US6553044B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for reducing electrical and thermal crosstalk of a laser array
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1998-10-20
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Granted: 2003-04-22
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Expires: 2018-10-20
Abstract
Abstract Active compensation techniques are used for control of temperature, wavelength, and other characteristics of lasers within a laser array. The laser array includes a plurality of lasers and a plurality of dissipation elements. The dissipation elements can be interstitial to the lasers and can be implemented as non-lasing diodes. The dissipation elements are selectively activated (i.e., turned "on" to dissipate power) to adjust the temperature at the laser junctions. The change in junction temperature allows the lasers to operate at their specified wavelengths. The dissipation elements can be individually controlled and two or more bits of resolution can be provided. Active compensation can be used to adjust (i.e., to compensate) the temperature of selected lasers when one or more lasers are deselected. Active compensation can also be used to adjust (i.e., "tweak") the wavelengths of the lasers within the laser array to be within their specified wavelengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Eden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/40; H01S5/4025; H01S5/4031; H01S5/02; H01S5/022; H01S5/0233; H01S5/02345; H01S5/02208; H01S5/02216; H01S5/0225; H01S5/02251; H01S5/0234; H01S5/04; H01S5/042; H01S5/0427; H01S5/06; H01S5/062; H01S5/06226; H01S5/068; H01S5/06804; H01S5/4087; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/5363
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A laser transmitter comprising: a laser array including a plurality of lasers fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of dissipation elements disposed within the laser array, at least one of the dissipation elements having independent control; and a compensation circuit coupled to the laser array, the compensation circuit including a table to store compensation values, and drive circuits coupled to the table to receive the compensation values and generate drive signals for the dissipation elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A laser transmitter comprising: a laser array including a plurality of lasers fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of dissipation elements disposed within the laser array, at least one of the dissipation elements having independent control; and a compensation circuit coupled to the laser array, the compensation circuit including a table to store compensation values, and drive circuits coupled to the table to receive the compensation values and generate drive signals for the dissipation elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser transmitter of claim 1 as used in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communications system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser transmitter of claim 1 wherein the lasers are capable of being selected or deselected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser transmitter of claim 1 wherein the dissipation elements are non-lasing diodes.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for maintaining an operating characteristic of lasers within a laser array comprising: determining an operating state of each laser in the laser array; selecting compensation values from a table corresponding to the determined operating state of the laser array; generating drive signals in accordance with the compensation values; and providing the drive signals to selective ones of dissipation elements within the laser array.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for maintaining an operating characteristic of lasers within a laser array comprising: determining an operating state of each laser in the laser array; selecting compensation values from a table corresponding to the determined operating state of the laser array; generating drive signals in accordance with the compensation values; and providing the drive signals to selective ones of dissipation elements within the laser array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the operating state of each laser includes a selected state and a deselected state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the drive signals maintain laser junction temperatures of selected lasers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the drive signals maintain operating wavelengths of selected lasers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the drive signals maintain operating wavelengths of selected lasers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the drive signals reduce changes in wavelength of selected lasers due to changes in temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 , as used to improve a wavelength related yield of the laser array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 , as used to reduce thermal crosstalk to a predetermined level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 as used in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communications system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: determining operating wavelengths of the lasers under normal operating conditions; computing wavelength errors based on the determined operating wavelengths and specified wavelengths; and determining adjusted compensation values that reduce the wavelength errors; wherein the generating drive signals is performed in accordance with the adjusted compensation values.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the wavelength determining, error computing, and adjusted compensation value determining are performed periodically.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for adjusting operating wavelengths of lasers within a laser array comprising: determining the operating wavelengths of the lasers under initial operating conditions; computing wavelength errors based on the determined operating wavelengths and specified wavelengths; determining temperture-to-wavelength coefficients of the lasers; determining thermal coupling coefficients of the dissipation elements to the lasers; calculating compensation values that reduce the wavelength errors based on the wavelength errors, the temperature-to-wavelength coefficients, and the thermal coupling coefficients; generating drive signals in accordance with the compensation values; and providing the drive signals to selective ones of dissipation elements within the laser array.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for adjusting operating wavelengths of lasers within a laser array comprising: determining the operating wavelengths of the lasers under initial operating conditions; computing wavelength errors based on the determined operating wavelengths and specified wavelengths; determining temperture-to-wavelength coefficients of the lasers; determining thermal coupling coefficients of the dissipation elements to the lasers; calculating compensation values that reduce the wavelength errors based on the wavelength errors, the temperature-to-wavelength coefficients, and the thermal coupling coefficients; generating drive signals in accordance with the compensation values; and providing the drive signals to selective ones of dissipation elements within the laser array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the wavelength determining comprises: measuring the operating wavelengths of the lasers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-21 | 2006-10-21 | 2007-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-10-21 | 2011-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-21 | 2014-10-21 | 2015-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |