Abstract: An optical device and method providing multi-channel bulk optical power monitoring is disclosed. The device and method may include a scanning mirror, a plurality of input optical fibers, a plurality of output optical fibers, and at least one sample optical fiber optically connected to a photodetector. The device and method may further include a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface may reflect light from the input optical fibers to the second reflective surface. The second reflective surface may reflect a first portion of the light into the output optical fibers and pass a second portion of the light to the scanning mirror. The scanning mirror may reflect samples of the second portion of the light into the at least one sample optical fiber.

Abstract: MEMS and fabrication techniques for positioning the center of mass of released structures in MEMS are provided. In an embodiment, a minor substrate is affixed to a member partially released from a first substrate and a through hole formed in the second substrate is accessed to complete release of the member.

Abstract: MEMS and fabrication techniques for positioning the center of mass of released structures in MEMS are provided. A released structure may include a member with a recess formed into an end face of its free end. A released structure may include a plurality of members, with the longitudinal lengths of the members being of differing lengths. Mass of a member disposed below a plane of a flexure may be balanced by mass of a second substrate affixed to the member. In an embodiment, a mirror substrate is affixed to a member partially released from a first substrate and a through hole formed in the second substrate is accessed to complete release of the member.

Abstract: A micromechanical structure is described. A region of semiconductor material has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a lateral surface that surrounds the region of semiconductor material. Insulative material covers the first surface and the lateral surface of the region of semiconductor material to provide electrical isolation to the region of semiconductor material by forming a boundary. To form the micromechanical structure, a trench is etched in a semiconductor substrate to surround a region of the semiconductor substrate. A surface of the semiconductor substrate and the trench are oxidized to form a top oxide and a lateral oxide region. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is etched to expose a backside of the region of the semiconductor substrate and a portion of the lateral oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus is described to provide multi-channel bulk optical power detection. The apparatus has a plurality of optical splitters coupled to respective fiber-optic lines of a plurality of fiber-optic lines. An optimal time-division multiplexer has an input coupled to the plurality of optical splitters. A photodetector is coupled to an output of the optical time-division multiplexer to provide bulk optical power detection. The optical time-division multiplexer includes a scanning mirror.

Abstract: An optical switch for routing arbitrary wavelengths between optical fibers in optical networks. The optical switch may include a highly wavelength dispersive element together with a spatially dispersive element to separate the wavelengths. Broadband switch inputs and outputs may be provided for adding and dropping arbitrary wavelengths at each node of the network. Fiber demultiplexers and multiplexers may also be used to reduce the impact of mirror array yield on switch functionality.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric with an input stage, an output stage, and a center stage coupled in a cascaded manner. The center stage includes (1) a minimum number of center switches greater than one that cause the optical switch fabric to be strict-sense nonblocking and (2) at least one additional center switch to provide redundancy for the optical switch fabric. A module is described that includes optical input and output switches coupled to an optical center stage of an optical switch fabric. The module includes an interior cavity that contains free space beams from both the optical input switch and the optical output switch. A method is described for reconfiguring a redundant optical switch into a multilevel optical switch without interrupting operation of the signals carried by the optical switch by adding additional switch components and reconfiguring the fiber interconnection between switch elements.

Abstract: An improved photonic switch having optical amplification is described. Signals are amplified before they are switched, after they are switched, or both before and after they are switched. The optical amplification compensates for fixed losses within the switch and transmission system, or provides output power equalization. The photonic switching system includes a demultiplexer for dividing incoming light into different wavelengths or wavebands. The different signals are then supplied to optical amplifiers. The amplifiers amplify the optical signals before supplying them to the optical switch core. Once in the optical switch core, the signals are switched as desired to specified output nodes, then multiplexed back together to provide an output signal from the photonic switching system. In some systems amplification is further provided on the output side.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that may be used to provide decoupled rotation of structures about different pivot points. The apparatus may include one or more fixed blades mounted to a frame or substrate, one or more movable blades mounted to each structure to be moved, and flexures on which the structures are suspended. Separate movable blades may be provided for each degree of freedom. When voltage is applied between the fixed and movable blades, the electrostatic attraction generates a force attracting movable blades toward blades that are fixed relative to the moveable blades, causing a structure to rotate about the flexures. The angle of rotation that results may be related to the size, number and spacing of the blades, the stiffness of the flexures and the magnitude of the voltage difference applied to the blades. The blades are fabricated using deep silicon etching.

Abstract: An optical switch for routing arbitrary wavelengths between optical fibers in optical networks. The optical switch may include a highly wavelength dispersive element together with a spatially dispersive element to separate the wavelengths. Broadband switch inputs and outputs may be provided for adding and dropping arbitrary wavelengths at each node of the network. Fiber demultiplexers and multiplexers may also be used to reduce the impact of mirror array yield on switch functionality.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric with an input stage, an output stage, and a center stage coupled in a cascaded manner. The center stage includes (1) a minimum number of center switches greater than one that cause the optical switch fabric to be strict-sense nonblocking and (2) at least one additional center switch to provide redundancy for the optical switch fabric. A module is described that includes optical input and output switches coupled to an optical center stage of an optical switch fabric. The module includes an interior cavity that contains free space beams from both the optical input switch and the optical output switch. A method is described for reconfiguring a redundant optical switch into a multilevel optical switch without interrupting operation of the signals carried by the optical switch by adding additional switch components and reconfiguring the fiber interconnection between switch elements.

