Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder modulator for modulating optical signals, and comprising: a plurality of modulating waveguide sections; at least one bias electrode in electrical communication with at least one modulating waveguide section and configured to apply at least one electrical bias signal to one or more of the modulating waveguide sections; and an output optical combiner comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein the plurality of inputs of the combiner are in optical communication with output sides of the plurality of modulating waveguide sections, and wherein a plurality of the outputs of the combiner are monitor outputs.

Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder modulator for modulating optical signals, and comprising: a plurality of modulating waveguide sections; at least one bias electrode in electrical communication with at least one modulating waveguide section and configured to apply at least one electrical bias signal to one or more of the modulating waveguide sections; and an output optical combiner comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein the plurality of inputs of the combiner are in optical communication with output sides of the plurality of modulating waveguide sections, and wherein a plurality of the outputs of the combiner are monitor outputs.

Abstract: Techniques, devices and systems based on optical receivers with controllable transfer function bandwidth and gain imbalance.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for receiving and processing an optical signal. In one implementation, an optical receiver is provided to include a delay line interferometer, an etalon, and a data estimator for estimating the data carried on a differentially modulated optical input signal. The delay line interferometer receives the input signal and issues differentially decoded constructive and destructive signals. The etalon filters the constructive signal with a transmission stopband imposed over the passband of the constructive signal. The bandwidth of the etalon stopband is selected based on the bandwidth of the modulation of the input signal in order to maximize received signal quality. The data estimator uses a difference between signals derived from the filtered constructive signal and the destructive signal for estimating data.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: Techniques, devices and systems based on optical receivers with controllable transfer function bandwidth and gain imbalance.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for receiving and processing an optical signal. In one implementation, an optical receiver is provided to include a delay line interferometer, an etalon, and a data estimator for estimating the data carried on a differentially modulated optical input signal. The delay line interferometer receives the input signal and issues differentially decoded constructive and destructive signals. The etalon filters the constructive signal with a transmission stopband imposed over the passband of the constructive signal. The bandwidth of the etalon stopband is selected based on the bandwidth of the modulation of the input signal in order to maximize received signal quality. The data estimator uses a difference between signals derived from the filtered constructive signal and the destructive signal for estimating data.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an optical signal to a surface and collecting the light leaving the surface in response to the application of the optical signal. The optical signal and the collected light traverse an optical fiber having an end proximate to the surface which delivers light to the surface with the aid of a lens that couples the optical signal to the surface, collects the light emitted by the surface, and couples collected light into the optical fiber. A detector measures the intensity of light delivered into the optical fiber and generates a detection signal indicative of the measured intensity as a function of time. A set of actuators dither the position of the lens relative to the proximate end of the fiber. Each actuator operates at a different dither frequency and moves the lens relative to fiber along a different axis.

Abstract: A display that includes an array of reflective pixels, a linear light source; and a reflector. The reflector includes a cylindrical surface, the axis of the cylindrical surface being parallel to the linear light source. The linear light source is positioned relative to the reflector such that light from the linear light source is reflected by the reflector onto the array of reflective pixels. The reflector is constructed from a material that is partially reflecting. The linear light source preferably includes a plurality of light emitting diodes and an optical diffuser. In a color display, the light emitting diodes include diodes having different emission spectra. In one embodiment of the invention, the reflector is constructed from a material that reflects light of a first linear polarization while transmitting light having a linear polarization orthogonal to the first linear polarization.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an optical signal to a surface and collecting the light leaving the surface in response to the application of the optical signal. The optical signal and the collected light traverse an optical fiber having an end proximate to the surface which delivers light to the surface with the aid of a lens that couples the optical signal to the surface, collects the light emitted by the surface, and couples collected light into the optical fiber. A detector measures the intensity of light delivered into the optical fiber and generates a detection signal indicative of the measured intensity as a function of time. A set of actuators dither the position of the lens relative to the proximate end of the fiber. Each actuator operates at a different dither frequency and moves the lens relative to fiber along a different axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an optical signal to a surface and collecting the light leaving the surface in response to the application of the optical signal. The optical signal and the collected light traverse an optical fiber having an end proximate to the surface which delivers light to the surface with the aid of a lens that couples the optical signal to the surface, collects the light emitted by the surface, and couples collected light into the optical fiber. A detector measures the intensity of light delivered into the optical fiber and generates a detection signal indicative of the measured intensity as a function of time. A set of actuators dither the position of the lens relative to the proximate end of the fiber. Each actuator operates at a different dither frequency and moves the lens relative to fiber along a different axis.

Abstract: An articulated nose bridge for a head mounted display for adjusting the height, tilt, and distance of the display on the wearer's face. The articulated nose bridge including a nose piece configured to rest on a wearer's nose, a bridge piece located between a left eye display and a right eye display of the head mounted display, and an articulator. The articulator includes a nose end coupled to the nose piece, and a bridge end pivotally coupled to the bridge piece and allowing a viewing angle of the left eye display and the right eye display to be adjusted by the wearer. The articulated nose bridge may additionally include a locking mechanism having a locked position that prevents the bridge end of the articulator from pivoting and a free position that allows the bridge end of the articulator to pivot. The locking mechanism may include a spring or tensioner that automatically returns the locking mechanism to the locked position after the wearer has moved the locking mechanism into the free position.

Abstract: An optical system for reflecting light from a display screen into an aperture which is typically the pupil of a person wearing a head-mounted display system in which the display screen is mounted to the side of the viewer's eye. The optical system includes a turning optical assembly having a plurality of planar facets disposed on a curved surface opposite to the aperture, the planes of the facets being parallel to one another. Light from the display entering an input port impinges on the facets such that the light is reflected by the facets into the aperture. The curved surface has a curvature chosen such that the fill factor for each of the facets is substantially the same as that for the others of the facets. In one embodiment of the present invention, the curved surface is a cylinder having a hyperbolic cross-section.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the thickness of a film on a production line or the like. The apparatus includes a moveable member in contact with the film. The moveable member rotates about a fixed member and includes a transparent region. The apparatus also includes an optical probe attached to the fixed member. The optical probe has an optical fiber for coupling a light signal to the film through the transparent region of the moveable member and for returning light reflected from the film to a receiver for determining the thickness of the film. The optical probe may also include a lens assembly for imaging the light signal onto the film and imaging the reflected light signals back into the optical probe. The optical probe may also include a partially reflecting reference reflector for simplifying the analysis of multi-layer films.