Abstract: An apparatus and method of chromatic dispersion includes the negative compensation per channel filter (130) coupled to an optical receiving path (100) for providing a lossless discontinuous per-channel dispersion compensation in the optical receiving path (100). The optical receiving path (100) includes an input port (131), at the input of the filter (130), for receiving an input optical pulse (120) having a packet of waves at corresponding frequencies transmitted and received by an optical fiber (115).

Abstract: An interference filter (10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, or 190) filters selected wavelengths by dividing an input beam into two or more intermediate beams having different optical path lengths and by recombining the intermediate beams into an output beam that is modified by interference between the intermediate beams. An optical path length difference generator (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, or 200) varies the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams by changing the physical lengths of their paths or the refractive indices of the mediums in which they are conveyed. The optical path length generator (20) of one exemplary embodiment (10) includes a spacer plate (20) that is divided into elements (22 and 24) having different refractive indices for varying the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams.

Abstract: A tester for characterizing individual ones of a semiconductor laser devices of a laser bar includes a holder for securing the laser bar in a fixed position. For moving in at least one relative direction with respect to the laser bar, a movable measurement system is provided for characterizing the individual ones of the semiconductor laser devices as a function of the at least one relative direction.

Abstract: An opto-electronic packaged platform (300) includes a high resistivity substrate (10) having an optical waveguide mounting portion (301), an optical device mounting portion (302), and an electrical waveguide portion (303) having a conductor pattern (312) and an underlying capacitance (330,230, and/or 30) forming a transmission line (340) for propagating high frequency signals.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 310) is provided including a first chip having at least one recess (18, 418) formed on the first chip, in the form of an optoelectronic/photonic device (12, 314), at a pre-selected location. A second chip, in the form of an optical component supporting substrate (14, 312), includes at least one projection (24, 424) extending therefrom at a pre-selected location, wherein at least one of the recess and the projection includes angled walls (28, 428) having an angle relative to the top of the wall less than 54.74° for capturing and directing the other of the at least one recess (18, 418) and the at least one projection (24, 424) for aligning the first chip to the second chip.

Abstract: Multiple uses are made available with an optical component (10) that is based on a fiber Fabry-Perot resonator (12). The optical component (10) includes substrate (14) having a variable length (16) for supporting and tuning the Fabry-Perot resonator (12) by varying the variable length (16) of the substrate (14) in response to a variable stimulus. A plurality of fiber retainers (22) are disposed on the substrate (14) for mounting and aligning the fiber Fabry-Perot resonator (12). To fix the position of the fiber Fabry-Perot resonator (12) relative to the substrate (14) and to define the variable length (16), a pair of binders (24) are disposed on the substrate (14) proximate selected opposed pairs (221 and 222) of the plurality of the fiber retainers (22).

Abstract: A multiwavelength laser includes a phasar portion (2) for providing wavelength accuracy and a DBR portion (14) coupled to the phasar portion (2) for forming a laser cavity (142) with the phasar portion (2).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a grating in a planar optical device by fabricating a surface grating or by photoinscription. For surface gratings, a method comprises providing a substrate material that includes a substrate layer, a first core layer, a second core layer, and a first photoresist layer. An exposure of a grating and a plurality of alignment marks is formed onto the substrate material. The second core layer is etched to form the grating in the second core layer. A second photoresist layer is deposited on the substrate material that remains after the first etching. An exposure of a waveguide pattern is formed in the first core layer. The first core layer is etched to define a first waveguide in the first core layer, where the first waveguide includes a first portion having the surface grating. For photoinscription, the fabrication method comprises providing a substrate material that includes a substrate layer, a core layer, and a first photoresist layer.

Abstract: An alignment procedure aligns the components of an arrayed optical fiber collimator and reduces losses associated with the collimator. Initially, an optical fiber array block including a plurality of individual optical fibers is received and retained. Next, a microlens array substrate including a plurality of microlenses integrated along a microlens surface and a substrate surface opposite the microlens surface is received and retained. Then, at least a portion of a first light receiver that is positioned to receive a light beam from at least one of the integrated microlenses is received and retained. Next, at least one light beam is provided from the light source to at least one of the plurality of individual optical fibers. Then, the position of at least one of the microlens array substrate and the optical fiber array block is adjusted in relation to each other to maximize the optical power of the light beam received by the first light receiver.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength laser (10) includes an optical loop (20) having a single optical cavity that supports a plurality of longitudinal modes, wherein the optical loop has a common gain medium (25) to supply the necessary optical gain to provide for a plurality of lasing longitudinal modes at a plurality of lasing wavelengths. A wavelength selector (30) is insertable into the optical loop within the optical path for selecting at least one lasing longitudinal mode (35) from the plurality of longitudinal modes. Although not exclusively, the multi-wavelength laser (10) is usable for WDM interferometric sensing (240).

Abstract: A coating and a method for protecting a flexible region of an optical device that generates different output optical signals based upon whether the region is flexed. The coating is applied to at least a portion of the region. The coating has a relaxation time that does not substantially affect the different output optical signals transmitted through the region while the region is being flexed and then unflexed.

