Abstract: A tilt check apparatus and a tilt check method are provided. The tilt check apparatus checks a lens module including a sensor and a lens and includes: a light-emitting part which diffuses and outputs light to check a tilt of the lens module; a reflector which reflects the diffused light; an interface which, if the reflected light is sensed by the sensor of the lens module, receives the sensed result from the sensor; and a detector which detects depth information by using the sensed result received through the interface and detects a tilt state between the lens and the sensor based on the depth information. Therefore, efficiency of a tilt check process is improved.

Abstract: Provided are a hybrid optical coupling module and a manufacturing method thereof. The hybrid optical coupling module includes an optical unit configured to include an optical transmission means that transmits an optical signal, and an array lens that is bonded at a point where the optical signal of the optical transmission means is output and focuses the output optical signal, and an electrical unit configured to receive the optical signal focused through the array lens and convert the received optical signal into an electrical signal. Here, an alignment mark is formed on the optical transmission means and the array lens so that the array lens is bonded at the point where the optical signal of the optical transmission means is output.

Abstract: An optical unit for a wavelength-selecting switch according to the present invention comprises: an input port; a dispersion section that produces wavelength dispersion of input light that is input from the input port; a light-collecting element that collects the light dispersed by the dispersion section; an output port; an optical path correction section that shifts the light that is dispersed by the dispersion section; an adjustment section that changes the amount of shift produced by the optical path correction section; and a casing that hermetically seals the input port, dispersion section, light-collecting element, output port, and optical path correction section. The casing has an optically transparent section in a location onto which the light that is collected by the light-collecting element is directed. The adjustment section is arranged outside the casing. The optical path correction section can be controlled from outside the casing by the adjustment section.

Abstract: A tunable multiport optical filter includes various types of arrays of optical ports. The tunable filter also includes a light dispersion element (e.g., a grating) and a reflective beam steering element (e.g., a tilting mirror). An optical signal exits an optical (input) port, is dispersed by the light dispersion element, reflects off the reflective beam steering element back to the light dispersion element, and on to another optical (output) port. The reflective beam steering element can be steered such that a wavelength portion of the dispersed optical signal can be coupled to the optical output port. For example, the input optical signal may be a wavelength division multiplexed signal carrying multiple channels on different wavelengths, and the tunable multiport optical filter directs one of the channels to the output optical port. Additionally, the tunable filter may be incorporated into a device act as a wavelength reference.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device are provided. The MEMS device includes a substrate and a MEMS substrate disposed on the substrate. The MEMS substrate includes a movable element, a fixed element and at least a spring connected to the movable element and the fixed element. The MEMS device also includes a polysilicon layer on the movable element.

Abstract: An optical branching and insertion device includes an optical splitter that branches an input optical signal, and outputs the branched optical signal from a first output port and a second output port; a wavelength selective switch that allows passage of an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength from among optical signals input to a first input port from the first output port, and outputs the optical signal of the predetermined wavelength and an optical signal inputted from a second input port; and a processor that executes a process to expand a band through which the optical signal of the predetermined wavelength is allowed to pass, the process being executed when a channel allocated to a wavelength of the optical signal inputted from the second input port and a channel allocated to the predetermined wavelength are not adjacent.

Abstract: An optical switch include a switch unit including a light reflection unit of which the reflection direction is changeable, the switch unit configured to optically connect an input port to an output port via the light reflection unit by changing the reflection direction of the light reflection unit; a determining light input unit configured to input into a first predetermined port a determining light for determining malfunctions in the light reflection unit; a light detection unit configured to detect the determining light from the output from a second predetermined port; and a malfunction determining unit configured to determine that abnormalities have occurred when the determining light is detected by the light detection unit.

