Patent ID: 7079721
Filing Date: 2006-07-18
Classification: B82Y,G02B,G02F,H01S,H04B,H04J

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (PIC) formed as an integrated array on a single substrate, comprising the steps of: providing an integrated array of laser sources in the PIC each designed for having an output at different targeted emission wavelength which, in total, at least approximate a predetermined emission wavelength grid of laser source emission wavelengths; providing a plurality of wavelength changing elements, one each in close proximity to a respective laser source; providing a wavelength selective combiner integrated on the single substrate that has a predetermined wavelength grid having a passband inclusive of the laser source emission wavelengths and that has a plurality of inputs to receive the laser source outputs and combine them into a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal for output from the PIC; monitoring the emission wavelengths of the laser sources to determine their respective emission wavelengths; adjusting the laser source emission wavelengths to be at least closer to their targeted emission wavelengths to better approximate the predetermined emission wavelength grid and to better approximate the wavelength selective combiner wavelength grid.