Abstract: An optical module including a first optical device having an opening on a surface thereof, and a second optical device including a pillar-shaped elastic member on a surface thereof. The first and second optical devices are optically coupled to each other.

Abstract: An optical module with a first optical waveguide substrate having end faces; a second optical waveguide substrate which includes a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, and end faces, the second optical waveguide substrate having an opening between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide; and a first deflection device which is mounted in the opening, wherein one of the end faces of the first optical waveguide substrate and one of the end faces of the second optical waveguide substrate are coupled to each other.

Abstract: An optical module with a plurality of optical waveguide substrates having element mounting openings and end surfaces which are adhered to each other with an optical adhesive; and a plurality of light deflecting element arrays mounted to the respective element mounting openings of the plurality of optical waveguide substrates, the plurality of light deflecting element arrays including a plurality of light deflecting elements.

Abstract: In assembly of a number of optical devices (optical waveguide devices) to fabricate an optical module, the fabrication method of the optical module comprising: filling a plurality of openings for device mounting, the openings being formed on a platform, with a transparent liquid material; putting an optical waveguide device into at least one of the plurality of openings; and carrying out an active alignment process with the intention that a fine adjustment (waveguide alignment) of the position of each optical device can be realized with ease.

Abstract: In a semiconductor chip module, a transmission optical waveguide device to be mounted in the proximity of the side face of a semiconductor chip on a circuit board includes an input optical waveguide to which light from an external light source is inputted, an output optical waveguide provided at a position displaced in a vertical direction to the surface of the circuit board in a mounted state on the circuit with respect to the input optical waveguide for outputting an optical signal to a different device, an optical path changeover structure for guiding light guided through the input optical waveguide to the output optical waveguide, and an optical modulator provided on the input optical waveguide or the output optical waveguide for modulating light from the external light source based on an electric signal from the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring the optical properties of solids, gels, and liquids are disclosed. The apparatuses may be constructed on miniature substrates using conventional semiconductor wafer and packaging processes. The substrates may be mass-produced on wafers, which are then diced to provide individual miniature substrates. High measurement precision, low-manufacturing costs, and other benefits are provided by the present inventions.

Abstract: An optical module includes a substrate, one or a plurality of planar optical devices mounted on the substrate, and a waveguide block including one or a plurality of curved waveguides formed on a plane. The waveguide block is mounted on the substrate such that the plane on which the curved waveguides are formed is perpendicular to the substrate and the curved waveguides and an incidence face or an emitting face of the planar optical device are opposed to each other on one end face of the waveguide block. Further, the waveguide block is configured so that an optical fiber can be connected to the other end face of the waveguide block which is orthogonal to the one end face.

Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating a light signal is disclosed. The apparatus causes optical attenuation in a waveguide, where the waveguide has an input port for receiving a light signal and an output port for output of an attenuated light signal. First, an electric field is generated in at least a portion of the waveguide, such that a first refractive index in that portion of the waveguide is changed to a second refractive index. Next, the light signal in the waveguide is directed from the input port to the output port through the electric field. And lastly, the light signal is attenuated as a function of the electric field. The light signal may be attenuated, for example, by changing the deflection angle, changing the beam collimation width or from emitting part of the light signal from the waveguide before the light signal reaches the output port.

Abstract: An all-optical one-by-N optical switch is provided that has fewer components, is easier to control and has fewer optical losses that prior art one-by-N optical switches. An optical switch of the present invention includes an active deflection element formed from an electro-optical material to deflect an optical input from a single input to a selected one of N outputs. In one embodiment of the present invention, a single active deflection element at the input deflects an optical signal across a waveguide that commonly connects the N outputs. The N optical outputs include passive optical elements that are aligned with the deflected optical signal to accept a signal and provide it to a selected optical output. The optical switch can either be monolithic, where the optical material are all electro-optical materials, or can be hybrid, having separately formed components, such as the common waveguide, adhered to the substrate on which the optical switch is formed.

Abstract: The optical module includes a first optical waveguide part including a first waveguide core, a second optical waveguide part including a second waveguide core and provided such that the second waveguide core and the first waveguide core are positioned partially close to each other so that a light propagating in one of the first and second waveguide cores can be coupled to the other of the first and second waveguide cores, an electro-optic material layer provided between the first and second waveguide cores and formed from an electro-optic material, and an electrode for applying an electric field to the electro-optic material layer so that the refractive index of the electro-optic material layer varies and the optical coupling coefficient between the first and second waveguide cores varies.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical waveguide structure capable of keeping intervals between the structure and optical elements within a certain range. When arranging a surface light emitting element and a surface light receiving element on a positioning plate provided on a substrate, elastic layers are provided between the elements and the plate. When fitting and fixing first projections of the structure in holes of the plate, second projections formed in a predetermined dimension on the structure are brought into contact with the light emitting element and the light receiving element. Therefore, intervals between lenses, and the light emitting element as well as the light receiving element are controlled within a certain range according to the dimension of the second projections. Further, stress occurring due to contact is dispersed by the elastic layers so that breakage of the light emitting element and the light receiving element can be prevented.