Abstract: An optical switch includes: an input-output port with three or more ports arranged along a direction; a modulator that includes an incident layer, a reflective layer, and a modulation layer disposed between these layers, spatially modulates light entering the incident layer from any port of the input-output port, and outputs the light spatially-modulated toward any of other ports of the input-output port; and a condensing lens that optically couples the input-output port and the modulator, wherein x2?2x1+x0 holds where: a coordinate axis is along the direction of the input-output port and an optical axis of the lens is set as an origin of the coordinate axis; x0, x1, and x2 respectively are coordinates of a first port to/from which light is input/output, and a second port and a third port from/to which light input to or output from the first port is output/input; and x1,x2>0.

Abstract: A pulsed laser oscillator includes at least one first electrooptical element that polarizes light according to an applied voltage and a voltage control unit that applies a voltage to the first electrooptical element and controls the voltage. The voltage control unit changes over time a voltage value applied to the first electrooptical element, to control a pulse width of laser light.

Abstract: An optical switch (16) for alternatively redirecting a source beam (14) includes a director assembly (18) that is selectively moveable between (i) a first switch position (350), (ii) a second switch position (352), and (iii) a dual switch position (354). In the first switch position (350), the source beam (14) passes to a first port (36). In the second switch position (352), the source beam (14) is directed to a second port (38). In the dual switch position (354), the director assembly (18) splits the source beam (14) into a first beam part (314A) that is directed to the first port (36), and a second beam part (314B) that is directed to the second port (38).

Abstract: An optical switch includes: a semiconductor substrate, including a first rotation part and a first torsion beam disposed at two ends of the first rotation part, where the first torsion beam is configured to drive the first rotation part to rotate; a microreflector, disposed on a surface of the first rotation part of the semiconductor substrate; a first latching structure, disposed on a surface of the first torsion beam, the first latching structure including a form self remolding (FSR) material layer and a thermal field source, where the thermal field source is configured to provide a thermal field for the FSR material layer and the FSR material layer is configured to undergo form remolding under the thermal field, so as to latch the first rotation part and the microreflector in a position after rotation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) photonic switch includes a first plurality of collimators and a first minor array optically coupled to the first plurality of collimators, where the first minor array includes a first plurality of minors, and where a first minor of the first plurality of minors includes a first plurality of photodiodes integrated on the first mirror.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for increasing the aperture ratio of a display by increasing the total travel distance of respective light modulating bodies in a display while maintaining fast switching speeds. Increasing the total travel distance allows for a larger aperture ratio in a display, which provides greater power savings and increased display brightness. The total travel distance of a light modulating body includes the distance the body travels from an open position to a closed position, and vice-versa. In one example, the travel distance of a light modulating body (e.g., any of the light modulators as described above) is asymmetric: from a neutral position, the body travels a greater distance in a first direction than in a second direction.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch for selectively switching optical wavelength components of an optical signal uses both LCoS and MEMs switching technologies to improve device performance. Specific performance improvements may include more ports, better spectral performance and isolation, improved dynamic crosstalk, more flexible attenuation options, integrated channel monitoring and compressed switch heights.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.

Abstract: Provided is an optical device having a high damage threshold, the optical device including a coating layer applied to cover a substrate and an optical switch formed of a carbon material and disposed on one side of the substrate, which may have a greatly increased damage threshold through the coating layer and thus, a characteristic of the optical device may be effectively adjusted.

Abstract: Methods and systems for splitting an initiated signal are disclosed. An exemplary system may include a transmitter configured to selectively transmit an initiated signal, and a signal splitter in communication with the transmitter. The signal splitter may be configured to selectively split the initiated signal into a plurality of recipient signals for a plurality of recipient lines in communication with the transmitter. The signal splitter may be configured to selectively modify a number of recipient signals, e.g., by adjusting a spot size of the initiated signal on the signal splitter.

Abstract: A computing system includes an optical transmission media to propagate a single-mode signal and a multimode signal, and support mode matching with the single-mode signal and multimode signal. A lowest-order mode of the optical transmission media is to couple the single-mode signal, and at least one higher-order mode of the optical transmission media is to couple the multimode signal. The optical transmission media is to enable extraction of the single-mode signal from the optical transmission media independently of the multimode signal.

