Abstract: In the case in which independent driving voltages are applied to electrodes that are provided in waveguides #1 and #2 of a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator, light passing through the waveguide #1 and light passing through the waveguide #2 undergo the same amount of phase modulation of opposite signs (positive and negative) while a driving voltage E1 is applied. Similarly, the Mach-Zehnder optical modulator is configured so that when a driving voltage E2 is applied, phase modulation provided to the light passing through the waveguide #1 and phase modulation provided to the light passing through the waveguide #2 are offset after these lights are coupled. With this configuration, the amount of phase modulation provided by the Mach-Zehnder optical modulator is always kept at “0”, resulting in that chirping, which is defined as the differentiation of a phase modulation amount with respect to time, does not occur.

Abstract: A bi-stable micro-actuator is formed from a first and a second silicon-on-insulator wafer fused together at an electrical contact layer. A cover with a V-groove defines an optical axis. A collimated optical signal source in the V-groove couples an optical signal to an optical port in the V-groove. A mirror surface on a transfer member blocks or reflects the optical signal. The transfer member has a point of support at the first and second end. The mirror blocks or reflects the optical axis. An expandable structure applies a compressive force between the first and second point of support of the transfer member along a compressive axis to hold the transfer member in a bowed first state or a bowed second state. A control signal applied to a heating element in the expandable structure reduces the compressive force, switching the transfer member to a second state.

Abstract: The present invention provides an all-optical switching system and the method thereof. The system comprises: N 1×M splitters for receiving N sets of optical data I1, I2, . . . , IN−1, IN, wherein said N splitters individually split said N sets of optical data separately to form a N×M matrix of optical data, wherein N and M are integers; a N×M matrix switching structure for receiving the N×M matrix of optical data generated by the N splitters and another driving signal matrix to generate N×M matrix of optical data; and M N×1 combiners for receiving the N×M matrix of optical data from the N×M matrix switching structure to combine them into M sets of optical data O1, O2, . . . , OM−1, OM, respectively.