Abstract: A method of forming a grating in waveguide uses an ion exchange process to provide a waveguide region within and clad by a surrounding substrate and through an ion exchange process diffusing into the substrate an ion, such as such as Ag+, that is photosensitive and that provides a refractive index difference from adjacent non-diffused regions of the substrate. After the diffusion process, the step of exposing at least some of the waveguide region to light having a suitable intensity and duration to provide a permanent index change within regions of the waveguide region to form a grating is performed.

Abstract: A thin transparent envelope is used to hold compact discs, case liners and liner notes. The envelope is thinner than a traditional jewel case to allow denser storage of multiple disks. An extended portion of the envelope securely holds the case liner and intact spine labels and allows a clear view of the spine label to allow for easy identification of the envelope's contents. In addition, the pocket portion of the envelope has side flaps and a shape which allow the pocket to easily accommodate insertion and removal of discs and literature.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a thermo-optical switch comprising a cascade of 1×M optical switches, gates for selectively blocking and unblocking the output paths of the cascaded switch, and means for driving the 1×M switches and the gates, which means are arranged to switch a data signal from an input path of the cascaded switch to one of the output paths, wherein the said means are also arranged to switch an unwanted signal, by means of a number of the remaining 1×M switches, to at least one of the remaining output paths. In the cascaded switch according to the invention, the generated heat is distributed evenly over the area of the switch and the overall amount of heat generated is reduced.

Abstract: A keyboard or keypad or other electronic assembly is adjustably suspended from an individual at waist-level and extends to a position which is comfortable and ergonomic for operation by a standing operator. Height adjustment of the keyboard assembly is provided by a band of semi-stiff material which attaches at one end to an individual's belt and attaches at the other end to a rotatable take-up roller located within the keyboard assembly; and two fold-out legs with a flexible strap stretched between them create a thigh stand-off assembly to angle the input device for better viewing during use. Extension and retraction of the band from the take-up roller, by manual operation, allows varying the height of the keyboard assembly according to to each individual's bodily requirements.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a polymeric phased array comprising an MMI input coupler with N inputs and an MMI output coupler with M outputs, N and M being natural numbers greater than or equal to 1, wherein the couplers are optically connected by means of an optical array comprising a series of optical waveguides, each of which differs from its nearest neighbour, in optical path length by a predetermined fixed amount, wherein the physical length of all the waveguides is substantially equal. The said phased arrays are less sensitive to changes in temperature and physical aging.

Abstract: An optical intensity modulator is disclosed which comprises a waveguide containing a core adjacent to at least one cladding layer and exhibits a refractive index n(core) different from the refractive index n(cl) or the cladding layer, where the waveguide is a bent channel waveguide and the intensity modulator contains a heater or cooler for altering the temperature at or near the bend. The core and the cladding layer exhibit different thermo-optic coefficients at the bend such that the contrast between n(core) and n(cl) can be changed by altering the temperature. The optical intensity modulator is more compact in size and more efficient with regard to energy consumption. The invention also pertains to thermo-optic switches and thermo-optic cascaded switches comprising the optical intensity modulator and to the use of the optical intensity modulator as a tunable attenuator.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a cross-linkable fluorinated polymer comprising the carbonate moiety having formula (I) wherein n=1-10 and m=0-9. Preferably, the polymer further comprises a cross-linkable moiety derived from a diol selected from (II) and (III) wherein A, A1, and A2 are independently a bond or C1-12 alkylene, or together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a 5- or 6-membered ring; B is independently O or C1-4 alkyl; Q is —CO—C(=E)D, wherein D is H or C1-4 alkyl, and E is C1-6 alkylidene; and each of the alkyl, alkylene, and alkylidene groups may be halogenated. The polymers of the invention can be used in cladding layers or waveguides, in particular for thermo-optical devices.

Abstract: An optical switch having a TEMC fiber and a displacement plate. The TEMC fiber having an input core and a plurality of output cores. The displacement plate coupled to the TEMC fiber to receive a light beam from the input core. The displacement plate to direct the light beam to one of the plurality of output cores by rotating the displacement plate a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A laser system is disclosed wherein a tunable laser signal has encoded within it information related to its wavelength at any instant in time. This encoding in one example is performed by modulating the signal to contain its wavelength information. This is particularly useful in a distributed system for testing optical components, wherein at a test site, the test station must determine the wavelength of light at which a component was tested.