Abstract: An optical board includes a plate-shaped resin base material including a slit-shaped optical fiber housing portion formed thereon, a metal layer formed on a surface of the based material, and a reflective layer for reflecting light propagating in an optical fiber housed in the optical fiber housing portion. The base material further includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface of the base material at a terminal end of the optical fiber housing portion. The reflective layer is formed over an end face of the metal layer and the inclined surface, the end face forming a flat surface continuously with the inclined surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiplexer/demultiplexer with a connection for inputting and/or outputting an optical signal which has signal components of different wavelengths, a carrier plate (8) with at least one wavelength-sensitive element (11), a focussing member (13) with at least two focussing elements (14, 14?) as well as a detector or signal-generator plate (1), on which at least two detectors (4) or signal generators are arranged. To achieve this object, it is proposed according to the invention that both carrier plate (8) and focussing member (13) are connected to the detector or signal-generator plate (1).

Abstract: The disclosure describes implementations of an apparatus including a plurality of racks, wherein each rack houses a plurality of networking devices and each networking device includes a communication port. An optical circuit switch can be coupled to each of the plurality of communication ports in one or more of the plurality of racks, and a plurality of top-of-rack (TOR) switches can be coupled to the optical circuit switch. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a light input/output unit that includes an input unit and an output unit of a wavelength multiplexed light arranged in a form of an array in a first direction, a light dispersing unit that receives the wavelength multiplexed light from the input unit and disperses the wavelength multiplexed light into signal wavelengths, a light condensing element that condenses the light dispersed into the signal wavelengths, and a light deflecting element array that deflects a signal light in the first direction and a second direction, that is orthogonal to the first direction, so as to switch the light of the signal wavelengths condensed by the light condensing element to a desired output unit.

Abstract: Methods of operating an optical circuit switch and optical circuit switches are disclosed. To make a connection between a first port and a second port, baseline voltages may be determined, baseline voltages being voltages that, if respectively applied to one or more electrode coupled to a first mirror element uniquely associated with the first port and one or more electrode coupled to a second mirror element uniquely associated with the second port, cause the first and second mirror elements to rotate to make the connection in the absence of accumulated mirror element drift. Accumulated drift data associated with one or both of the first mirror element and the second mirror element may be retrieved from a memory. One or more of the baseline voltages may be modified based on the accumulated drift data to provide corrected voltages, and the corrected voltages may be applied to the electrodes.

Abstract: Methods of operating an optical circuit switch and optical circuit switches are disclosed. A command to make an optical connection between a first port and a second port may be received. A determination whether or not input signal light is present at the first port may be made. When light is present at the first port, an optical connection may be made between the first port and the second port. When light is not present at the first port, the optical circuit switch may wait until light is present at the first port before making the connection.

Abstract: A slot-line waveguide optical switch system and method are disclosed. An optical switch system can include a slot-line waveguide optical switch that includes a plurality of wall portions that are each formed from a high refractive-index material and that are arranged to form a channel portion comprising an electro-optic material interposed to extend between the plurality of wall portions. The channel portion can include an input channel to receive an input optical signal and plural output channels to receive the input optical signal from the input channel. A channel switching system can provide a voltage to an electrode coupled to a corresponding wall portion to change a relative refractive index in the output channels via the electro-optic material and thereby switch the input optical signal to one of the output channels.

Abstract: As described herein, a network device includes an optical circuit switch to perform circuit switching. The network device also has a plurality of removable line cards, each of which includes a packet switch. A switching manager automatically reconfigures the optical circuit switch based on a configuration of the removable line cards to maintain a guaranteed packet switching bandwidth between active line cards.

