Patent ID: 7945131

Claim:
An optical system, comprising: optical devices that each have functional sides between lateral sides, the functional sides including a top side and a bottom side, a first one of the devices having an optical amplifier, a first waveguide, and a first port, a second one of the devices having a second port optically aligned with a second waveguide, the second device being positioned over one of the functional sides of the first device, the optical amplifier optically positioned between the first waveguide and the first port such that a light signal from the first waveguide enters the amplifier and travels through the amplifier, the first port being configured to receive the light signal from the optical amplifier and change a direction that the light signal is traveling such that the light signal exits the first device traveling in a direction that is toward the second device, the second port configured to receive the light signal after the light signal exits the first device and to change a direction that the light signal is traveling such that the light signal enters the second waveguide.