Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacture that minimizes the lateral offset of a plurality of optical fiber holes associated with a multi-fiber ferrule, including: determining an initial offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of a plurality of corresponding target locations on an initial endface; removing a predetermined amount of material from the multi-fiber ferrule to form a subsequent endface; determining a subsequent offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of the plurality of corresponding target locations on the subsequent endface; and, using the initial offset distance and the subsequent offset distance, determining an angle of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes relative to the initial endface.

Abstract: A transverse closed-loop fiber resonator (10) includes an inner cladding (102) having a surface (300) peripherally forming a closed-loop shape for confining light to the surface (300). The inner cladding has a first diameter thickness (104) and a first index of refraction profile in a cross-sectional portion of the transverse closed-loop fiber resonator (10). A ringed-core (120) corresponding to the closed-loop shape is disposed on the corresponding surface of the inner cladding (102). The ringed-core (120) has a second thickness (124) of material thinner than the first diameter thickness (104), and a second index of refraction profile greater than the first index of the inner cladding by an index delta in the cross-sectional portion of the transverse closed-loop fiber resonator such that the ringed-core can guide light within the ringed-core traversely around the closed-loop shape.

Abstract: Glass, glass compositions, methods of preparing the glass compositions, microfluidic devices that include the glass composition, and methods of fabricating microfluidic devices that include the glass composition are disclosed. The borosilicate glass composition includes silicon dioxide (SiO2) in a range from about 60% to 74% by total composition weight; boric oxide (B2O3) in a range from about 9% to 25% by total composition weight; aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in a range from about 7% to 17% by total composition weight; and at least one alkali oxide in a range from about 2% to 7% by total composition weight. In addition, the borosilicate glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is in a range between about 30×10?7/° C. and 55×10?7/° C. Furthermore, the borosilicate glass composition resists devitrification upon sintering without the addition of an inhibitor oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and resulting device for producing a low-loss spectrally periodic all fiber filter by providing a multi-mode fiber capable of propagating an LP01 mode and an LP02 mode at wavelengths of interest and providing a single-mode fiber capable of propagating a fundamental mode at the wavelengths of interest and splicing a selected length of the multi-mode fiber between lengths of the single-mode fiber, where the properties of the multi-mode fiber and the single-mode fiber are related such that the optical field distribution resulting from the coherent superposition of the optical field of the LP01 mode and the optical field of the LP02 mode in the multi-mode fiber is sufficiently similar to the optical field distribution of the fundamental mode in the single-mode fiber at the wavelengths of interest, such that transmission across the two splices taken together at the wavelengths of interests is at least 70%, desirably at least 80% and most desirably at least 90%, and the extin

Abstract: The invention utilizes colloidal silica soot (62) in a semiconductor process for chemical-mechanical planarizing a semiconductor integrated circuit workpiece (24) with a slurry (60). The particulate abrasive agent colloidal solid sphere fused silica soot (62) provides a beneficial CMP slurry/process for semiconductor device manufacturing compared to standard semiconductor CMP slurries with conventional colloidal sol-gel or fumed silica.

Abstract: High-energy pulses of femtosecond lasers form cladding portions of waveguides in bulk glass by producing localized reductions in refractive index. The cladding portions written by the high-energy pulses circumscribe unexposed core portions for defining light-guiding pathways in the bulk glass.

Abstract: An optically active linear single polarization device includes a linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic optical waveguide (30) for propagating light and having single polarization wavelength range (48). A plurality of active dopants are disposed in a portion (34) of the linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic optical waveguide (30) for providing operation of the waveguide in an operating wavelength range (650) for overlapping the single polarization wavelength range (48).

Abstract: A method and system for self-synchronizing an optical packet network by selecting a seed pulse from among the data pulses within a packet having no synchronization marker, transforming the seed pulse to be optically distinguishable from the remaining data pulses after the packet has been transmitted, and extracting that seed pulse for use in synchronizing the operation of the network. In one embodiment, the process is practiced using a intensity modifier (such as a fast-saturation, slow-recovery amplifier) to modify the seed pulse intensity, and an intensity discriminator (such as an unbalanced NOLM, or a dispersion-shifted fiber and bandpass filter) to extract the differentiated seed pulse.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for processing a segment of x optical bit slots from a packet comprising y optical bit slots, each bit slot defining a respective one of first and second complementary logical states, within a time span shorter than or equal to the time for receipt of the packet. The apparatus including a segment replicator which generates serial copies of the segment of the packet, each copy residing within a respective word containing z bit slots, where z is equal to or greater than x; and a bit differential processor for processing successive bits of the successive copies of the segment in n successive processing steps, the product of n and z being less than or equal to y. The result of each processing step is output in sequence by the bit differential processor, the result of processing the segment being given by x successive bit slots of the output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: An electrolytic perovskite and method for synthesizing the electrolytic perovskite are described herein. Basically, the electrolytic perovskite is a solid that has an ion conductivity greater than 10?5 S/cm in a temperature range of 0–400° C., wherein the ion is Li+, H+, Cu+, Ag+, Na+ or Mg2+. For example, Li1/8Na3/8La1/4Zr1/4Nb3/4O3 (5.26×10?4 S/cm) and Li1/8K1/2La1/8NbO3 (2.86×10?3 S/cm) are two electrolytic perovskites that have been synthesized in accordance with the present invention that have a high Li+ conductivity at 20° C. Both compositions have been confirmed in experiments to conduct Ag+ and H+ ions, as well. The present invention also includes a solid proton conductor that can be formed from the electrolytic perovskite by replacing the ions located therein with protons.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of writing a light-guiding structure in a bulk glass substrate. The bulk glass substrate is preferably made from a soft silica-based material having an annealing point less than about 1380° K. A pulsed laser beam is focused within the substrate while the focus is translated relative to the substrate along a scan path at a scan speed effective to induce an increase in the refractive index of the material along the scan path. Substantially no laser-induced physical damage of the material is incurred along the scan path. Various optical devices can be made using this method.

