Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for producing time delays in optical signals are provided. The methods, systems, and apparatuses allow the time it takes for an individual light beam to travel an individual light path to be varied. In one example, the apparatuses have an array of actuator elements and first and second optical elements arranged such that the time it takes for an individual light beam to travel an individual light path between the array of actuator elements and the first and second optical elements is variable.

Abstract: An optical interconnection device and a spot displacement device are presented. In optical interconnection device of the present invention, a spot displacement device is employed to cause a light beam to shift positions, thereby making available output positions not previously available for a light beam having bounced so few times.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a shifting unit that uses optical fibers to shift beams among various outputs. The shifting unit comprises a shifting entrance plane and a shifting exit plane. The shifting entrance plane comprises at least one row of signal input positions. Each signal input position is adapted to receive an optical signal from a source. The shifting exit plane comprises a respective number of rows of signal output positions. Each signal output position is adapted to output an optical beam. Each signal input position of a given row is connected by an optical fiber to a corresponding signal output position. Also, each optical fiber is the same length as every other optical fiber in the shifting unit. The present invention also comprises methods and apparatus comprising the shifting unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a delay unit for optically generating time delays in signals comprising: a delay entrance plane, the delay entrance plane comprising at least one row of signal input positions, wherein each signal input position is adapted to receive an optical beam from a source; a delay exit plane, the delay exit plane comprising a respective number of rows of signal output positions, each signal output position is adapted to output the optical beam; and wherein each signal input position of a given row is connected by an optical fiber to a corresponding signal output position, each optical fiber of a given row being the same length as every other optical fiber of that row. Also provided are apparatus and methods for generating time delays in signals.

Abstract: The present invention includes time delay devices and time delay systems. The invention also includes machines and instruments using those aspects of the invention. The invention may also be used to upgrade, repair, or retrofit existing machines or instruments, using methods and components known in the art. The present invention comprises a true time device that falls into the free-space category but uses a multiple-pass optical cell with refocusing mirrors that has the advantage of avoiding beam-spreading problems. This approach differs from previous free-space approaches in that it uses only one optical switch or spatial light modulator instead of one or more switches for each bit. In one approach, a microwave signal for each antenna element may be modulated onto an optical beam. After the individual optical beams are delayed by the desired amount of time through the system, the signals may then be down-converted to microwave signals for further processing.

Abstract: The present invention includes time delay devices and time delay systems. The invention also includes machines and instruments using those aspects of the invention. The invention may also be used to upgrade, repair, or retrofit existing machines or instruments, using methods and components known in the art. The present invention comprises a true time device that falls into the free-space category but uses a multiple-pass optical cell with refocusing mirrors that has the advantage of avoiding beam-spreading problems. This approach differs from previous free-space approaches in that it uses only one optical switch or spatial light modulator instead of one or more switches for each bit. In one approach, a microwave signal for each antenna element may be modulated onto an optical beam. After the individual optical beams are delayed by the desired amount of time through the system, the signals may then be down-converted to microwave signals for further processing.

Abstract: An optical switching system is disclosed comprising a set of optical hardware operating on control status supplied from electronic or electromechanical devices connected in a communication network to connect subscribing devices in the network for data transfer, wherein both control information for the system and the actual data information to be passed between two connected devices are coded in position coded light spots, and carried to the switching system by optical fibers.

Abstract: A multi-stable optical device and system which utilizes an active optical element such as a spatial light modulator (SLM) in a feedback path configuration. The elementary system consists of a pair of image element (pixels) on the SLM whose input and outputs are coupled to each other by purely optical means. In another arrangement, multi-stable performance is achieved by optical path geometry defining a single pixel which performs in conjunction with a feedback path. Analysis is provided identifying the equilibrium states of the system as well as those equilibrium states which are stable in nature.