Abstract: Multiple N×M and M×N optical switchers that may be combined within a single package to produce an N×N optical switch, where M is greater than N. The use of multiple optical switchers within an optical switch package allows for a higher degree of isolation than may be achieved than with a single stage optical switch. The optical switchers may be reflection type devices having no moving parts. The optical switchers may include a magneto-optic Faraday rotator having a thin crystal that is easy to grow and consumes less space, thereby enabling a smaller, less expensive, and less complex optical switch.

Abstract: A device and method for sorting of pellets so that pellets containing defects are detected and sorted out. The device includes a light detector arranged over a transparent pellet transport track. A light source is arranged on the opposite side of the track. The detector provides a measurement of a received light intensity, and if the measured intensity is lower than a predetermined threshold value, it can be assumed that a defect is present. The pellet containing the defect is then sorted out by actuating a sorting device. In order to obtain a high precision detection, light is distributed evenly from all directions, including ambient light. The light source fine tunes the balance of the light source and incoming light from other directions. A highly reflective chamber and/or tilted optical axis further provide the desired even distribution of light.

Abstract: An optical device is described. In one embodiment, the optical device includes first and second concave diffraction gratings, first and second concentrators, first and second sets of fibers, and an array of optical elements. The first concave diffraction grating reflects light from an input beam into multiple light waves of different wavelengths focused at spatially separate locations. The first concentrator has a first set of light guiding channels to transfer the light waves. The first set of fibers is optically coupled to the first set of light guiding channels. The array of optical elements includes optical elements that have at least one input and at least one output. Such inputs of each optical element in the array is coupled to one of the first set of light guiding channels. The second set of fibers is optically coupled to outputs of optical elements in the array. The second concentrator has a second set of light guiding channels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for tuning optical devices are described. Optical devices can be tuned by inserting tuning plates into the optical path(s) of the devices. Tuning plates can be, for example, quartz plates. By selecting the appropriate thickness and optical axis orientation, the tuning plate can be used to tune the optical devices to a precision that is unavailable through manufacturing specifications and tolerances of the components of the optical device alone. Because quartz has a relatively small birefringence, tuning plates made with quartz can be thicker, and therefore manufactured more precisely than the components of the optical devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for filtering optical channels to provide, for example, an interleaver, or a deinterleaver. A multi-plate comb filter is used to separate subsets of channels and for mixing subsets of channels. Interleavers and deinterleavers having one or more multi-plate comb filters can be used to increase the bandwidth of an optical network. The interleavers and deinterleavers can be used to interface components designed for a first channel spacing to components designed for a second channel spacing.

Abstract: Interleaver/deinterleaver apparatuses for combining/separating optical channels are described. An interleaver/deinterleaver apparatus is described as folded when an optical signal is directed through a single crystal multiple times. Single-pass refers to the optical signal following a (folded) path through the apparatus a single time. When operating as an deinterleaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver separates an optical signal (e.g., WDM signal) into subsets of optical signals (e.g., channels). When operating as an interleaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver mixes subsets of optical signals (e.g., channels) into a multiplexed (e.g., WDM) optical signal. The interleaver/deinterleaver apparatus can be used to increase the bandwidth of an optical network. For example, the interleaver/deinterleaver can be used to interface components designed for a first channel spacing (e.g., 100 GHz) to components designed for a second channel spacing (e.g., 200 GHz).

Abstract: The traditional solution to monitoring the pump laser power uses the back facet of the pump laser to monitor its power. However, stability and aging issues of the back facet may make it difficult or even impossible to measure the pump power to a high degree of accuracy using this method. Pump lasers often use fiber Bragg gratings to stabilize their wavelength. However, if an in-line optical fiber blazed Bragg grating is used, then the pump power is coupled out of the grating to a detector and monitored. The method of the present invention minimizes components and provides a direct monitoring of fiber coupled power. Alternatively, light coupled out of a WDM is used in a similar manner to monitor the pump power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric waveguide comprising a lanthanide ion-sensitizer complex, characterized in that the lanthanide ion is preferably neodymium(III) ion (Nd3+), ytterbium(III) ion (Yb3+), or erbium(III) ion (Er3+), and the sensitizer absorbs in the 400-1200 nm region, and preferably in the 600-1000 nm region. The invention also relates to an optical device comprising the same.