Abstract: A raised edge grill grate is provided that includes an outer edge dowel that extends near a perimeter of the grill grate, a plurality of rods extending generally horizontally and generally parallel to one another and intersecting the outer edge dowel of the grill grate, the plurality of rods positioned such that there is sufficient space between the plurality of rods to support food and cooking vessels over a heating element, at least one raised edge dowel that extends near the outer edge dowel of the grill grate and is positioned a distance above the outer edge dowel to capture the food and the cooking vessels on the grill grate, a plurality of posts that extend generally vertically from the outer edge dowel and fixedly connect the outer edge dowel to the at least one raised edge dowel and wherein the at least one raised edge dowel extends partially around the perimeter of the grill grate to create an opening.

Abstract: A portable grill assembly includes a grill grate, a fire tray, the fire tray including a plurality of holes, a plate configured to be secured to the fire tray, a gap created between the plate and the fire tray to enable a uniform flow of oxygen to pass through the gap on all sides of the fire tray into the holes and a grid pattern extending upward from the fire tray to elevate a fuel over the holes, and a support stake. The support stake includes at least one coupler to secure multiple sections of the support stake, the coupler includes a lip to prevent movement of sections of the support stake relative to the coupler. The support stake is configured to secure and position the fire tray a distance above the ground and to secure and position the grill grate a distance above the fire tray.

Abstract: A portable grill assembly includes a grill rack, a fire tray and a support stake. The support stake is configured to secure and position the fire tray a distance above the ground and the support stake is also configured to secure and position the grill rack a distance above the fire tray.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer is provided that includes a reconfigurable switching fabric with a number of inputs and outputs. In addition, the reconfigurable switching fabric employs VLSOAs that facilitate at least partial reconfiguration of the switching fabric by serving as switches to add, drop or pass-through one or more optical signals received at the inputs of the reconfigurable switching fabric. In some cases, one or more of the VLSOAs also serve to amplify one or more optical signals so as to compensate for losses that may be experienced by the signal in transit through the switching fabric, or elsewhere. Finally, this example of the optical multiplexer includes a wavelength division multiplexer coupled to the reconfigurable switching fabric and configured to multiplex at least some of the optical signals received from outputs of the reconfigurable switching fabric.

Abstract: An optical latch based on a lasing semiconductor optical amplifier is disclosed. The optical latch is configured to achieve one or more stable states in response to the input of predetermined signals at a “SET” input and a “RESET” input of the optical latch. The optical latch includes first and second LSOAs, each of which is configured to receive a pump input and generate an amplifier output. Each LSOA is also associated with a respective combiner and splitter. The combiner associated with each LSOA combines an input signal from the “SET” or “RESET” input, as applicable, with a signal received from the splitter of the other LSOA and the resulting combined signal is then input to the LSOA. Each splitter receives a ballast laser output from the associated LSOA, which is then split into two signals, namely, an input to the combiner of the other LSOA and an output signal.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with digital optical circuits, including an optical astable multivibrator. In one example, an optical astable multivibrator is provided that includes a lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (LSOA), such as a VLSOA for example. The LSOA is optically coupled to a time delay component and includes a pump input, amplifier input, amplifier output, and a ballast laser output. The time delay component includes an input that is optically coupled with the ballast laser output of the LSOA. The time delay component further includes an output that is optically coupled with the amplifier input of the LSOA. The output of the LSOA is a clock signal having a periodic square waveform whose frequency is determined by the time delay component.

Abstract: An intergrated optical device comprises a vertically lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (VLSOA) and an optical element integrated onto a common substrate. Example optical elements include waveguides, unguided transparent regions, and active optical devices (including additional VLSOAs). The integrated device may be fabricated using a number of different methods, including based on selective area epitaxy, impurity induced disordering, etch and fill and silicon optical bench.

Abstract: An improved optical transmitter comprises a vertically lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (VLSOA) coupled to an external modulator and/or a laser source. The VLSOA, external modulator and laser source are discrete devices or alternatively integrated onto a common substrate. The integrated optical transmitter may be fabricated using a number of different methods, including based on selective area epitaxy, impurity induced disordering, etch and fill and silicon optical bench.

