Abstract: A variety of polarization independent optical isolators, including a single stage polarization independent optical isolator, a single stage broadband polarization independent optical isolator, a double stage polarization independent optical isolator, a double stage broadband independent optical isolator, and an optical isolator/monitor/amplifier, provide improved isolation characteristics and functionality. Optical systems are based upon input light traveling twice through the optical isolator/monitor/amplifier, and upon input light traveling twice through the optical isolator/monitor/amplifier connected in cascade with a double stage broadband polarization independent optical isolator.

Abstract: A fiber routing tray to hold, organize, and route fiber cables from external sources to other optical modules and optical components. The fiber routing tray mechanical device comprises a fiber entry block, fiber channel slot, retention bar with fiber clamps, fiber clamping slots, curved fiber routing fence, and a fiber exit opening. A retention bar with a contoured fiber retention clamps is used to hold fiber cables in place, provide a strain relief to a fiber cable, and distribute uniform clamping force on the fiber cable preventing insertion and return losses. Curved fiber channel slots with a preferable width help route fiber cables and prevent them from overbending. In addition, these fiber channel slots control the extension and retraction distance of the fiber cables during external fiber cable assembly. A curved fiber routing fence help route fiber cables and help prevent them from over-bending and tangling inside of the fiber reel tray.

Abstract: Methods of making a multiple-port optical device include precisely positioning pairs of optical fibers inside of a fiber ferrule using a positioning means, such as shaped capillaries or an external clamp, to hold the position of the fibers while adhesive is applied to the fibers and cured. The external precision positioning means comprise silicon wafers which are etched to form capillaries or guides for the fibers. Adhesive is applied to the fibers and wicked into the fiber ferrule capillary to completely fill the capillary. The external positioning means is removed after curing and the fiber ferrule is polished for use in optical devices such as multiple-port DWDM filter packages.

Abstract: The present invention provides the method and apparatus for multi-pass photonic processors with the use of circulators and multiple-fiber collimators. In one embodiment of the present invention, a circulator and a reflective element are placed at either end of a chain of cascaded processors. The circulator at a first end routes the light signal to be processed and passed from one processor to the next, the reflective element at a second end reflects the light to be reprocessed and passed from one processor to the previous, the light signal eventually reaches the circulator again and exits. In another embodiment of the present invention, multiple fiber strands are connected to the collimator of a photonic processor. Furthermore, all fiber strands are paired in order to reroute the light signals for reprocessing in the photonic processor.

Abstract: An optical device includes: a collimator; at least one anamorphic pair of prisms optically coupled to the collimator; a diffraction grating optically coupled to the at least one anamorphic pair of prisms at a side opposite to the collimator; and a focusing lens optically coupled to the diffraction grating. The anamorphic pair of prisms permits light incident upon the diffraction grating to be relatively narrow in a dimension perpendicular to the dispersive direction of the grating so that the grating can produce high spectral resolution while preserving compact system size and simplicity.

Abstract: The invention provides a dispersion compensation system and method formed by cascading a series of GT cavities with three setting parameters, reflectivity, resonant wavelength, and free-spectral-range. In one aspect of the invention, the GT cavities can synthesize any shape of combined dispersion compensation, including positive, negative, slope dispersion compensation. In another aspect of the invention, the GT cavities are tunable or dynamic to accommodate various types of dispersion compensation. Advantageously, the present invention provides an effective cost solution for a more precise dispersion compensation tuning.

Abstract: An optical coupling device for coupling light in between two optical waveguide end faces, in which the geometric position of one optical waveguide end face can be varied with respect to the other optical waveguide end face with the aid of a variable-length element. The element carries one of the two optical waveguides, and is connected to the other optical waveguide via a holding block. The variable-length element is connected to a variable-length compensating element, whose length changes with temperature by the same amount but in the opposite sense as that of the variable-length element. The variable-length compensating element is fixed to the second holding block.

Abstract: A self-adjusting optical add-drop multiplexer monitors the power in a drop signal and attenuates the power in an add signal to match the power in express WDM channels (signals). When used in a fiber network, and more particularly, in a metro network, the deleterious effects of optical amplification are reduced. Power attenuation is also used in an optical switching assembly particularly useful in two-fiber ring network. The optical switching assembly monitors drop channels from the two rings of the network and attenuates the add channel(s) accordingly. An optical switch operates to direct the drop signal from one of the two rings to a receiver in accordance with a control signal based on the monitored drop channels. The self-adjusting optical add-drop multiplexer also monitors the power in the drop signals and issues an alarm if the drop signal is of a power level above or below predetermined levels.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved switchable interleaved channel separator device. The switchable interleaved channel separator device utilizes an adjustable reflective non-linear interferometer, which performs both switching and wavelength polarization sorting functions, so that overall complexity of the device is reduced. Further, because the adjustable non-linear interferometer is a reflection element, signal light paths are folded back upon one another so as to realize an overall reduction in the device's size, as well as the capability of performing optical couplings predominantly or wholly at a single side or at adjacent sides of the device.

