Abstract: A diffraction grating for optical communication is disclosed. The diffraction grating includes a substrate and a reflective material adjacent the substrate, wherein one or more input optical signals incident the reflective material is diffracted into one or more output optical signals over a wavelength range of at least approximately 30 nm, within which the diffraction grating is substantially polarization insensitive.

Abstract: An opto-mechanical platform for supporting truncated optical elements having at least one substantially flat side surface is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the opto-mechanical platform may be realized as an apparatus for supporting truncated optical elements having at least one substantially flat side surface. Such an apparatus may comprise a platform having a substantially flat surface area for supporting the substantially flat side surface of the truncated optical elements. Such an apparatus may also comprise at least one substantially vertical wall formed on at least a portion of the platform for providing mechanical rigidity to the platform.

Abstract: A bi-directional wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing device is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the bi-directional wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing device comprises a diffraction grating for combining a plurality of monochromatic optical input beams into a multiplexed, polychromatic optical output beam, and for separating a multiplexed, polychromatic optical input beam into a plurality of monochromatic optical output beams; and a transmissive/reflective optical element for transmitting the plurality of monochromatic optical input beams on an optical path toward the diffraction grating, and for reflecting the plurality of monochromatic optical output beams received on an optical path from the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A technique for attaching an optical element to a structural element is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus for attaching an optical element to a structural element. Such an apparatus may comprise an optical element formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion value, a structural element formed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion value, and an intermediate element formed of a material having a third coefficient of thermal expansion value that is between the first coefficient of thermal expansion value and the second coefficient of thermal expansion value. The intermediate element is disposed between the optical element and the structural element such that thermal stress between the optical element and the structural element are transferred to the intermediate element.

Abstract: A bi-directional fiber optic jumper that connects two fiber optic system common wavelength fibers is disclosed. The retraction of the jumper exposes fiber connections and enables a system reconfiguration such as adding or dropping of common wavelengths into open fiber connections. A magnet is provided in the chassis of the jumper to engage a magneto-resistive device, such as a Hall effect sensor feature, that is contained on an optical add/drop device product chassis. The Hall effect sensor facilitates monitoring of insertion or withdrawal of the fiber channel jumper from the optical add/drop device.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) including a support structure that is coupled to at least one optical component. A diffraction grating is optically coupled to at least one optical component coupled to the at least one optical component. A frame is coupled to the diffraction grating. Pins may be coupled between the support structure and the frame to substantially thermally isolate the support structure from the frame. The pins may be substantially geometrically equally spaced and have approximately the same exposed length extending from the lens barrel. The pins may have the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the support structure.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer (WDM) for use in an optical network and in an optical performance monitor that minimizes increases in insertion losses over temperature variations has a structure for holding at least one optical component. A diffraction grating assembly having a substrate is held in relation to the at least one optical component by the structure. A lens assembly having a focal length is held in relation to the at least one optical component. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the lens assembly and structure are approximately equal. The grating assembly has an angular dispersion that changes with temperature and the product of the focal length and angular dispersion remains constant over temperature. The WDM further comprises a prism having a change in index of refraction with temperature that is approximately equal to a negative of a coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer (WDM) for use in an optical network has a structure for holding at least one optical component. A diffraction grating assembly having a substrate is held in relation to the at least one optical component by the structure. A lens assembly having a focal length is held in relation to the at least one optical component. The grating assembly has an angular dispersion that changes with temperature and the product of the focal length and angular dispersion remains constant over temperature.

Abstract: Improved wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A family of ultra-dense wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are disclosed. In the case of an ultra-dense wavelength division multiplexing device, a wavelength division multiplexing device is used for combining at least one plurality of monochromatic optical beams into a corresponding at least one single, multiplexed, polychromatic optical beam, wherein the wavelength division multiplexing device has an input element and an output element. A plurality of optical input devices is disposed proximate the input element, wherein each of the plurality of optical input devices communicates a plurality of monochromatic optical beams to the wavelength division multiplexing device for combining the plurality of monochromatic optical beams into a single, multiplexed, polychromatic optical beam.

Abstract: An improved wavelength division multiplexing device is disclosed. The improved wavelength division multiplexing device has a diffraction grating for combining a plurality of monochromatic optical beams into a multiplexed, polychromatic optical beam. The improvement in the improved wavelength division multiplexing device is the use of a homogeneous refractive index collimating/focusing lens for collimating the plurality of monochromatic optical beams traveling along a first direction to the diffraction grating, and for focusing the multiplexed, polychromatic optical beam traveling along a second direction from the diffraction grating, wherein the second direction being substantially opposite the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical coupling between optical fibers and semiconductor waveguides and method of use thereof. The optical coupler comprises a tapered semiconductor structure having a cross section defined in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction of propagation of light, which cross section has a dimension accurate to approximately 50 nanometer tolerance. The coupler has an optical index of refraction. The coupler has adjacent thereto material having an optical index less than that of the semiconductor, the adjacent material confining light within the semiconductor structure. In an exemplary embodiment, an optical communication device has two optical couplers disposed one at each end of a semiconductor waveguide to convey an optical communication from a source at one end to receiver at the other. In a further exemplary embodiment, a plurality of optical communication devices are disposed on a single semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An optical bench that provides a core component for a communication system that performs all of the necessary switching, adding, dropping, and manipulating of optical signals entirely in the optical domain. The optical bench comprises a dispersive optical element and a spatial light modulator. Various devices that are useful in the field of optical communication can be produced using the optical bench apparatus as a core component, with the addition of other components to the optical bench. Exemplary optical communication devices that can be built using the optical bench include optical add/drop multiplexers (OADM), Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) routers, tunable filters, tunable laser sources, optical cross connects, and the like.