Abstract: A light source assembly comprises a light pipe, a first color light source at a first tapered light collector, a second light source at a second tapered light collector, and at least a first dichroic filter operative to pass first color light and to reflect second color light toward a light output port. A light valve may be positioned to receive light from the light pipe. One or more light entrances to the light pipe may have a filter, e.g., a short wave pass filter, oriented in a plane generally parallel to the axial optical pathway.

Abstract: A light source assembly comprises a light pipe, a first color light source at a first tapered light collector, a second light source at a second tapered light collector, and at least a first dichroic filter operative to pass first color light and to reflect second color light toward a light output port. A light valve may be positioned to receive light from the light pipe. One or more light entrances to the light pipe may have a filter, e.g., a short wave pass filter, oriented in a plane generally parallel to the axial optical pathway.

Abstract: An optical analyzer (14) for performing spectral analysis on an optical beam (18) includes an optical filter (28), a mover (30), an optical launcher (36), and an optical receiver (38). The optical filter (28) includes a filter area (46) that is a narrow band pass type filter having multiple alternative center bandwidths that are distributed along the filter area (46). The mover (30) moves the optical filter (28). The first optical launcher (36) directs the optical beam (18) at the filter area (46) so that the optical beam (18) is near normal incidence to the filter area (46). The optical analyzer (14) can be used to simultaneously monitor multiple optical signals. Additionally, the optical analyzer (14) can include a beam redirector (40) that causes the optical beam (18) to make two passes through the optical filter (28).

Abstract: A micro-optic dual beam-splitter assembly comprises at least two beam-splitter optical filters and at least one photoreceptor. Each of the beam-splitter optical filters comprises an optical substrate having at least a coated or uncoated optical tap surface and a filter surface carrying a thin-film optical filter. The thin-film optical filters are substantially normal to the optical path from an optical signal source. Each of the optical tap surfaces is operative as an optical beam splitter to tap off an optical tap signal. The one or more photoreceptors are arranged to receive both or at least one of the optical tap signals. The tap signals comprise a portion of the optical signals passed along the optical path to the optical filter chips. The filter chips are cooperatively transmissive to an optical signal output port of a selected set of wavelengths received from the optical signal source along the optical path, and are reflective of other wavelengths.

Abstract: Gain-flattening components for compensation of at least a portion of the spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier comprises an optical substrate having at least a first gain-flattening filter disposed on a first surface of the optical substrate and a second gain-flattening filter disposed on a second surface of the optical substrate. The first gain-flattening filter has a transmission curve with a spectral loss profile for optical signals in the optical wavelength range, and has a net insertion loss error function relative to the spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier. The spectral loss profile of the second gain-flattening filter corresponds to the net insertion error function of the first gain-flattening filter. Gain-flattening optical amplifiers comprise one or more such gain-flattening components and at least one optical signal amplifier.

Abstract: A light source assembly comprises: a light pipe and one or more tapered light collectors operative to reduce the angular distribution of light entering the light pipe from light sources at one or more ports. Dichroic filters and angle-dependent, wavelength selective pass filters control light flow into and through the light pipe. The tapered light collector is operative to reduce the angular distribution of light entering the light pipe. At least a first dichroic filter positioned in the light pipe optically between first and second light entrances is operative to pass first color light from the first light source toward the light port, and to reflect second color light from the second light source toward the light port.

Abstract: A micro-optic dual beam-splitter assembly comprises at least two beam-splitter optical filters and at least one photoreceptor. Each of the beam-splitter optical filters comprises an optical substrate having at least a coated or uncoated optical tap surface and a filter surface carrying a thin-film optical filter. The thin-film optical filters are substantially normal to the optical path from an optical signal source. Each of the optical tap surfaces is operative as an optical beam splitter to tap off an optical tap signal. The one or more photoreceptors are arranged to receive both or at least one of the optical tap signals. The tap signals comprise a portion of the optical signals passed along the optical path to the optical filter chips. The filter chips are cooperatively transmissive to an optical signal output port of a selected set of wavelengths received from the optical signal source along the optical path, and are reflective of other wavelengths.