Abstract: A board level optical system for high speed device interconnection is disclosed. A constant intensity laser is mounted on a board substrate, and the laser light is divided into a plurality of optical channels using a waveguide splitter that is integrated into the substrate. An array of high speed optical modulators electrically driven by an IC device mounted on the substrate creates a corresponding plurality of optical signals. A connector is used to transfer the optical signals to one or more other devices, either on or off of the substrate. The optical modulators are preferably Mach Zehnder modulators comprising polymeric electro-optical material. The modulator array may be integrated into the substrate. IC device may also have integrated photodetectors for receiving optical signals routed via the substrate. In addition to optical wiring layers, the substrate may have one or more electrical wiring layers.

Abstract: The intensity of signals in optical networks can be controlled using a variable optical attenuator (VOA). The present invention is a VOA that is particularly well suited for optical networks, for example to provide channel-by-channel normalization of gain control of wavelength division multiplexed signals. The inventive VOA includes a waveguide having a cladding that includes an electro-optical material and electrodes that produce an electric field within the electro-optical material when a voltage difference is applied to the electrodes. The VOA also includes a layer that is parallel to the core of the waveguide and that optically couples to the core to receive light from the attenuated signal. A power meter receives light from the layer as an indication of the amount of light attenuated from the signal and for controlling the voltage to the electrodes.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for attenuating a light signal. One embodiment includes a method for causing optical attenuation in a waveguide, where the waveguide has an input port for receiving a light signal and an output port for output of an attenuated light signal. First, an electric field is generated in at least a portion of the waveguide, such that a first refractive index in that portion of the waveguide is changed to a second refractive index. Next, the light signal in the waveguide is directed from the input port to the output port through the electric field. And lastly, the light signal is attenuated as a function of the electric field. The light signal may be attenuated, for example, by changing the deflection angle, changing the beam collimation width or from emitting part of the light signal from the waveguide before the light signal reaches the output port.

Abstract: Cascaded optical deflectors are formed from light deflecting elements of an electro-optical material that are individually controlled according to applied voltage differences across the elements. The shape of the elements are determined by the shape of the electrodes on either side of the electro-optical material, while the refractive index is controlled by the sign and magnitude of a voltage difference applied across the elements. In particular, the invention includes light deflection elements that are tilted with respect to one another and that are individually controlled to provide for the deflection of light in an improved manner.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring the optical properties of solids, gels, and liquids are disclosed. The apparatuses may be constructed on miniature substrates using conventional semiconductor wafer and packaging processes. The substrates may be mass-produced on wafers, which are then diced to provide individual miniature substrates. High measurement precision, low-manufacturing costs, and other benefits are provided by the present inventions.

Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating a light signal is disclosed. The apparatus causes optical attenuation in a waveguide, where the waveguide has an input port for receiving a light signal and an output port for output of an attenuated light signal. First, an electric field is generated in at least a portion of the waveguide, such that a first refractive index in that portion of the waveguide is changed to a second refractive index. Next, the light signal in the waveguide is directed from the input port to the output port through the electric field. And lastly, the light signal is attenuated as a function of the electric field. The light signal may be attenuated, for example, by changing the deflection angle, changing the beam collimation width or from emitting part of the light signal from the waveguide before the light signal reaches the output port.

Abstract: An all-optical one-by-N optical switch is provided that has fewer components, is easier to control and has fewer optical losses that prior art one-by-N optical switches. An optical switch of the present invention includes an active deflection element formed from an electro-optical material to deflect an optical input from a single input to a selected one of N outputs. In one embodiment of the present invention, a single active deflection element at the input deflects an optical signal across a waveguide that commonly connects the N outputs. The N optical outputs include passive optical elements that are aligned with the deflected optical signal to accept a signal and provide it to a selected optical output. The optical switch can either be monolithic, where the optical material are all electro-optical materials, or can be hybrid, having separately formed components, such as the common waveguide, adhered to the substrate on which the optical switch is formed.

Abstract: The intensity of signals in optical networks can be controlled using a variable optical attenuator (VOA). The present invention is a VOA that is particularly well suited for optical networks, for example to provide channel-by-channel normalization of gain control of wavelength division multiplexed signals. The inventive VOA includes a waveguide having a cladding that includes an electro-optical material and electrodes that produce an electric field within the electro-optical material when a voltage difference is applied to the electrodes. The VOA also includes a layer that is parallel to the core of the waveguide and that optically couples to the core to receive light from the attenuated signal. A power meter receives light from the layer as an indication of the amount of light attenuated from the signal and for controlling the voltage to the electrodes.

Abstract: The intensity of signals in optical networks can be controlled using a variable optical attenuator (VOA). The present invention is a VOA that is particularly well suited for optical networks, for example to provide channel-by-channel normalization of gain control of wavelength division multiplexed signals. The inventive VOA includes a waveguide having an electro-optical material and electrodes that produce an electric field within the electro-optical material when a voltage difference is applied to the electrodes. The electro-optical material can either be a substrate or can be a layer deposited on a substrate. In an alternative embodiment, a polarization independent VOA is formed from a waveguide that includes two, end-to-end waveguides. In one embodiment, a 90 degree polarization rotator is provided between the two waveguides. In another embodiment, each of the two waveguides has a different electro-optical material selected to selectively pass one of two 90 degree polarizations.