Abstract: A system is described for providing selectable delay. A first converter converts a first electromagnetic signal into an optical signal. An optical switch is coupled to the first converter to provide selectable delay by selection of paths by a plurality of movable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors. The paths have respective measurable differences in delay for the optical signal. A second converter coupled to the optical switch converts the optical signal into a second electromagnetic signal. The differences in delay for the optical signal result in differences to delay for the second electromagnetic signal in comparison to the first electromagnetic signal. Relatively short delays are provided by the optical switch and relatively long delays are provided by a plurality of fiberoptic delay lines.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling optical loss in an optical switch to equalize optical power or loss in a group of optical signals in an optical transmission system relatively insensitive to mechanical vibration. In one embodiment a group of optical signals is input into an optical switch and selected optical signals are variably attenuated using synchronized control to two mirrors in order to provide more uniform power distribution among the group of optical signals without enhancing vibration sensitivity of the optical switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described to provide optical path protection for an optical switching system. An apparatus includes a first optical core switch, a second optical core switch, and an optical protection switch. The optical protection switch has at least two inputs and at least two outputs that allow the optical protection switch to direct input optical data traffic to one of the first optical core switch and the second optical core switch, and to direct a test signal to the other of the first optical core switch and the second optical core switch. For one embodiment, the optical protection switch is a 2×2 non-blocking optical switch having only two-path loss optimization. Alternatively, the optical protection switch may be a blocking 3×2 optical switch implemented to function as a 2×2 non-blocking optical switch. For one embodiment, the blocking 3×2 optical switch is a translational switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that may be used to provide decoupled rotation of structures about different pivot points. The apparatus may include one or more fixed blades mounted to a frame or substrate, one or more movable blades mounted to each structure to be moved, and flexures on which the structures are suspended. Separate movable blades may be provided for each degree of freedom. When voltage is applied between the fixed and movable blades, the electrostatic attraction generates a force attracting movable blades toward blades that are fixed relative to the moveable blades, causing a structure to rotate about the flexures. The angle of rotation that results may be related to the size, number and spacing of the blades, the stiffness of the flexures and the magnitude of the voltage difference applied to the blades. The blades are fabricated using deep silicon etching.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling optical loss in an optical switch to equalize optical power or loss in a group of optical signals in an optical transmission system relatively insensitive to mechanical vibration. In one embodiment a group of optical signals is input into an optical switch and selected optical signals are variably attenuated using synchronized control to two mirrors in order to provide more uniform power distribution among the group of optical signals without enhancing vibration sensitivity of the optical switch.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling optical loss in an optical switch to equalize optical power or loss in a group of optical signals in an optical transmission system relatively insensitive to mechanical vibration. In one embodiment a group of optical signals is input into an optical switch and selected optical signals are variably attenuated using synchronized control to two mirrors in order to provide more uniform power distribution among the group of optical signals without enhancing vibration sensitivity of the optical switch.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric with an input stage, an output stage, and a center stage coupled in a cascaded manner. The center stage includes (1) a minimum number of center switches greater than one that cause the optical switch fabric to be strict-sense nonblocking and (2) at least one additional center switch to provide redundancy for the optical switch fabric. A module is described that includes optical input and output switches coupled to an optical center stage of an optical switch fabric. The module includes an interior cavity that contains free space beams from both the optical input switch and the optical output switch. A method is described for reconfiguring a redundant optical switch into a multilevel optical switch without interrupting operation of the signals carried by the optical switch by adding additional switch components and reconfiguring the fiber interconnection between switch elements.

Abstract: Shaped electrodes for micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) devices to improve actuator performance and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. The shaped electrodes utilize its three-dimensional geometry to shape an electric field for electrostatic actuation for MEMS devices. For example, the height, width, length, sidewall slope, and layout of the shaped electrodes can be used to provide an optimum electric field in moving a MEMS mirror device. The shaped electrodes can provide electrostatic actuation at a low operating voltage and provide an optimum electric field for maximum tilt or angular range of motion for a MEMS mirror device. The shaped electrodes can be fabricated simply by using a pillar wafer and an electrode wafer. The pillar wafer can be used to form pillars as electrodes, or, alternatively, as barriers. A single substrate can also be used to form pillars and electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical switch comprising a housing, an input optical fiber, a mirror substrate, an input pivoting mirror, an output optical fiber, a first optical splitter, and a first optical detector. The input optical fiber propagates a light beam and is secured to the housing. The mirror substrate is secured to the housing. The input pivoting mirror is located in a path of the light beam after leaving the input optical fiber. The input pivoting mirror is pivotally secured to the mirror substrate. Pivoting of the mirror relative to the mirror substrate alters an angle with which the light beam is reflected therefrom. The output optical fiber is secured to the housing and has an end through which the light beam enters after being reflected by the input pivoting mirror. The first optical splitter is located in a path of the light beam after leaving the input optical fiber. The first optical splitter splits the light beam into a first propagated portion and a first monitoring portion.