An optical sensing module suitable for wearable devices, the optical sensing module comprising: a silicon or silicon nitride transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC), the transmitter PIC comprising: a plurality of lasers, each laser of the plurality of lasers operating at a wavelength that is different from the wavelength of the others; an optical manipulation region, the optical manipulation region comprising one or more of: an optical modulator, optical multiplexer (MUX); and additional optical manipulation elements; and one or more optical outputs for light originating from the plurality of lasers.

An electro-absorption modulator (EAM) configured to receive light and output a modulated optical signal. The EAM may include a current source used to set a predetermined modulation performance and an output power of the EAM. The current source is set to provide a constant current and constant bias for the electro-absorption modulator, where the EAM automatically self-adjusts to detuning changes between the EAM and the optical light source to maintain a predetermined modulation performance and output power of the EAM.

Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatuses to utilize an electro-optic modulator including one or more heating elements. The modulator can utilize one or more heating elements to control an absorption or phase shift of the modulated optical signal. At least the active region of the modulator and the one or more heating elements of the modulator are included in a thermal isolation region comprising a low thermal conductivity to thermally isolate the active region and the one or more heating elements from a substrate of the PIC.

An optical modulator carrier assembly includes a optical modulator, a transmission line substrate, a first via, a second via and a wire having an inductor component provided on a second surface of the transmission line substrate, and electrically connecting between the another end of the first via and the another end of the second via. The one end of the first via, the cathode electrode pad, the terminating resistor, the one end of the second via are arranged on the in this order.

An optical semiconductor chip of the present disclosure includes a high frequency line between an electrode pad receiving a modulation signal and a modulation electrode on the optical waveguide having a light absorption layer. The depletion layer capacitance generated in the light absorption layer is canceled by an inductor component of the high frequency line. When a portion directly below the high frequency line is embedded with a low-dielectric-constant material or is made hollow, the parasitic capacitance is further reduced. The high frequency line may have a zigzag shape as well as a linear shape. The electrode pad on the optical semiconductor chip can be connected to other substrates including RF lines for modulation signal input by bumps or wire bonding.

A method of equalising optical losses, at a required operating wavelength, in waveguide sections in an optoelectronic device comprising a first semiconductor waveguide section and a second semiconductor waveguide section, the method comprising determining (1301) a first optical loss through the first waveguide section for a signal with the required operating wavelength, determining (1302) a second optical loss through the second waveguide section for the signal, determining (1303) a loss difference between the first optical loss and the second optical loss, determining (1304) a first bias voltage based on the loss difference and the operating wavelength, such that the loss difference is reduced, and applying (1305) the bias voltage to the first waveguide section.

An electroabsorption modulator incorporates waveguiding regions along the length of the modulator that include quantum wells where at least two of the regions have quantum wells with different bandgaps. In one embodiment of the invention, the regions are arranged such that the quantum wells have bandgaps with decreasing bandgap energy along the length of the modulator from the modulator's input to its output. The bandgap energy of the quantum wells may be decreased in discrete steps or continuously. Advantageously, such an arrangement better distributes the optical absorption as well as the carrier density along the length of the modulator. Further advantageously, the modulator may handle increased optical power as compared with prior art modulators of similar dimensions, which allows for improved link gain when the optical modulator is used in an analog optical communication link.

Ring modulators based on interdigitated junctions may be driven in full or partial standing wave mode and, active regions (providing the modulation) and light-absorptive regions (e.g. providing electrical conduction) are placed in a pattern inside a resonant cavity in order to match the maxima and minima of the optical field, respectively. The pattern may be periodic to match the periodicity of a typical electromagnetic field which is periodic with the wavelength. It may also be aperiodic in the case that the cross-section or materials are engineered along the direction of propagation such that the propagation constant (and thus wavelength, i.e. optical wave “local periodicity”) change along the propagation direction.

A device for guiding and absorbing electromagnetic radiation, the device including: absorbing means for absorbing the electromagnetic radiation; and a coupled to the absorbing means for guiding the electromagnetic radiation to the absorbing means, wherein the waveguide and the absorbing means are formed from a structure including a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer over the first cladding layer, and a quantum-well layer between the first and second cladding layers, the quantum-well layer being formed of a material having a different composition to the first and second cladding layers, wherein the thickness and the composition of the quantum-well layer is optimised to provide an acceptable level of absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the waveguide while providing an appropriate band gap for absorption of the electromagnetic radiation in the absorbing means.

An optical modulator of an optical transceiver can be calibrated using intermediate frequency (IF) signals to generate accurate crossing point values (e.g., DC bias). A photodiode can measure output from the optical modulator at intermediate and high-speed frequencies to generate crossing point values that avoid crossing point errors. A target crossing point can be selected at any value (e.g., 40%, 50%) and bias values can be generated from IF signals and then stored in a lookup date for setting the modulator bias during operation.