Abstract: A light source assembly (212) for providing a homogenized light beam (224) includes a first light source (234), a second light source (236), and an optical pipe (228) that defines a pipe passageway (228A). The first light source (234) generates a first light (234A) that is directed into the pipe passageway (228A) at a first region (228I). The second light source (236) generates a second light (236A) that is directed into the pipe passageway (228A) at a second region (228H) that is different than the first region (228I). The optical pipe (228) homogenizing the first light (234A) and the second light (236A). Additionally, the light source assembly (212) can include a third light source (238) that generates a third light (238A) that is directed into the optical pipe (228) at a third region (228G) that is different than the first region (228I) and the second region (228H).

Abstract: An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprises a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range; a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power; a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter; a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter.

Abstract: An optical analyzer (14) for performing spectral analysis on an optical beam (18) includes an optical filter (28), a mover (30), an optical launcher (36), and an optical receiver (38). The optical filter (28) includes a filter area (46) that is a narrow band pass type filter having multiple alternative center bandwidths that are distributed along the filter area (46). The mover (30) moves the optical filter (28). The first optical launcher (36) directs the optical beam (18) at the filter area (46) so that the optical beam (18) is near normal incidence to the filter area (46). The optical analyzer (14) can be used to simultaneously monitor multiple optical signals. Additionally, the optical analyzer (14) can include a beam redirector (40) that causes the optical beam (18) to make two passes through the optical filter (28).

Abstract: An optical multi-filter discriminator suitable for treating optical signals from an optical signal source, e.g., a direct modulated laser (“DML”), comprises a first optical filter, a second optical filter optically coupled to the first optical filter, an input port operative to receive optical signals from an optical signal source and oriented to launch the optical signals directly or indirectly to the first optical filter, and an output port oriented to receive optical signals treated by the multiple optical filters and operative to pass the optical signals directly or indirectly to an optical waveguide “downstream” of the discriminator. The first filter is transmissive (i.e., at the angle of incidence received from the input port) of at least a first wavelength band having a first center wavelength and reflective (again, meaning in this instance at the angle of incidence received from the input port) of at least a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band.

Abstract: An optical component for gain-flattening multiplexed passband signals amplified with optical pump power, comprises a launch port optical waveguide operative to communicate multiplexed passband signals in a passband wavelength range and optical pump power in a different wavelength range; a thin film demux filter oriented to receive combined multiplexed passband signals and optical pump power from the launch port optical waveguide, and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals and to reflect the optical pump power; a bypass port optical waveguide operative and oriented to receive and carry optical pump power reflected by the demux filter; a gain-flattening filter positioned to receive from the thin film demux filter and operative to pass the multiplexed passband signals with a desired attenuation profile for gain-flattening; and an output port optical waveguide oriented to receive and operative to carry at least multiplexed passband signals passed by the gain-flattening filter.

Abstract: Gain-flattening components for compensation of at least a portion of the spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier comprises an optical substrate having at least a first gain-flattening filter disposed on a first surface of the optical substrate and a second gain-flattening filter disposed on a second surface of the optical substrate. The first gain-flattening filter has a transmission curve with a spectral loss profile for optical signals in the optical wavelength range, and has a net insertion loss error function relative to the spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier. The spectral loss profile of the second gain-flattening filter corresponds to the net insertion error function of the first gain-flattening filter. Gain-flattening optical amplifiers comprise one or more such gain-flattening components and at least one optical signal amplifier.

Abstract: A gain-flattening filter for in-line compensation of the spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier comprises: a first GFF component having a transmission curve with a spectral loss profile corresponding to the spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier, and a second GFF component having a transmission curve with a spectral loss profile corresponding to the error function of the first GFF component.