Abstract: A precise fiber array is formed using a chuck to tightly hold as an array with hexagonal packing a group of precision ferrules into ones of which is inserted and bonded a fiber end. The bonding is typically performed by gluing the fiber into the ferrule. The ferrules may also be bonded to each other. Once the ferrules are bonded together, the chuck may be removed. The terminating end of the fibers may be polished. Alternatively, cleaved terminating fiber ends may be employed, with the various terminating ends being coordinated, e.g., by an optical flat. The ferrules may have a tip and a conical entrance. The chuck may hold the ferrules in a straight orientation. The fiber terminating faces of all of the ferrules may be substantially coplanar. The ferrules may be arranged in a hexagonal configuration.

Abstract: A channelized Wavelength Division Multiplex (WDM) equalizer enables the gain of each WDM channel to be individually controlled, enabling power adjustments of each channel over the equalizer's entire dynamic range. The gain equalizer includes a demultiplexer with each of its outputs interfaced to a different microelectromechanical system (MEMS) reflective device which adjusts optical power in response to a received control signal. The equalizer can be implemented to operate in a reflective mode or in a transmission mode.

Abstract: A precise fiber array is formed using a chuck to tightly hold as an array with hexagonal packing a group of precision ferrules into ones of which is inserted and bonded a fiber end. The bonding is typically performed by gluing the fiber into the ferrule. The ferrules may also be bonded to each other. Once the ferrules are bonded together, the chuck may be removed. The terminating end of the fibers may be polished. Alternatively, cleaved terminating fiber ends may be employed, with the various terminating ends being coordinated, e.g., by an optical flat. The ferrules may have a tip and a conical entrance. The chuck may hold the ferrules in a straight orientation. The fiber terminating faces of all of the ferrules may be substantially coplanar. The ferrules may be arranged in a hexagonal configuration.

Abstract: An optical switch uses a MEMS device to insert a highly reflective shutter in a gap between a pair of coaxially aligned fibers. When the switch is closed, an input optical signal passes with little loss through the gap. When the switch is open and the shutter is positioned in the gap, an input optical signal incident on the shutter is reflected back into the input fiber. Such light is diverted by an optical circulator into a new path.

Abstract: An optical attenuator for use in optical power regulation uses a shutter to control the insertion loss of a gap in a pair of substantially coaxially aligned waveguides, for example a pair of optical fibers. The shutter is part of a MEMS accuator device and is coupled to the movable one of a pair of spaced plates, the movable plate being movable by a voltage applied between the pair of plates. To regulate the power, a small portion of the optical power is abstracted and used to derive a control voltage that is applied to the optical attenuator for varying the attenuation inserted in the optical wave path.

Abstract: Arrayed waveguide grating routers are used to form 1.times.N demultiplexers and N.times.1 multiplexers to form channel drop modules in a WDM optical network. The demultiplexer and the multiplexer are interconnected by optical waveguides in which are inserted optical switches provided by MEMs devices that can be used to reflect incident optical signals backwards for dropping channels or to both transmit and reflect incident optical signals to drop and detect channels.

Abstract: Packaging for a transmissive optical device, methods for manufacturing the packaging, and use of the packaging in an optical communications system are disclosed. The optical package assembly includes a optical package and an optical subassembly. The optical package receives the optical subassembly, which includes a packaging component attached to a transmissive optical device. One end of the optical package receives a first optical fiber that is delivered to a first fiber alignment region in the packaging component. The other end of the optical package receives a second optical fiber that is delivered to a second fiber alignment region in the transmissive optical device. The optical package and fiber alignment regions align the first fiber with the second fiber.

Abstract: Packaging for a reflective optical device, methods for manufacturing the packaging, and use of the packaging in an optical communications system are disclosed. The optical package assembly includes an optical package and an optical package subassembly. The optical package receives the optical subassembly, which includes a packaging component attached to a reflective optical device. An end of the optical package receives a optical fiber that is delivered to a fiber alignment region in the packaging component that is in optical communication with the reflective optical device.