Abstract: High-energy pulses of femtosecond lasers form cladding portions of waveguides in bulk glass by producing localized reductions in refractive index. The cladding portions written by the high-energy pulses circumscribe unexposed core portions for defining light-guiding pathways in the bulk glass.

Abstract: A phase volume hologram and a method for producing the phase volume hologram are described herein. The phase volume hologram is made by filling the microcavities of a porous transparent siliceous body with a polymerisable composition (e.g., liquid monomer or monomer/oligomer mixture). The filled siliceous body then has a hologram interference pattern recorded therein using a laser light that in conformity with the hologram interference pattern converts the polymerisable composition into a polymerized material (solid-phase polymer) and a non-polymerized material. In particular, the polymerized material has a volume fraction in the microcavities that is close to 1 in the vicinity of a maxima of the recorded interference pattern and close to 0 in the vicinity of a minima of the recorded interference pattern. Thereafter, the non-polymerized material is removed from the siliceous body which now resembles the phase volume hologram.

Abstract: The present invention is a modular optical switch fabric that includes optical modules that are inserted into an optical chassis by way of plug-in electrical connectors. Each optical module includes a collimator panel and a beam steering panel secured to a frame member. The frame member is configured to position the collimator panel in fixed optical alignment relative to the beam steering panel. The modular optical switch fabric is upgradeable. The optical switch fabric allows users to expand the switch fabric capacity by simply adding switch fabric modules. The optical switch fabric also features modules that can be replaced and repaired without causing interruptions in service.

Abstract: An electromagnetically induced transparent (EIT) photonic band-gap fiber (PBG). The EIT-PBG combines the pass gap and band gap properties of a photonic band gap (PBG) fiber with the transparency control of mediums exhibiting EIT effects, allowing the formation of various optical devices.

Abstract: A selective routing cross-connect device comprises a switch array, together with a phasar. The phasar comprises an array of channel waveguides, and first and second slab waveguides. A main input feeds a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal into the first slab waveguide so that demultiplexed outputs corresponding to an mth diffraction order exit the second slab waveguide. First and second further waveguides feed respective sets of demultiplexed signals back into the second slab waveguide at positions offset from said mth diffraction order (preferably at locations slightly offset from the adjacent diffraction orders). The first further waveguide supplies those demultiplexed signals which are to remain in the main channel, together with any added signals, whereas the third waveguide supplies those demultiplexed signals which are to be dropped. Selection of component signals for maintenance, adding or dropping is performed by control of the switch array.

Abstract: A tunable liquid crystal switch is disclosed. An electronic controller provides an electronic drive scheme for achieving low intra-channel crosstalk of less than −40 dB using only electronic compensation. A cross-talk less than −50 dB is provided by combining coarse temperature turning and electronic compensation. This is acheived by designing the thickness of the liquid crystal device to cause a minimum to occur at a wavelength longer than a longest operating wavelength and at a temperature greater than a maximum operating temperature. This ensures that the liquid crystal device is tunable over all operating wavelengths and temperatures using electronic compensation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protection switch for use in a node of a two-fiber optical shared protection ring. The two-fiber optical shared protection ring propagates at least one bi-directional channel. Each bi-directional channel includes a working first wavelength signal and a working second wavelength signal. One fiber in the two-fiber optical channel shared protection ring propagates the working first wavelength signal in a first direction and the other fiber in the two-fiber optical channel shared protection ring propagating the working second wavelength signal in a second direction opposite the first direction. The switch includes an N×N optical switch fabric system disposed in the node. The N×N optical switch fabric includes 2N input/output (I/O) ports, wherein N is four, or an integer multiple of four. Each optical switch fabric is configured to switch at least one bi-directional channel. At least N three-port optical devices are coupled to N of the I/O ports.