Patent attributes
An apparatus comprises: a planar optical waveguide having sets of locking diffractive elements and means for routing optical signals; and corresponding lasers. Lasers launch signals into the planar waveguide that are successively incident on elements of the locking diffractive element sets, which route fractions of the signals back to the lasers as locking feedback signals. The routing means route between lasers and output port(s) portions of those fractions of signals transmitted by locking diffractive element sets. Locking diffractive element sets may be formed in channel waveguides formed in the planar waveguide, or in slab waveguide region(s) of the planar waveguide. Multiple routing means may comprise routing diffractive element sets formed in a slab waveguide region of the planar waveguide, or may comprise an arrayed waveguide grating formed in the planar waveguide. The apparatus may comprise a multiple-wavelength optical source.
