Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for a fiber optic housing and aligning device. In one embodiment, a fiber optic housing and aligning device is provided. The device includes a housing having an opening in a wall thereof, the wall having a curved surface; a tubular casing comprising a ring therearound, the ring having a curved surface which mates with the curved surface of the housing so that the casing is directionally adjustable relative to the housing; and a collimator disposed within the casing, wherein the ring and the wall are configured to be permanently fixed to one another.

Abstract: Optical package and module designs use multiple-port (e.g. six-port) optical packages to create compact DWDM modules, add/drop packages, heat dissipation packages, optical amplifier filters, and the like.

Abstract: The invention describes a fiber optic module package which uses a metal-to-metal contact seal between a lid and a module housing. The metal-to-metal contact seal provides a sealing mechanism between the lid and the module housing. The module housing has a knife-shaped edge that can bite into a bottom surface of the lid when pressure is exerted on the lid. In a first embodiment, the module housing has a side slot in which an outer wall of the lid can enter which serves as a holding mechanism between the lid and the module housing. In a second embodiment, the module housing has an interior wall which can be pressed into a curved surface of the lid that serves as a holding mechanism between the lid and the module housing. In a third embodiment, multiple screws are inserted through multiple holes on the lid and into the module housing which serve as a holding mechanism between the lid and the module housing.

Abstract: An improved fiber-optic communications system comprises a multi-mode waveguide carrying an optical signal, a single-mode waveguide optically coupled to and receiving the optical signal from the multi-mode waveguide and an adiabatic coupler optically coupled between the multi-mode waveguide and the single-mode waveguide. The multi-mode and single-mode waveguides may be optical fibers. The adiabatic coupler may comprise a tapered core surrounded by a cladding. Alternatively, the adiabatic coupler may comprise a core surrounded by a cladding, wherein the refractive index of at least one of the core and the cladding varies over the length of the adiabatic coupler.

Abstract: A focusing device with a refractive index profile changing from the center of the focusing device towards its perimeter, is made of a material wherein the lateral refractive index distribution of the focusing device material is homogeneous and wherein the focusing device comprises holes for introducing a graded refractive index profile. This allows accurate control of the graded refractive index profile.

Abstract: The present invention describes a structure and method for a multi-ports WDM device for compensating the filter distortion while reducing insertion loss. The multi-ports WDM device comprises a 4-fiber collimator having a grin lens and a 2-fiber collimator having a lens where the focal plane of the second lens is shorter than the focal plane of the first grin lens Ands with aspheric surface. When a light signal travels through the first lens in the 4-fiber collimator to a filter, the film on the filter causes distortion to the light signal resulting in a large insertion loss. To compensate for the insertion loss, the lens on the 2-fiber collimator has a aspheric function and a shorter focal plane than the grin lens on the 4-fiber collimator. The type of grin lens used in the 4-fiber collimator is different than the lens used in the 2-fiber collimator. Effectively, the lens in the 2-fiber collimator operates to de-focus a light signal relative to the grin lens in the 4-fiber collimator.

Abstract: A semiconductor electrooptic monolithic component comprising successively a first section capable of emitting light at a first wavelength and including a first active layer, a second section capable of absorbing light at the said first wavelength and including a second active layer, and a third section capable of detecting light at a second wavelength and including a third active layer. The component is characterized in that the second active layer is designed to ensure in the said second section an absorption higher than that which would be allowed by an active layer identical to the said first layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a saturable light absorber adapted to receive different focused spectral components, wherein the structure of said saturable light absorber comprises microcavities integrated into a substrate and each associated with a respective one of said spectral components, each microcavity comprising a saturable absorber layer delimited by a top reflector and a bottom reflector and being disposed and having dimensions such that it receives only the focused spectral component associated with it.

Abstract: An optical apparatus functioning either as a multiplexer or a demultiplexer, including: a first polarization beam splitter (PBS); a second PBS optically coupled to the first PBS along an axis of the apparatus; a half-wave plate optically coupled between the first and second PBS; a common optical port optically coupled to the first PBS at a face intersecting the axis; a first non-common optical port optically coupled to the first PBS at a face not intersecting the axis; a second non-common optical port optically coupled to the second PBS; and a reflection interferometer optically coupled to the second PBS. The apparatus provides the benefits of using the reflection interferometer, but does not require paired reflection interferometers or Faraday rotators.

Abstract: A method and structure are disclosed with a simplified approach for fabricating a LiNbO3 wafer with Ti indiffusion wafeguide on the surface that is domain inverted. The method involves indiffusing Ti into LiNbO3 with a predefined temperature and time indiffusion range, a Li enriched and dry oxygen atmosphere, which allows making optical waveguides on the z? crystal face without any significant domain inversion occurring on the z+ face of the crystal. This allows for subsequent poling without the need of any additional removal of the thin domain inverted layer which would otherwise appear on the z+ face. Even in instance where a thin domain inversion layer is formed, it is insufficient thick to prevent poling, eliminating the need for the grinding process.

