Direct laser modulation

摘要

An apparatus includes an array of lasers, an array of electrical drivers, and optical filter. Each laser is configured to produce light in a corresponding wavelength-channel, wherein the wavelength-channels of different ones of the lasers are different. The electrical drivers are connected to directly modulate the lasers. Each driver produces a first driving current or voltage to cause a corresponding one of the lasers to be in a first lasing state and produces a different second driving current or voltage to cause the corresponding one of the lasers to be in a different second lasing state. The optical filter is connected to receive light output by the lasers. The optical filter selectively attenuates light from each of the lasers in the first lasing states thereof and to selectively pass light from each of the lasers in second lasing states thereof.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
an array of lasers, each of the lasers of the array being configured to produce light in a corresponding wavelength-channel, the wavelength-channels of different ones of the lasers being different; an array of electrical drivers connected to directly modulate the lasers, each driver being configured to adjust a pumping current in the lasers by producing a first driving current or voltage to cause a corresponding one of the lasers to be in a first lasing state and by producing a different second driving current or voltage to cause the corresponding one of the lasers to be in a different second lasing state; and an optical filter connected to receive light output by the lasers of the array; and wherein the optical filter is configured to selectively attenuate light from each of the lasers in the first lasing states thereof and to selectively pass light from the each of the lasers in the second lasing states thereof, and the wavelength-channels of the lasers have an average spacing, and the average wavelength-channel spacing is about equal to a positive integer multiple of a free spectral range of the optical filter.