Optoelectronic devices and methods are used to maintain a CWDM transmitter
operating within design parameters over an extended ambient temperature
range. In order to avoid excessive wavelength drift with temperature
shifts, lasers in the CWDM transmitters are heated or cooled to a
selected temperature, for example by using a thermoelectric cooler. By
heating and cooling the lasers, any wavelength drift that an ambient
temperature variation might inflict on the laser is minimized to the
range hotter or colder than the selected temperature. As the temperature
range of the laser increases above the selected temperature, the AC swing
driving the laser is increased to maintain a sufficient extinction ratio
for acceptable transmitter performance.