Improved dither detection, measurement, and voltage bias adjustments for an electro-optical modulator are described. The electro-optical modulator generally includes RF electrodes and phase heaters interfaced with semi-conductor waveguides on the arms of Mach-Zehnder interferometers, where a processor is connected to output a bias tuning voltage to the electro-optical modulator for controlling optical modulation. A variable gain amplifier (VGA) can be configured with AC coupling connected to receive a signal from a transimpediance amplifier (TIA) that is configured to amply a photodetector signal from an optical tap that is used to measure an optical signal with a dither signal. The analog to digital converter (ADC) can be connected to receive output from the VGA. The processor can be connected to receive the signal from the ADC and to output the bias tuning voltage based on evaluation of the signal from the tap.

An optical transmitter includes: a modulator, square law detector, and a processor. The modulator generates an optical signal indicating transmission data. The square law detector detects an intensity of the optical signal using a photodetector and output first intensity data indicating the detected intensity. The processor calculates, based on the transmission data, an electric field of the optical signal generated by the modulator by using parameters pertaining to a state of the modulator. The processor calculates second intensity data indicating the intensity of the optical signal based on the calculated electric field. The processor updates the parameters so as to reduce a difference between the first intensity data and the second intensity data. The processor controls the state of the modulator based on the parameters.

Eyeglasses may include one or more lenses and control circuitry that adjusts an optical power of the lenses. The control circuitry may be configured to determine a user's prescription and accommodation range during a vision characterization process. The vision characterization process may include adjusting the optical power of the lens until the user indicates that an object viewed through the lens is in focus. A distance sensor may measure the distance to the in-focus object. The control circuitry may calculate the user's prescription based on the optical power of the lens and the distance to the in-focus object. The control circuitry may adjust the optical power automatically or in response to user input. The object viewed through the lens may be an electronic device. The user may control the optical power of the lens and/or indicate when objects are in focus by providing input to the electronic device.

Provided is a first bias power source that generates a first data bias voltage to be applied to an optical modulation unit for the I component, a second bias power source that generates a second data bias voltage to be applied to an optical modulation unit for the Q component, and a third bias power source that generates a quadrature bias voltage to be applied to an optical phase shifter, a data bias voltage adjustment unit that applies a feedback control to each of the first bias power source and the second bias power source, and a quadrature bias voltage adjustment unit that determines whether or not the quadrature bias voltage is optimal on a basis of a second optical QAM signal generated by an IQ optical modulator, and applies a feedback control to the third bias power source, in which a first optical QAM signal and the second optical QAM signal are generated by the IQ optical modulator but the optical phase difference between an optical electric field EI and an optical electric field EQ differs by π.

A light source unit (1000) of the present disclosure includes a light source part (100), a first electrical signal generating device (40-1) configured to control current that drives an optical semiconductor device (30), an optical modulator (200) having a Mach-Zehnder type optical waveguide (10) and an electrode configured to apply an electric field to the optical waveguide (10), and a second electrical signal generating device (40-2) configured to control a voltage that operates the optical modulator (200), the first electrical signal generating device (40-1) and the second electrical signal generating device (40-2) are synchronizably connected to each other, and intensity of light emitted from the optical modulator (200) is changed by the current controlled by the first electrical signal generating device (40-1) and the voltage controlled by the second electrical signal generating device (40-2).

Integrated wavelength selectors are described. The wavelength selector may include silicon nitride ring resonator disposed vertically between a heater and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be formed of silicon in some embodiments. The wavelength selector may be coupled to the output port of a tunable laser, or may be disposed within a laser cavity.

The optical modulator includes an optical modulation element having a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, a first electrode which applies an electric field to the first optical waveguide, and a second electrode which applies an electric field to the second optical waveguide, and a control unit configured to control an applied voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. When a half-wave voltage of the optical modulation element is Vπ and a null point voltage of the optical modulation element is Vn, the control unit sets an operating point Vd in a range of Vn+0.50Vπ≤Vd≤Vn+0.75Vπ or Vn−0.75Vπ≤Vd≤Vn−0.50Vπ and sets an applied voltage width Vpp, which is an amplitude of an applied voltage applied to the optical modulation element, in a range of 0.22Vπ≤Vpp≤0.50Vπ.

A technology is described for a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) radio frequency (RF) oscillator. The PIC RF oscillator can comprise an optical gain media coupled to a first mirror and configured to be coupled to the PIC. The PIC can comprise a first optical cavity located within the PIC, a tunable mirror to form a first optical path between the first mirror in the gain media and the first tunable mirror, and a frequency tunable intra-cavity dual tone resonator positioned within the first optical cavity to constrain the first optical cavity having a common optical path to produce tow primary laser tones with a tunable frequency spacing. A photo detector is optically coupled to the PIC and configured to mix the two primary laser tones to form an RF output signal with a frequency selected by the tunable frequency spacing of the two primary tones.

Improved dither detection, measurement, and voltage bias adjustments for an electro-optical modulator are described. The electro-optical modulator generally includes RF electrodes and phase heaters interfaced with semi-conductor waveguides on the arms of Mach-Zehnder interferometers, where a processor is connected to output a bias tuning voltage to the electro-optical modulator for controlling optical modulation. A variable gain amplifier (VGA) can be configured with AC coupling connected to receive a signal from a transimpediance amplifier (TIA) that is configured to amply a photodetector signal from an optical tap that is used to measure an optical signal with a dither signal. The analog to digital converter (ADC) can be connected to receive output from the VGA. The processor can be connected to receive the signal from the ADC and to output the bias tuning voltage based on evaluation of the signal from the tap.

Optical read-out of a cryogenic device (such as a superconducting logic or detector element) can be performed with a forward-biased optical modulator that is directly coupled to the cryogenic device without any intervening electrical amplifier. Forward-biasing at cryogenic temperatures enables very high modulation efficiency (1,000-10,000 pm/V) of the optical modulator, and allows for optical modulation with millivolt driving signals and microwatt power dissipation in the cryogenic environment. Modulated optical signals can be coupled out of the cryostat via an optical fiber, reducing the thermal load on the cryostat. Using optical fiber instead of electrical wires can increase the communication bandwidth between the cryogenic environment and room-temperature environment to bandwidth densities as high as Tbps/mm.sup.2 using wavelength division multiplexing. Sensitive optical signals having higher robustness to noise and crosstalk, because of their immunity to electromagnetic interference, can be carried by the optical fiber.