Abstract: Optical coherent receiver arrays are described. The optical coherent receiver arrays include an integrated array of photodetectors separated by integrated mirrors which may cause interference of received free space optical and local oscillator signals. The mirrors may serve as splitters, helping to align the received signal and local oscillator to cause interference. The photodetectors of the optical coherent receiver array may be electrically coupled in various manners to read out the signals. The optical coherent receiver array may be implemented in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system in some embodiments.

Abstract: Designs, methods, and applications for fault localization and fiber security in optical transponders is described. In one embodiment a two-way time transfer protocol or other suitable method for synchronizing clocks between distant transponders is used. The clock synchronized transponders have digital signal processing to continually detect high precision time-histories of physical layer attributes in the transmission between the two transponders. Physical layer attributes can include: state-of-polarization changes, changes in polarization-mode-dispersion, change in propagation delay, changes or loss-of-light, changes in OSNR, changes in BER between the two nodes. By recording these physical layer changes and time-stamping them information on the magnitude and estimated location of the changes can be inferred by from the time records. In one aspect the method may be used in a distributed optical sensor for monitoring trespassing events that are a risk to fiber security of an optical transmission link.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus enabled to selectively choose a baud rate for communication of optical data using a modem enabled to operate with an optical signal modulated at plurality of finely tuned baud rates.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for calculating coefficients for inputs and corresponding output sequences for a pulse-position modulation encoder using a stored structure; wherein the structure is a subset of the values of Pascal's Triangle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a silicon photonics chip and a rare-earth-ion-doped waveguide amplifier chip, wherein the rare-earth ion-doped waveguide amplifier is proximate to and optically coupled to the silicon photonics chip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving an optical push-pull Mach-Zehnder modulator.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplifier having a 3 dB coupler is described for use in providing an amplified optical data signal to a photonic chip. The semiconductor optical amplifier includes an amplifier die having a signal coupling facet, waveguides terminating at the signal coupling facet, a 3 dB coupler, and a reflector. The 3 dB coupler is optically coupled between the signal coupling facet and the reflector.

Abstract: Optical transceivers comprising optical loopback circuits are described. The optical transceiver may comprise a housing, which may host a transmitter, a receiver and the optical loopback circuit. The optical loopback circuit may be configured to route at least a portion of a modulated optical signal from the transmitter to the receiver. The optical loopback circuit may comprise tap couplers and/or optical switches. The optical transceiver may be switched between a normal mode and a calibration mode. The optical transceiver may maintain the same fiber connections even when the optical transceiver is switched from one mode to another. The transmitter, the receiver and the optical loopback circuit may be disposed on a common substrate, or on separate substrates.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for increasing connectivity of a circuit board comprising a connector, wherein the connector has a horizontal body and a hollow cylindrical portion extruding vertically from the body; wherein the cylindrical portion is made up of a set of pieces; wherein at least a piece of the set of pieces is arranged to expand horizontally, upon insertion of a phalanx head in a vertical manner. A method to increase current connectivity comprising screwing a fastener into threads of a connector through a hollow cylindrical portion of the connector; wherein the hollow cylindrical portion of the connector is made up of a set of pieces; wherein the screwing causes a phalanx head to contact the cylindrical portion expanding at least one piece of the set of pieces in a horizontal manner in relation to the fastener.

Abstract: Techniques for performing forward error correction of data to be transmitted over an optical communications channel. The techniques include: receiving data bits; organizing the data hits into an arrangement having a plurality of blocks organized into rows and columns and into a plurality of strands including a first strand of blocks that includes a back portion comprising a first row of the plurality of blocks, and a front portion comprising blocks from at least two different columns in at least two different rows other than the first row of blocks; and encoding at least some of the data bits in the arrangement using a first error correcting code at least in part by generating first parity bits by applying the first error correcting code to first data bits in the front portion of the first strands and second data bits in the back portion of the first strand.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a deinterleaver.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for interleaving data including creating a buffer, writing input data, and reading output data out of the buffer.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for transmitting information over an coherent optical link comprising enabling synchronous and asynchronous data sources to be mapped together into a single payload using a generic mapping system which performs decoupling of a clock from each data source, and mapping data from each data source into a tributary of an oFrame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, structures, and devices for wafer scale testing of photonic integrated circuits.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, method and apparatus for encoding a first spectral efficiency into a second spectral efficiency; wherein the second spectral efficiency has a higher order than the first spectral efficiency. In a second embodiment, a method and apparatus for achieving at least two spectral efficiencies using a single type of modulation.

Abstract: Photonic integrated circuits including controllable cantilevers are described. Such photonic integrated circuits may be used in connection with other optical devices, in which light is transferred between the photonic integrated circuit and one of these optical device. The photonic integrated circuit may comprise an optical waveguide having an end disposed proximate to a facet of the cantilever. The orientation of the cantilever may be actively controlled in one or two dimensions, thus adjusting the orientation of the optical waveguide. Actuation of the cantilever may be performed, for example, thermally and/or electrostatically. Orientation of the cantilever may be performed in such a way to align the optical waveguide with an optical device.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for emulating impairments in a communication system.

Abstract: Structures and methods for passively aligning a photonic die with a receiving substrate are described. Three alignment surfaces, having dimensions greater than a desired alignment accuracy, may be formed on the photonic die and used to passively and accurately align the photonic die to a receiving substrate in six degrees of freedom. Two of the three alignment surfaces on the photonic die may be formed in a single mask-and-etch process, while the third alignment surface may require no patterning or etching. Three complementary alignment surfaces on the receiving substrate may be formed in a single mask-and-etch process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques, methods, structures and apparatus that provide a silicon photonics multicarrier optical transceiver wherein both the transmitter and receiver are integrated on a single silicon chip and which generates a plurality of carriers through the effect of an on-chip modulator, amplifies the optical power of the carriers through the effect of an off-chip amplifier, and generates M orthogonal sets of carriers through the effect of an on-chip basis former.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for interleaving data including creating a buffer, writing input data, and reading output data out of the buffer.