Abstract: Optical switch for adjustable deflection of a light beam from the direction of an input point in the direction of one of several output points. The optical switch includes a switching mirror sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature fluctuations. Also included is a rotatable capturing mirror, two beam splitters, and two spatially-resolving detectors. Both mirrors can be rotated around respective axes. A front beam splitter for the partial coupling of the light beam at the front detector that is optically positioned between the capturing minor and the switching mirror, while the back beam splitter for the partial decoupling of the light beam at the back detector is arranged optically between the switching mirror and each of the output positions. A control unit is adapted to control the drive of the switching mirror on the basis of a signal from the back detector.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include a resilient add-drop module for use in one of multiple access subnetwork nodes forming an access subnetwork ring. The module comprises a dual-arm passive optical filter and a cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). The dual-arm passive optical filter is configured to resiliently drop any wavelength channels within a fixed band uniquely allocated to the access subnetwork node from either arm of the access subnetwork ring and to resiliently add any wavelength channels within the fixed band to both arms of the access subnetwork ring. The cyclic AWG is correspondingly configured to demultiplex wavelength channels dropped by the dual-arm filter and to multiplex wavelength channels to be added by the dual-arm filter. Configured in this way, the module in at least some embodiments advantageously reduces the complexity and accompanying cost of nodes in an optical network, while also providing resilience against fiber and node failures.

Abstract: Compound optical circuit switches and methods are disclosed. Two or more 1st-tier switches may be configured to make selectable optical connections between a plurality of 1st-tier inputs and a plurality of 1st-tier outputs. Each 1st-tier switch may include input and output power meters to measure optical powers of signals received at the 1st-tier inputs and optical powers of signals output from the 1st-tier outputs, respectively. At least one 2nd-tier switch may include plural 2nd-tier inputs optically connected to respective 1st-tier outputs, plural 2nd-tier outputs optically connected to respective 1st-tier inputs, and plural 2nd-tier rotatable mirror elements to make selectable optical connections from the 2nd-tier inputs to the 2nd-tier outputs. A 2nd-tier switch controller may control positions of at least some of the 2nd-tier mirror elements based on optical power measurement data from the input power meters and the output power meters of the 1st-tier switches.

Abstract: A circuit switched optical device includes a first array of intersecting hollow waveguides formed in a first plane of a substrate. A second array of intersecting hollow waveguides is formed in a second plane of the substrate, and the second plane is positioned parallel to the first plane. An optical element within the first array selectively redirects an optical signal from the first array to the second array.

Abstract: Optical circuit switches and switching methods are described. A first optical circulator may form a first plurality of bidirectional optical beams from a first plurality of input optical beams and a corresponding first plurality of output optical beams. Each bidirectional optical beam may consist of the corresponding input optical beam and the corresponding output optical beam overlaid to follow, in opposing directions, a common optical path. A first mirror array may be disposed to reflect the first plurality of bidirectional optical beams.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optical architectures are disclosed. An optical architecture includes first and second riser cards and first and second components carried by the first and second riser cards respectively. The optical architecture also includes a first matrix to fan-out a multi-bit optical input signal into first and second outbound signals, and first and second fiber optic cables to carry the first and second outbound signals to the first and second riser cards, respectively.

Abstract: An optical add/drop multiplexer including one or more optical drop multiplexers connected in free space or fused by optical fiber pigtails, a wavelength blocker with an input port connected to an output port of the optical drop multiplexer through the fusion of the fiber pigtails, one or more optical add multiplexers connected in free space or fused by fiber pigtails, a digital signal processor, an analog-to-digital signal converter, a digital-to-analog converter, and a plurality of electronic control and feedback loops for tuning and scanning an optical wavelength.

