An optical network component, system, and method are herein described. The system and method include introducing an AM tone and data to an optical modulator generating a modulated optical signal, measuring an amplitude response of the AM tone within the modulated optical signal, calculating a frequency response based on the amplitude response, and calibrating the optical modulator with the frequency response.

A smart light source configured for visible light communication. The light source includes a controller comprising a modem configured to receive a data signal and generate a driving current and a modulation signal based on the data signal. Additionally, the light source includes a light emitter configured as a pump-light device to receive the driving current for producing a directional electromagnetic radiation with a first peak wavelength in the ultra-violet or blue wavelength regime modulated to carry the data signal using the modulation signal. Further, the light source includes a pathway configured to direct the directional electromagnetic radiation and a wavelength converter optically coupled to the pathway to receive the directional electromagnetic radiation and to output a white-color spectrum. Furthermore, the light source includes a beam shaper configured to direct the white-color spectrum for illuminating a target of interest and transmitting the data signal.

The present invention is directed to communication systems and methods. In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides an optical receiver that receives a data stream from an optical transmitter. The optical receiver determines a histogram contour parameter using the data stream and inserts the histogram contour parameter into a back-channel data segment, which is then transmitted to the optical transmitter. The optical transmitter changes its data transmission setting based on the histogram contour parameter. There are other embodiments as well.

Methods, circuits, and techniques for reflection cancellation. Laser output is tapped. A tapped portion of the laser output is phase shifted to generate a feedback signal, with the feedback signal being out-of-phase with a parasitic reflection of the laser output. The feedback signal is directed towards the laser such that the parasitic reflection and feedback signal are superpositioned before entering the laser. A magnitude and a phase of the feedback signal are such that superposition of the feedback signal and the parasitic reflection results in a resulting signal of lower magnitude than the parasitic reflection alone. During laser operation, a magnitude of the resulting signal is monitored and, as the parasitic reflection varies, the magnitude of the resulting signal is adjusted by adjusting at least one of the magnitude and the phase of the feedback signal in response to the monitoring of the resulting signal.

An apparatus includes a laser, an optical power combiner, and an electronic controller. The laser has a plurality of modulatable optical reflectors and is operable to emit mutually coherent optical beams from the modulatable optical reflectors. The optical power combiner has a first optical inputs connected to receive light of one of the optical beams emitted from a first of the modulatable optical reflectors and has a second optical input connected to receive light of one of the optical beams emitted from a second of the modulatable optical reflectors. The electronic controller is connected to operate the first and second of the modulatable optical reflectors to modulate the optical beams emitted therefrom to carry respective first and second data streams. The optical power combiner is connected to interfere the light received from the first and second of the modulatable optical reflectors with a relative phase difference.

A short-waveband active optical component based on a vertical emitting laser and a multi-mode optical fiber (3) is provided. In the component, multiple VCSELs (11) are configured to be used for generating multiple optical signals of different wavelengths; multiple photodiodes (15) are configured to be used for receiving the optical signals emitted by the VCSELs (11); two focusing lens arrays (12, 22) or lens array group elements are configured to be used for collimating and focusing optical signals at an emitting end (1) and a receiving end (2); two Z-block-shaped prisms (13, 23) are configured to be used for a light combining function of the emitting end (1) of the optical component and a light splitting function of the receiving end (2); one multi-mode optical fiber (3) is configured to be used for transmitting the optical signals generated by the VCSELs (11); and two focusing lenses (14, 24) are configured to be used for collimating and focusing optical signals at two ends of the multi-mode optical fiber (3). The short-waveband active optical component has a small size and a high transmission rate.

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to send a stimulus signal at a frequency that corresponds to a first frequency value to a tributary channel of a coherent optical transponder. The processor is configured to adjust an amplitude of the stimulus signal and receive a first plurality of output optical power values. The processor is configured to adjust the frequency of the stimulus signal and receive a second plurality of output optical power values. The processor is configured to determine a bandwidth limitation and a modulation nonlinearity, and then send a first signal to a first filter to reduce the bandwidth limitation and a second signal to a second filter to reduce the modulation nonlinearity.

An aspect of the disclosure provides an optical device including a microring resonator (MRR).

A smart light source configured for visible light communication. The light source includes a controller comprising a modem configured to receive a data signal and generate a driving current and a modulation signal based on the data signal. Additionally, the light source includes a light emitter configured as a pump-light device to receive the driving current for producing a directional electromagnetic radiation with a first peak wavelength in the ultra-violet or blue wavelength regime modulated to carry the data signal using the modulation signal. Further, the light source includes a pathway configured to direct the directional electromagnetic radiation and a wavelength converter optically coupled to the pathway to receive the directional electromagnetic radiation and to output a white-color spectrum. Furthermore, the light source includes a beam shaper configured to direct the white-color spectrum for illuminating a target of interest and transmitting the data signal.

An aspect of the disclosure provides an optical device including a microring resonator (MRR).