Abstract: An optical system comprising two or more optical switches co-packaged together comprising discrete sets of input fiber ports (N per set) and an output fiber port (1 per set), and wherein ?n from said set of multiple input fiber ports (N) is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics, wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the first set of input fiber ports (N) to an output fiber port of the same set, and wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics is utilized to select individual wavelengths or spectral components from its input fiber ports to send to its output fiber port for optical power or other monitoring purposes, thus, enabling an N×1, or alternatively a 1×N switch capable of internal feedback monitoring.

Abstract: An optical comprising two or more mixed optical switches co-packaged together comprising discrete sets of fiber ports, each configured as N×1 optical switch or 1×N optical switch, wherein ?n from said input fiber ports is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics elements, wherein beam steering elements steers ?n from any point in the optical path to any other point; and discrete arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors in a shared array, wherein first array of mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from input fiber ports to output fiber port of the same set, wherein second array of mirrors using and sharing the same shared optics is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths between input and output ports belonging to another set; and wherein output fiber ports from one set can be coupled to input ports of other sets.

Abstract: A fiber optic switch utilizing a segmented prism element, comprising a fiber optic switch used in multi-channel optical communications networks and having one or more arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors, wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select & switch wavelengths from a number of input fiber ports (N) to an output fiber port, wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to produce yet another fiber optic switch, wherein the second switch is utilized to select individual wavelengths or spectral components from its input fiber ports to send to its output fiber port for optical power or other monitoring purposes, thus, enabling a cost effective, high level of integration N×1 or alternatively a 1×N switch capable of internal feedback monitoring.

Abstract: An optical system comprising two or more optical switches co-packaged together comprising discrete sets of input fiber ports (N per set) and an output fiber port (1 per set), wherein ?n from said set of multiple input fiber ports (N) is focused on ?n mirrors via the use of shared free space optics, wherein said beam steering elements steers ?n from any point in the optical path to any other point; and discrete arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors in a shared array, wherein a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the first set of input fiber ports (N) to an output fiber port of the same set, and wherein a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to produce yet another fiber optic switch.

Abstract: An optical system comprising two or more optical switches co-packaged together comprising discrete sets of input fiber ports (N per set) and an output fiber port (1 per set), and wherein ?n from said set of multiple input fiber ports (N) is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics, wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the first set of input fiber ports (N) to an output fiber port of the same set, and wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics is utilized to select individual wavelengths or spectral components from its input fiber ports to send to its output fiber port for optical power or other monitoring purposes, thus, enabling an N×1, or alternatively a 1×N switch capable of internal feedback monitoring.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a combination optical switch and monitoring system based on an array of mirrors, and a moveable reflective element co-packaged together, including discrete sets of fiber ports wherein ?n from input fiber ports is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics; such as shared beam steering elements, dispersive elements, and optical elements, and discrete arrays of MEMS mirrors utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the input fiber port(s) to an output fiber port(s) of the optical switch, and wherein a moveable reflective element sharing the same free space optics is utilized to sweep across and reflect selected portions of the optical spectrum back to a photodetector. By correlating reflective element position with power measured, a processor can obtain a spectral plot of the wavelength band of interest, as well as calculate parameters such as center wavelength, passband shape, and OSNR.

Abstract: A high port count instantiated wavelength selective switch comprising two or more discrete sets, or instances, of m fiber ports totaling N fiber ports co-packaged together, one or more shared optical elements and dispersive elements, and one or more steering elements in each instance. The steering elements steer ?(k) from each instance of m input fiber ports to a ?(k) mirror dedicated to that fiber port instance, and wherein ?(k) mirror of the instance of m fiber ports is utilized to select and switch one ?(k) from the instance of m fiber ports to a fixed mirror which in turn reflects ?(k) to the ?(k) output mirror. The ?(k) output mirror selects and switches one ?(k) from one of the one or more instances of m fiber ports of the N×1 optical switch to the 1 output fiber port for each wavelength, and vice-versa for the 1×N optical switch.

