end with a partially reflecting minor over the range of wavelengths; an optical waveguide optically coupled to the second end; and a set of ring-resonator filters optically coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein a given ring-resonator filter in the set of ring-resonator filters is configured to output a corresponding subset of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on a free spectral range and a quality factor of the given ring-resonator filter, wherein each ring-resonator filter in the set of ring-resonator filters outputs a subset of the set of wavelengths into a different optical link in the set of optical links, wherein each subset of the set of wavelengths includes more than one wavelength, wherein a given subset of the set of wavelengths includes at least a first group of wavelengths and an adjacent second group of wavelengths, wherein a second spacing between the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link, wherein the given subset of the set of wavelengths does not include a wavelength from the set of wavelengths between the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths, and wherein a given group of wavelengths, which can include one of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths, includes at least a first wavelength and, if the given group of wavelengths includes an adjacent second wavelength, the first wavelength and the second wavelength are separated by the first spacing, thereby facilitating optical modulation of the first group of wavelengths and the second group of wavelengths in the given subset of the set of wavelengths.