Abstract: A monitoring system provides for monitoring the optical performance of a plurality of different channels of a fiber optic network, each channel having an associated channel wavelength. The system includes: means for generating a calibration signal including a plurality of stable calibration wavelengths; means for combining a tapped communication signal and the calibration signal to generate a combined signal; and a multi-channel monitoring device.

Abstract: An optical cross switch device for selectively switching light beams between a plurality of fiber optic elements. The device includes an input fiber mounting assembly for securing at least one input fiber terminating in a fiber end for radiating an associated input light beam; collimating means for collimating the at least one input light beam; focusing means for focusing light beams incident thereon; an output fiber mounting assembly for securing at least one output fiber terminating in an output fiber end for receiving an associated light beam; and at least one mirror unit having at least one reflective element for selectively redirecting an associated one of the collimated input light beams toward an associated selected one of the output fiber ends via the focusing means.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing and demultiplexing device includes: a fiber mounting means for securing a plurality of optical fibers each terminating in a fiber end, at least one of the fiber ends radiating a corresponding input beam having a polarization state defined by a polarization plane that may vary as a function of time, and at least one of the fiber ends for receiving an output beam; collimating and focusing means having a focal length, and providing collimation of the input beams, and focusing of the output beams; diffraction means including at least one diffractive element providing for dispersion of optical beams passing therethrough, each diffractive element having an associated diffraction efficiency that varies as a function of the polarization state of light beams passing therethrough; and a polarization rotating means for rotating the plane of polarization of a beam passing therethrough by a specified number of degrees.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing and demultiplexing device including a fiber mounting assembly for aligning optical fibers, a set of collimating and focusing optics, a transmission grating element, and a mirror element. The fiber mounting assembly alignment element aligns a series substantially close-spaced optical fibers with their ends flush and assembled in a substantially straight line. The optical fibers are either multi-mode or single mode communication fibers capable of transmitting optical wavelengths with substantially high transmittance. The set of collimating and focusing optics, preferably a lens (or mirror) system that contains two (2) or more elements, may be made from optical glasses with uniform refractive indices, optical glasses with gradient indices, plastic optical elements, or diffractive lenses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring animal/human blood glucose and other metabolites including an excitation laser source, a negative pressure based sampling port which interfaces to a human or other animal tissue sample in vivo, a Raman spectrometer, and data analysis and display devices. The device can be made in a compact size and may be portable, and it can be used in homes, offices or clinics. A negative atmospheric sampling port is made of a vacuum chamber that is connected with an electrically or manually driven vacuum pump which creates a negative air pressure inside the vacuum chamber. Under the negative air pressure, a substantial amount of blood is "sucked" into a small area of the human finger so that measurement of an enhanced Raman signal can be made.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing and demultiplexing device includes: a plurality of optical fibers each terminating in a fiber end for radiating and receiving corresponding light beams; a fiber mounting assembly configured to support the optical fibers so that the fiber ends terminate in substantially the same plane, the mounting assembly also being configured to position the fibers in a regular array of N rows and M columns; reflecting means for reflecting beams radiating from the fiber ends; lens means for collimating and focusing beams propagating between the fiber ends and the reflecting means, the lens means having a focal length associated therewith; and diffraction means for diffracting beams propagating between the lens means and the reflecting means. The reflecting means includes a plurality of N reflective elements, each of the N reflective elements being associated with a corresponding one of the N rows.