Abstract: A reduced polarization-dependent loss optical device utilizing two or more dispersive elements or a single dispersive element and a turning mirror, wherein the optical signal makes two passes through said single dispersive element when reflected from said turning mirror, and wherein the two or more dispersive elements or double pass single dispersive element has lower dispersion compared to a functionally equivalent single dispersive element, resulting in lower polarization dependent loss, reduced chromatic dispersion and increased wavelength dispersion. Moreover, a wavelength selective switch incorporating the optical device utilizing aperture-shared optics and functionally distinct planes of operation that enables high fiber port counts, such as 1×41, and multiplicative expansion, such as to 1×83 or 1×145, by utilizing elements optimized for performance in one of the functionally distinct planes of operation without affecting the other plane.

Abstract: An optical system comprising two or more mixed optical switches co-packaged together, each set configured either with N input fiber ports and 1 output fiber port (N×1 optical switch) or with 1 input fiber port and N output fiber ports (1×N optical switch), wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the input fiber ports to an output fiber port of the same set, and wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths between input and output ports belonging to another set; and wherein output fiber ports from one set can be coupled to input ports of other sets, thus, enabling a cost effective, high level of integration one or more N×M co-packaged optical switching system.

Abstract: An optical system comprising two or more optical switches co-packaged together comprising discrete sets of input fiber ports (N per set) and an output fiber port (1 per set), and wherein ?n from said set of multiple input fiber ports (N) is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics, one or more discrete arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors in a shared array, wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the first set of input fiber ports to an output fiber port of the same set, and wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to produce another fiber optic switch, thus, enabling one or more N×1, or alternatively one or more 1×N co-packaged optical switching system.

Abstract: A fiber optic switch utilizing a segmented prism element, comprising a fiber optic switch used in multi-channel optical communications networks and having one or more arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors, wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select & switch wavelengths from a number of input fiber ports (N) to an output fiber port, wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to produce yet another fiber optic switch, wherein the second switch is utilized to select individual wavelengths or spectral components from its input fiber ports to send to its output fiber port for optical power or other monitoring purposes, thus, enabling a cost effective, high level of integration N×1 or alternatively a 1×N switch capable of internal feedback monitoring.

Abstract: The Stand-Off Fusion-terminated optical interface reduces optical reflections thereby increasing return losses that occur when an optical waveguide, including optical fibers, is interfaced to a bulk media of significantly differing refractive index. A small spacer material, or stand-off, is placed between the optical waveguide and the media. The stand-off is index-matched to the optical waveguide thereby eliminating reflections from this interface. The length of the stand-off is chosen so the reflections from the stand-off/media interface are weakly coupled back to the optical waveguide due to diffraction and attenuation losses within the stand-off. The optical waveguide is then fused to the stand-off by focusing a time variable laser beam at the junction of the optical waveguide and the stand-off.

Abstract: The fiber optic switch includes a plurality of optical inputs and a plurality of optical outputs carried by a support. The switch also includes a first plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with a respective optical input, and a second plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with a respective optical output. Also, a plurality of reflector drivers directs selected pairs of the first and second plurality of rotatable reflectors to define respective paths between the optical inputs and the optical outputs. The free-space propagating optical beam that is transferred between each input and output is formed by a micro lens producing a substantially collimated beam and therefore minimizing optical performance penalties due to the relative path length differences between various routing paths.

Abstract: The Stand-Off Matched Index optical interface reduces optical reflections thereby increasing return losses that occur when an optical waveguide, including optical fiber, is interfaced to a bulk media of significantly differing refractive index. A small spacer material, or stand-off, is placed between the waveguide and the media. The stand-off is index-matched to the waveguide thereby eliminating reflections from this interface. The length of the stand-off is chosen so the reflections from the stand-off/media interface are weakly coupled back to the waveguide due to diffraction and attenuation losses within the stand-off. This invention can be used in most situations where an optical fiber must be interfaced to a material of significantly different refractive index and is applicable to both multi-mode and single-mode fibers. And, it is generally applicable to any focal plane in an optical system that coincides with a refractive index discontinuity which results in troublesome back reflections.