Abstract: An optical switch system and the system includes a semi-transmissive semi-reflective module is configured to intercept, in a transmission manner, test light that is the same as the signal light with respect to the propagation path and output after being modulated by the optical output control module; the imaging module is configured to acquire the test light, generate corresponding initial optical path information and sampled optical path information in sequence, and transfer the initial optical path information and the sampled optical path information to the judging module in sequence; the judging module is configured to record the initial optical path information, and compare the sampled optical path information with the initial optical path information; and the control module is configured to control the optical output control module according to a comparison result.

Abstract: Telecommunications switches are presented, including expandable optical switches that allow for a switch of N inputs×M outputs to be expanded arbitrarily to a new number of N inputs and/or a new number of M outputs. Switches having internal switch blocks controlling signal bypass lines are also provided, with these switches being useful for the expandable switches.

Abstract: At the time of assembly of an optical transmission/reception module, a test variable wavelength light source 22 for outputting a test light signal is connected to a connector 8 of an optical fiber 7, and a large-diameter PD 23 measures a transmission loss in a light wavelength band limiting filter 12 while a rotational position determining unit 24 rotates a fiber ferrule 5, so that the rotational position determining unit 24 determines the rotational position ?loss-min of the fiber ferrule 5 which minimizes the transmission loss in the light wavelength band limiting filter 12, and aligns the fiber ferrule 5 at the rotational position ?loss-min.

Abstract: A circuit switched optical interconnection fabric includes a first hollow metal waveguide and a second hollow metal waveguide which intersects the first hollow metal waveguide to form an intersection. An optical element within the intersection is configured to selectively direct an optical signal between the first hollow metal waveguide and a second hollow metal waveguide.

Abstract: A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) interferometer system utilizes a capacitive sensing circuit to determine the position of a moveable mirror. An electrostatic MEMS actuator is coupled to the moveable mirror to cause a displacement thereof. The capacitive sensing circuit senses the current capacitance of the MEMS actuator and determines the position of the moveable mirror based on the current capacitance of the MEMS actuator.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch according to the present invention includes at least one input port for inputting wavelength-multiplexed light, a dispersive element which receives the light from the input port, and disperses the received light, a light converging element which converges dispersed light which has been dispersed for each wavelength, a light deflecting member having a plurality of reflecting optical elements which are capable of independently deflecting each dispersed light from the light converging element, and at least one output port which receives light which has been deflected by the light deflecting member. An area having a reflectivity higher than a central area of the reflecting surface is formed in at least a part of an end portion of the reflecting surface in the dispersive direction by the dispersive element.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical device including input and output ports, and add or drop ports, has a high degree of flexibility such that any wavelength channel from any optical signal introduced through the add ports may be added to any of the optical signals transmitted through the output ports. In addition, any wavelength channel from any optical signal received through the inputs ports may be dropped through any of the drop ports. Furthermore, the optical device is configurable to allow the same wavelength channel from two different optical signals supplied respectively through any two inputs ports to be simultaneously directed to two different drop ports.

Abstract: An optical de-multiplexer (de-MUX) that includes an optical device that images and diffracts an optical signal using a reflective geometry is described, where a free spectral range (FSR) of the optical device associated with a given diffraction order abuts FSRs associated with adjacent diffraction orders. Moreover, the channel spacings within diffraction orders and between adjacent diffraction orders are equal to the predefined channel spacing associated with the optical signal. As a consequence, the optical device has a comb-filter output spectrum, which reduces a tuning energy of the optical device by eliminating spectral gaps between diffraction orders of the optical device.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an optical path-changing device having one or more curved waveguides, which not only can change an optical path at a large angle close to a perpendicular direction after light or an optical signal has been incident and reflected, but also can change the optical path in various directions, such as for straight pass, left turn, and right turn. An optical path-changing device having one or more curved waveguides according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first waveguide (11) formed in a straight line. A second waveguide (12) is configured to branch from the first waveguide in a first direction and formed in a shape of curved line. A first reflector (21) is arranged in a region in which the second waveguide branches from the first waveguide.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer and a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing method are provided. The reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer comprises: an optical processing unit for receiving a first optical signal containing a plurality of optical channels, processing the first optical signal to generate a second optical signal which is a part of the first optical signal, and outputting the second optical signal; and a coherent detection unit for performing a coherent detection on the second optical signal so as to separate from the second optical signal an optical channel contained therein, and outputting the optical channel.