Abstract: A Multi-mode Interferometric coupler comprising: a first amplifying part (2), a second transparent part (4) to guide radiation previously amplified in the first part.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for producing chromatic dispersion. The apparatus includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator, a mirror and a lens. The VIPA generator receives an input light at a respective wavelength and produces a corresponding collimated output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, the output light thereby being spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light at a different wavelength. The mirror has a cone shape, or a modified cone shape. The lens focuses the output light traveling from the VIPA generator onto the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light. The reflected light is directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator. In this manner, the apparatus provides chromatic dispersion to the input light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing a light source in an optical network. The method includes providing a multiple-wavelength light, and filtering the multiple-wavelength light into a plurality of separated wavelength bands for a plurality of channels. In the preferred embodiment, each of the separated wavelength bands is substantially centered about the wavelength of a respective one of a plurality of optical channels. The plurality of separated wavelength bands is stabilized and then provided to the optical network. The light source in accordance with the method and system of the present invention is designed to only output wavelengths that correspond to optical transmission channels while eliminating the rest. It suppresses possible mode hopping, thus maintaining the power stability of all channels.

Abstract: A tunable chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensator that utilizes a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA), a rotating transmissive diffraction grating, and a mirror with different curvatures for different cross-sections is disclosed. The compensator in accordance with the present invention provides simultaneous tunable compensation of chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope utilizing a single apparatus. The amount of compensation is accomplished by rotating the transmissive diffracting grating and/or translating the mirror. A system which utilizes the compensator is thus cost effective to manufacture.

Abstract: An optical switch and method of making in which a large number of optical elements, which may be diffractive or refractive, are formed within the plane of a wafer to transmit light approximately perpendicularly to the wafer plane. The optical elements are formed on separate deformable mechanical elements, such as a plate rotatable about two axes lying approximately parallel to the wafer plane. Electrical elements, such as capacitor plates with a free-space gap therebetween selectively deform the mechanical elements in a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) arrangement with the optical elements disposed upon the mechanical elements to separately control the directions in which the light beams are transmitted. The optical switches may be formed in an array, and two levels of such arrays formed in separate wafers which are bonded together allow two-stage switching of light through the assembled structure.

Abstract: A bi-directional polarization independent optical isolator and monitor/amplifier system simultaneously transmits two separate signal rays in opposite forward directions while simultaneously suppressing backward transmission of each signal ray in its respective reverse direction. Both of the counter-propagating signal rays are amplified within an optical gain element. The separate signal rays include either two wavelength bands completely separated in wavelength or two sets of wavelengths, each of a plurality of wavelengths, such that wavelengths of the two signal rays are interspersed in alternating fashion. The bi-directional polarization independent optical isolator portion of the system comprises a birefringent polarization separation element, a reciprocal optical rotation element, a lens, a reflective element, a lens, a non-reciprocal optical rotation element, and a birefringent polarization combining element.

Abstract: A high-speed external optical modulator formed on a lithium niobate substrate has a diffused optical waveguide, a surface buffer layer, and electrodes for applying modulating RF energy. The electrodes are electroplated in at least two steps, resulting in a top co-planar waveguide structure lying on a second one. Low driving voltage is achieved through selection of the width, position, and dimension of the lower hot and ground electrodes. The upper ground electrodes and, preferably, also the upper hot electrode, are narrower in width than the corresponding lower electrodes, which helps to provide good velocity matching, good impedance values, and low electrical losses.

Abstract: A device for comparing between N nominal wavelength values (&lgr;ei) and the wavelength values of optical signals coupled respectively with input ports (GEi) of a phasar with a grating (R) of guides (Gj), the said phasar comprising a main output port (GS (m) designed to collect the combination of the said signals, the said main output port (GS(m)) being placed at a focal point corresponding to a given interference order m of the grating, characterized in that the phasar comprises two secondary monitoring output ports (A, B) respectively placed in the vicinity of focal points corresponding to the interference orders m−1 and m+1 of the grating (R).

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber amplifier device with an optical signal input and output with first piece of amplifying fiber doped with lanthanide in a double-clad structure, a second piece of amplifying fiber doped with lanthanide in a ring structure and lasers for pumping the two fiber pieces with at least one pump module.

Abstract: A coplanar waveguide, which has parallel conductor strips that are arranged on a substrate and have an electrically insulating intermediate space between one another, wherein a material with a high dielectric constant is arranged on the conductor strips, on their side facing away from the substrate. In this way, it is possible to achieve a line section with a relatively small characteristic impedance.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved gain slope equalizer which provides variable optical attenuation. The gain slope equalizer includes a transmission diffraction grating with a first side and a second side; a first lens optically coupled to the second side of the transmission diffraction grating; and at least one reflective surface optically coupled to the first lens at a side opposite to the transmission diffraction grating. The gain slope equalizer in accordance with the present invention can also be used with a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA) to provide a chromatic dispersion slope and chromatic dispersion compensation as well as variable optical attenuation. The present invention provides the heretofore unavailable capability of simultaneous tunable gain slope equalization and chromatic dispersion compensation utilizing a single apparatus.