Abstract: In one embodiment, an electro-optical modulator includes a waveguide having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. A cavity is disposed in the waveguide. Multiple quantum wells are disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is interchangeable between a male connector and a female connector by including a pin retainer having a releasable retention device configured to lock the pins in place within the retainer. The retention device may be opened, for example, with a release tool, to free the retention pins for removal of the pins. A method for switching a connector between a male connector configuration and a female connector configuration may be possible as a result of the releasable retention configuration.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensor with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution is described. The optical fiber sensor includes a multicore fiber having cores configured to permit crosstalk between cores. Crosstalk corresponds to transfer of an optical signal from a core to another core and is used as a mechanism for sensing the external environment surrounding the multicore optical fiber. The degree of crosstalk depends on the relative refractive index profile of the cores and surrounding cladding, as well as on the spacing between cores. The external environment surrounding the multicore optical fiber and changes therein influence crosstalk between cores to permit sensing. The relative refractive index profiles of the cores are also configured to provide a group delay difference for optical signals propagating in different cores. The group delay difference facilitates the position of an external perturbation along the length of the multicore optical fiber.

Abstract: A guidewire including an optical fiber containing three fiber cores, each supporting a strain-sensing fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is described. The three FBGs are susceptible to changes in strain so that axial and lateral force vectors imparted to the FBGs can be ascertained. An optical connector detachably connects the guidewire optic fiber to a proximal optical fiber. The proximal optical fiber in turn is connected to a controller, which in addition to ascertaining the axial and lateral force vectors imparted to each of the FBGs, is programmed to calculate the spatial orientation of the guidewire as it is advanced through the vasculature. This capability is extremely useful for positioning the guidewire at a body site of interest prior to performing a medical procedure. A temperature-sensing FBG is used to compensate for changes in the ambient temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Abstract: The wavelength response of an arrayed waveguide grating can be tuned, in accordance with various embodiments, using a beam sweeper including one or more heaters to shift a lateral position of light focused by the beam sweeper at an interface of the beam sweeper with an input free propagation region of the arrayed waveguide grating.

Abstract: A cavity substrate may have a directional optoelectronic transmission channel. The cavity substrate includes a support frame, a first dielectric layer on a first surface of the support frame, and a second dielectric layer on a second surface of the support frame. The support frame, the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer constitute a closed cavity having an opening on one side in the length direction of the substrate, a first circuit layer is arranged on the inner surface of the first dielectric layer facing the cavity, an electrode connected with an optical communication device is arranged on the first circuit layer, the electrode is electrically conducted with the first circuit layer, a second circuit layer is arranged on the outer surfaces of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer are communicated through a via column.

Abstract: A light source unit generates an optical signal out of a bend-insensitive (“BI”) optical fiber that is compliant with a desired encircled flux (“EF”). The unit includes a light source to generate an optical light signal and a conventional multimode optical fiber coupled to receive the optical light signal from the light source at a first end. A modal conditioner is arranged to condition the optical light signal propagating along different modes of the conventional multimode fiber. A first bend-insensitive (BI) multimode optical fiber has an input end, the input end of the first BI multimode optical fiber being coupled at a second end of the conventional multimode optical fiber to receive the conditioned optical light signal from the conventional multimode fiber. The output from the first BI multimode optical fiber outputs an optical signal having the desired EF.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a directional photonic coupler (1) with independent tuning of the coupling factor and phase difference. The coupler comprises: two waveguides (4, 5), with respective propagation constants “?1, ?2”, on which phase shifters (6, 7) configured to modify the propagation coefficients are located. Both phase shifters are configured such that, by independent modification (differential or unique) of the propagation coefficients, the power coupling factor (K) between an input signal (2a or 2b) and the output signals (3b and 3a) is tuned, and by equal and simultaneous modification of the propagation coefficients, the common phase difference of the optical output signals (3 a, 3b) is tuned. A third phase shifter (15) can be used to retune the phase difference at the input/output of one of the waveguides. The coupler is of particular interest in PIC circuits, coupled resonators, Mach-Zehnder interferometers and mesh structures.

Abstract: In an optical fiber ferrule polishing holder 20 used for polishing an optical fiber ferrule 30 having a rectangular cross section, the optical fiber ferrule polishing holder 20 having: a body part 21 having an insertion hole 21A into which the optical fiber ferrule 30 can be inserted, the body part 21 being capable of abutting on the optical fiber ferrule 30 at a support wall 21A1 of the insertion hole 21A; and a fixing part 25 (29) having a pressing wall 25B (29B) for pressing the optical fiber ferrule 30 to the support wall 21A1 at a predetermined pressure, wherein the support wall 21A1 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical axis which is vertically extended from a polishing surface 13 of an optical fiber ferrule polishing machine 10, and the support wall 21A1 has a protrusion 21C toward the pressing wall 25B (29B).

Abstract: A plasma processing chamber optical temperature sensor is disclosed. The plasma processing chamber optical temperature sensor includes a light source, a light detector, and a means for transmitting light through a wall of a plasma processing chamber. An optical temperature sensing element is thermally coupled to a plasma processing chamber component within the plasma processing chamber. The optical temperature sensing element includes a monolithic crystalline phosphor element configured to be excited by light from the light source and to emit light back to the light detector indicative of a temperature of the monolithic crystalline phosphor element.