Abstract: An optical switching device has multiple input ports and multiple output ports and is capable of switching a wavelength component from any of the input ports to any of the output ports. The optical switching device is configured with beam steering arrays that are controlled to provide the switching from any of the input ports to any of the output ports. The beam steering arrays may be microelectromechanical (MEMS) mirror arrays or liquid-crystal on silicon (LCOS) panels. In addition, an array of beam-polarizing liquid-crystal elements provides wavelength-independent attenuation.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a wavelength dispersing element, a wavelength converging element, multiple transmission control elements, and a controller. The wavelength dispersing element performs wavelength dispersion of input signal light. The transmission control element divides input signal light into wavelength bands within a channel band and transmits or cuts off the divided input signal light. The wavelength converging element converges signal light having respective wavelengths produced from the transmission control elements for output. The controller controls a transmittance of the transmission control element of at least one of the low and high frequency sides in a channel band.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a light input output portion having an input port and an output port for wavelength-multiplexed light, which are arranged in an array form in a first direction, a light dispersive unit which separates the wavelength-multiplexed light input from the input port, into signal wavelengths, a condenser element which condenses light separated into the signal wavelengths, and a light deflective element array which deflects the signal light in the first direction such that, respective signal wavelength light condensed by the condenser element is switched to a desired output port. In such wavelength selective switch, the light input output portion is divided into m groups, and the light deflective element array is arranged in m rows in the first direction to correspond with the m groups of the light input output portion, wherein m is an integer.

Abstract: An optical path switch and an optical router are provided. The optical path switch comprises an input optical path (100), two output optical paths (201, 202), and an optical path switching element (300). The optical path switching element selectively routes the beam from the input optical path to one of the output optical paths. The optical path switching element comprises a semiconductor substrate (301), an inter-layer dielectric layer (307) on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a cavity (302) disposed in the inter-layer dielectric layer, and an elastic light guiding plate (306) disposed in the cavity. One end of the cavity is connected with the input optical path, and the other end is separated into an upper cavity (304) and a lower cavity (305) by an isolating layer (303).

Abstract: The sealing component 1 of the invention is provided with a metallic housing 19 that comprises a base part 19a, a side wall 19b connected to the base part 19a and an opening portion 19c facing to the base part 19a, and a metallic lid 20 to cover the opening portion 19c, wherein a melted portion 24 is formed around the boundary between the lid 20 and the upper edge 19b1, the melted portion 24 is formed to reach the corner 19b3 of the side wall 19b, and the melted portion 24 has a convexly-curved outward form 24a from the top face of the lid 20 to the corner 19b3 in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sealing component 1.

Abstract: In a multiple-axis free-space-coupled single-mode fiber-optic transmission system, such as an optical cross-connect switch, a method and apparatus are provided for the closed loop attenuation of optical beam power signals employed to align and cause dithering via MEMS mirrors which are manipulated to impose on the optical beam frequency modulation and, in particular, a time-varying set of induced mirror angles that yield a desired time history of optical power level that is modulated according to a digital code in the frequency modulation pattern.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating a laser beam (3) with different beam profile characteristics, whereby a laser beam (2) is coupled into one fiber end (1a) of a multi-clad fiber (1), in particular a double-clad fiber, and emitted from the other fiber end (1b) of the multi-clad fiber (1) and whereby, to generate different beam profile characteristics of the output laser beam (3), the input laser beam (2) is electively coupled either at least into the inner fiber core (4) of the multi-clad fiber (1) or at least into at least one outer ring core (6) of the multi-clad fiber (1), as well as a corresponding arrangement (10).