Abstract: An all optical switching system which is optically switched, from the signal channel all the way to a router. Errors in the routers are detected, and indications of those errors are sent back to the optical switch. The optical switch uses a system which picks off a piece of the signal to use the control signal to control the switching.

Abstract: Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an electro-optical device having an optical waveguide that includes two optical pathways, wherein the optical waveguide is embedded within the substrate. A bias electrode layer is formed on the surface of the substrate. A buffer layer is formed on at least a portion of the bias electrode layer and the surface of the substrate. An RF electrode layer is formed on the buffer layer. A bias-tee electrically couples the bias electrode layer and the RF electrode layer.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical fiber for reducing insertion loss and insertion loss ripple includes a tapered region where the optical fiber has a diameter of approximately 125 microns at a first end and a diameter of approximately 50 microns at a second end. The cladding layer of the tapered region is tapered from the first end towards the second end. This section of the optical fiber may be tapered using an etch process or any other technically feasible process. The tapered configuration enables the distance between the optical axes of two optical fibers inserted into a ferrule to be reduced from approximately 125 microns to approximately 50 microns. Decreasing the distance between the optical axes causes a reduction in both insertion loss and insertion loss ripple.

Abstract: An optical amplifier system comprises an optical gain medium receiving an input optical signal and outputting an amplified optical signal and a pump laser optically coupled to an input of the optical gain medium, wherein the pump laser emits a series of pulses to the optical gain medium, the pulses being emitted during coherence collapse operation of the pump laser, the time between pulses being shorter than an excited state lifetime of the optical gain medium.

Abstract: Optical pumping unit comprising a first pump source adapted to emit a first pump radiation at wavelength ?p1; a second pump source adapted to emit a second pump radiation at wavelength ?p2, with wavelength ?p2 different from wavelength ?p1; and a common coupling section comprising a first and a second port connected to the first and second pump source for respectively receiving the first and the second pump radiation; a third port for a signal radiation at wavelength ?s; a fourth port, wherein the coupling section is adapted to combine, in the fourth port, the signal radiation and the first and second pump radiation through a reversal of the direction of propagation of the first pump radiation from the first port to the fourth port.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tunable filter comprising an optical fiber incorporating a Bragg grating on a portion of the fiber. Said fiber portion is coated with a material retained within a confined space and adapted to exert pressure on said Bragg grating to compress said portion of fiber radially and to stretch it longitudinally.

Abstract: An optical alignment device holds fiber collimators in place with extremely good mechanical and environmental stability. The device includes a ball with a hole traversing the ball, an upper clamping block with a first inner concave spherical surface and a lower clamping block with a second inner concave spherical surface. The hole includes a shape that can accommodate or contact an optical component whose alignment is to be controlled. The ball, together with the enclosed optical component is firmly held between the first and second inner concave surfaces of the clamping blocks, which are tightened against the ball with screws. When firmly clamped within the concave surfaces, the ball is prevented from accidental movement but can still rotate about any axis to align the optical component. Once alignment is achieved, the optical component and the ball are secured in place by epoxy, glue, solder or other suitable adhesive.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated component (10) comprises a plurality of sections (21, 22) including a section (21) constituting a laser having a cavity delimited by a partially reflecting reflector and at least one other section (22) adjacent said laser section (21). The partially reflecting reflector (11) is disposed between the laser section (21) and one of the adjacent sections (22) and is a Bragg reflector grating (11) that allows multimode operation of the laser (21).

Abstract: In an optical or optoelectronic module (1) an intermediate medium (4, 10) whose optical index decreases with temperature is introduced into the optical path (7) between a laser diode (9) and an optical fiber (5). This compensates, by passive means, the power losses of the laser emission due to the increase in operating temperature by improving the transmission between the diode (9) and the fiber (5). The intermediate medium (4, 10) is preferably deposited in the form of a capsule (10) enveloping the diode (9) and the end of the fiber (5). This achieves, by passive means, a transmitted power that is independent of the operating temperature.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for a fiber optic housing and aligning device. A fiber optic housing and aligning device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, a directionally adjustable tubular casing that is mechanically coupled to a wall of the housing, and a collimator disposed within the directionally adjustable tubular casing, wherein the adjustable tubular casing comprises a convex spherical cap surface that mates with a concave seating surface of an opening within the wall and wherein the spherical cap surface may be attached to the housing by laser welding or by epoxy.