Abstract: Structures including an optical component and methods of forming a structure including an optical component. The structure includes an optical component on a substrate, and a back-end-of-line stack including multiple metal levels. Each of the metal levels includes a dielectric layer and metal features positioned over the optical component as metal fill in the dielectric layer. The metal features in at least two of the metal levels are arranged to overlap such that the optical component is fully covered normal to the substrate.

Abstract: A shield cage assembly of the present disclosure comprises a metal shield shell and a heat dissipating module. The metal shield shell comprises a plurality of walls and an accommodating space defined by the plurality of walls, and the accommodating space has a front end port. The heat dissipating module is assembled to one of the walls of the metal shield shell, and the metal shield shell further includes side walls respectively positioned at two sides of the wall to which the heat dissipating module is assembled. The heat dissipating module further includes a frame and a first heat dissipating member, the frame having a frame body formed at a central portion of the frame to receive the first heat dissipating member and two side plates which extend from two side edges of the frame and which are parallel to the side walls.

Abstract: A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) security component for single-party and multi-party monitoring is provided. The security component includes an optical fiber having a plurality of Bragg gratings. The Bragg gratings provide a spectral response that is randomized based on the manufacture of the security component. For single-party use, the spectral response provides a reproducible spectral signature when interrogated with an optical signal. For multi-party use, each party applies a known optical interrogation signal to the security component and applies an external stress known only to the respective monitoring party. The resulting shift in the spectral signature is unique to each monitoring party, making it extremely difficult to successfully counterfeit the security component's response for all such parties.

Abstract: A photoacoustic apparatus, comprising: at least one optical amplifier, configured to produce light; at least one photonic integrated circuit, configured as a tunable light filter; light guiding means, wherein the at least one optical amplifier, at least one photonic integrated circuit and light guiding means are configured as an optical cavity to produce laser light having an optical path within the optical cavity; and at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect sound produced by analyte introduced into the optical path of the laser light.

Abstract: Optical switch trees are commonly used to route light from one input channel to multiple possible output channels one at a time. As the number of output channels increases, the number of wire-bonding pads increases and the drive electronics becomes more complicated. The optical switch tree comprises an array of optical switches arranged in a plurality of rows of optical switches, each connected by a row bus, which are connected to a first multiplexer and a common power source; and a plurality of columns of optical switches, each connected by a column bus, which are connected to a second multiplexer and a common ground. A control processor selects one of the plurality of columns of optical switches to connect to the common ground, and selects one of the plurality of rows of optical switches to connect to the common power source, thereby selecting a single optical switch in the array of optical switches to activate.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated electro-optical phase modulator, a Mach-Zehnder modulator including one or more of the phase modulators, and method for fabricating the phase modulator by III-V-on-silicon semiconductor processing are provided. The phase modulator includes a silicon-based n-type substrate base layer, and a III-V n-type ridge waveguide for propagating light, wherein the ridge waveguide protrudes from and extends along the n-type substrate base layer. Further, the phase modulator includes one or more insulating layers provided on the ridge waveguide, wherein the one or more insulating layers have together a thickness of 1-100 nm, and a silicon-based p-type top cover layer provided on the one or more insulating layers at least above the ridge waveguide.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electro-optic modulator. The electro-optic modulator includes a lower clad layer disposed on a substrate, an optical waveguide disposed on the lower clad layer, traveling-wave electrodes respectively disposed on both sides of the optical waveguide and each having a first distance to the optical waveguide, and ferroelectric blocks disposed between the traveling-wave electrodes and the lower clad layer and each having a second distance to the optical waveguide, which is less than the first distance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic structure and associated method. The structure includes a closed-curve waveguide having a first height, as measured from the top surface of an insulator layer, and an outer curved sidewall that extends essentially vertically the full first height (e.g., to minimize signal loss). The structure includes a closed-curve thermal coupler and a heating element. The closed-curve thermal coupler is thermally coupled to and laterally surrounded by the closed-curve waveguide and has a second height that is less than the first height. In some embodiments, the closed-curve waveguide and the closed-curve thermal coupler are continuous portions of the same semiconductor layer having different thicknesses. The heating element is thermally coupled to the closed-curve thermal coupler and thereby indirectly thermally coupled to the closed-curve waveguide.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer including (i) a first optical waveguide including a first semiconductor junction diode, and (ii) a second optical waveguide including a second semiconductor junction diode. A semiconductor region connects the first and second semiconductor junction diodes such that a distance between the first and second optical waveguides is less than 2.0 ?m for at least a portion of a longitudinal direction of the optical modulator. In another aspect, a method of modulating an optical signal includes splitting input light into first and second optical transmission paths; modulating a phase difference between light in the first optical transmission path and light in the second optical transmission path without applying a bias voltage through an impedance less than 100 ohm between the first and second optical transmission paths; and combining light that is output from the first and second optical transmission paths.