US Patent 9116313 Silicon photonics structures with pluggable light sources

A pluggable light source device connects in a plug-in engaging manner with an optical modulating device that includes an optical modulator component. The pluggable light source includes a light generator to generate an optical signal to be output from the light source device, and a connection member disposed at a connecting end of the light source device. The connection member includes an optical connector, where the optical connector of the light source device is configured to engage with a corresponding optical connector of the optical modulating device when the connecting end of the light source device is connected via a plug-in engagement with a connection member of the optical modulating device so as to facilitate input of optical signals from the light generator to the optical modulator component.