Abstract: An optical crossbar switch is described that minimizes the number of electrical components and optimizes the conversion between optical and electrical signals. Utilizing various characteristics of lasing semiconductor optical amplifiers, the optical crossbar switch provides optical components in place of traditionally used electrical components. For example, an optical buffer is described that delays an optical signal a sufficient amount of time for a path to be created for the optical signal through the optical crossbar. Additionally, a monitor/detector circuit utilizes a ballast laser signal emitted from a lasing SOA during amplification of an optical signal in order to convert optical routing information to an electrical equivalent. As a result of the multiple uses of lasing semiconductor optical amplifiers, the bandwidth of the described optical crossbar switch is greater than traditional optical crossbar switches currently in use.

Abstract: A clock recovery system and related method are disclosed. One example of the clock recovery system includes an optical detector and lasing SOA that are arranged so that the optical detector detects ballast laser light emitted by the lasing SOA. The optical detector includes an output that is connected to a first input of a phase detector that includes both first and second inputs. A filter is included in the clock recovery system as well and has an input and an output, the input being connected to the output of the phase detector. Finally, this example of the clock recovery system includes an oscillator having an input and an output arranged so that the input of the oscillator is connected to the output of the filter, and the output of the oscillator is connected with the second input of the phase detector.

Abstract: Optical regenerators are disclosed, one of which includes a splitter having an input signal input, and first and second outputs, where the first output is connected to a first input of an optical flip-flop that also includes an output. A first OAND gate includes a first input connected to the output of the optical flip-flop, and also includes a second input and an output. A second OAND gate has a first input connected to the second output of the splitter, and includes a second input and an output. A variable oscillator having an input and an output is arranged so that the output is connected to the second input of the second OAND gate and to the second input of the first OAND gate. Finally, a feedback controller has an input connected to the second OAND gate output, and an output connected to the variable oscillator input.

Abstract: An electrically pumped optical device includes a semiconductor active region and a backward diode. Both of these structures are located in the current path of the optical device, which is oriented primarily vertically. The active region has a finite extent along at least one lateral dimension. The overall structure improves the electrical performance of the device.

Abstract: An improved optical receiver comprises a vertically lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (VLSOA) coupled to a photodetector. The VLSOA and photodetector are discrete devices or alternatively integrated onto a common substrate. The integrated optical receiver may be fabricated using a number of different methods, including based on selective area epitaxy, impurity induced disordering, etch and fill and silicon optical bench.

Abstract: Optical systems and devices are provided that include or facilitate the ability to provide early detection of the failure of an optical transmitter such as a laser. Such detection may be made with reference to various aspects of the operation and performance of the optical transmitter. For example, some of the optical systems and devices employ wavelength shift information to make determinations concerning potential failure of an optical transmitter. Other optical systems and devices use information concerning the efficiency with which an incoming pump current is converted into the ballast laser signal changes to make determinations concerning potential failure of an optical transmitter.

Abstract: Optical logic circuits are based on lazing semiconductor optical amplifiers, such as vertical lazing semiconductor optical amplifiers. For example, one or more VLSOAs with selected depletion thresholds are combined to form various optical logic devices.

Abstract: An optical transistor is disclosed that provides a fast switching time, an amplified gain, and isolation. The optical transistor receives a small optical input signal at an optical base port, generates an amplified replica at an optical emitter port, and generates an inverted replica on a vertical light at an collector port. One embodiment of the optical transistor is implemented with a vertical lasing semiconductor optical amplifiers (VLSOA), wherein the ballast light is used a signal for the collector port.

Abstract: An optical add drop multiplexer (OADM) comprised of a plurality of lasing semiconductor optical amplifiers for performing the switching of optical signals from various inputs to outputs in the switching fabric of the OADM.

Abstract: An optical signal power monitoring and control system is described. The system comprises at least one lasing SOA that receives, amplifies, and outputs the optical signal. In response to the signal amplification, a ballast laser signal is output through a substrate of the lasing SOA. This ballast laser signal is indicative of the optical signal power. At least one detector converts the ballast laser signal to an electrical signal and transmits this electrical signal to a power monitor circuit. Using the electrical signal, the power monitor signal may determine the power of the electrical signal and the gain across the lasing SOA. A gain control circuit may adjust the gain across a tunable-gain lasing SOA or multi-stage optical amplifier in order to optimize the optical signal's strength. The electrical signal power and lasing SOA gain may be transmitted to a terminal to display this information or a warning may be generated when certain criteria are met.