Abstract: The invention includes a solid state laser which outputs wavelength emission &lgr;ss centered about 946 nm, combined with a lasing waveguide which includes a Yb doped optical waveguide such that when the &lgr;ss output is inputted into the lasing waveguide the lasing waveguide produces a wavelength emission &lgr;y centered about 980 nm. The invention further includes the utilization of pump light with optical waveguide amplifying devices.

Abstract: An optical spectrometer includes an echelle array disposed in the path of a light signal so as to diffract the incident light signal. The light signal falls within a predetermined wavelength band centered about a central wavelength. The echelle array has a plurality of diffraction scattering sites periodically spaced apart by a distance of at least about five times the central wavelength. The spectrometer further includes a photodetector array positioned to receive a far-field diffraction pattern produced by the diffracted light from the echelle array and to output electrical signals representing the spatial pattern and relative intensity of the far-field diffraction pattern. Additionally, the spectrometer includes a processing circuit coupled to the photodetector array for processing the electrical signals to determine the power spectrum of the light signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filter includes the steps of positioning a collimator assembly including a GRIN lens mounted thereto in a movable fixture, placing a UV or thermally curable adhesive on the periphery of the GRIN lens, moving the GRIN lens into engagement with a filter holder having a filter mounted therein, micro-tilting the filter holder while monitoring the input and output signals of the fibers coupled to the GRIN lens for insertion loss less than about 0.1 dB, and applying UV radiation through the filter end of the filter holder to initially cure the aligned subassembly. In a preferred embodiment, the resultant subassembly is subsequently stress relieved and thoroughly cured. In another embodiment, UV radiation is applied to the filter holder GRIN lens interface through one or more apertures formed in the side of the filter holder.

Abstract: A vibromotor (10) includes a polysilicon surface-micromachined substrate. A movable guided element is slidably mounted on the substrate. At least one thermal actuator (20) has an impact head (40) and an anchoring end. The anchoring end pivotally disposed on the substrate external to a side of the movable guided element controls the movement of the movable guided element by electrothermally biasing the impact head (40) to tap against the movable guided element.

Abstract: An optical device protection system provides dedicated and shared protection for a plurality of optical working devices which may include four-port optical working devices. The system includes an optical switch structure for routing an optical signal around an optical device when the optical device exhibits an error condition. A protection optical device performs a desired operation on the optical signal, wherein the optical switch structure directs the optical signal through the protection optical device. The use of liquid crystal switches allows the optical switch structure to sense an incorrect capacitance value associated with the liquid crystal switch. A control signal is then generated in response to the incorrect capacitance value. Thus, the optical device protection system provides flexibility and a low cost method for protecting complex optical devices.

Abstract: A tapered fiber laser having a multi-mode section, a single-mode section, and either a tapered section or fundamental mode matching junction therebetween. The multi-mode section has a large core to directly receive pump light from a broad stripe laser or diode bar, and a length preferably longer than the absorption length of the pump light (so optical amplification occurs predominantly in the multi-mode section). Doping levels can be increased to reduce the multi-mode length. The taper angle is sufficiently small to produce adiabatic compression of the fundamental mode from the multi-mode to single-mode sections, and acts as a cutoff filter favoring lasing of the fundamental mode within the multi-mode section. Alternately, the step junction may have a mode field diameter matched to the lowest-order mode, with laser light output via the single-mode section.

Abstract: Optical interference filters are designed with harmonic elements that can be related to Fourier series approximations of desired filter responses. The harmonic elements can be fashioned as individual waveguides of an array arranged in various formats including planar or concentric geometries. The expansion coefficients of the Fourier series correspond to normalized power distributions among the waveguides, and the harmonic components of the series correspond to incremental optical path length differences between the waveguides.

Abstract: A buried ridge semiconductor diode laser, preferably based on the GaAs and AlGaAs family of materials. The thin upper cladding layer is overlaid with an aluminum-free etch stop layer and an aluminum-free confinement layer, preferably of GaInP, of opposite conductivity type opposite that of the upper cladding layer. A trench is formed in the confinement layer extending down to the etch stop layer. Additional AlGaAs is regrown in the aperture to form a buried ridge. During the regrowth, no aluminum is exposed either at the bottom or on the sides of the aperture. The confinement layer is preferably lattice matched to the AlGaAs. The thin etch stop layer preferably has the same conductivity type and the same bandgap as the AlGaAs sandwiching it. For lasers producing shorter wavelength radiation, the aluminum content of the AlGaAs cladding layers is increased and some aluminum is added to the confinement layer but less than that of the cladding layers.

Abstract: An optical fiber is interfaced with an optical device formed on a substrate. The substrate includes a groove under and behind an interface between the optical fiber and the optical device. Provision of such a groove allows the substrate to be used for alignment and support of the optical fiber, while reducing fusion loss and improving durability of the interface. Steps for facilitating alignment may be provided in the substrate. Solder may be used to further improve durability of the interfaced structure.