Abstract: An electronic amplifier circuit that provides improved gain control linearity characteristics resulting from having a controllable field effect transistor (FET) acting as a degeneration resistance (degeneration resistance FET) and a controllable load resistance FET. The overall gain function of the amplifier exhibits improved linearity in part due to the presence of the load FET, which tends to cancel the nonlinear behavior emanating from the degeneration FET. The circuit also includes a control circuit for generating non-linear control signals that are responsive to process characteristics of the FETs, such that the degeneration resistance FET and load resistance FETs may be controlled more consistently and independently from process variations.

Abstract: A peak detector circuit that responds rapidly to power transients, and yet is able to avoid interpreting data fluctuations as power transients by generating dual peak signals from an amplifier's differential output signal, where the dual peak signals have data ripple components that tend to cancel one another. The system and methods permit the peak detectors to be much more responsive to power transients by expanding their bandwith (shortening the time constants) to the point that low frequency data components affect the individual peak detector signals, but the effects are cancelled out when the individual components are added together. The peak detector described herein may be used in an AGC system to provide ripple-free gain control signals, while rapidly following any power transients in transmitted signals.

Abstract: A variable gain amplifier and offset cancellation loop circuit and methods for tracking and correcting DC offset errors that may vary in accordance with the gain of the variable gain amplifier. The circuit is designed to provide tracking of rapid changes in the offset error while maintaining a desired overall frequency response of the combined variable gain amplifier and offset loop. The offset loop cancellation circuit has a wide enough bandwidth to allow the offset cancellation loop to track rapid changes in offset errors that result from rapid changes to the amplifier's gain setting. A control circuit is provided to prevent the large offset cancellation loop bandwidth from having a detrimental effect on the amplifier's overall bandwidth when the amplifier is set to high levels of forward gain by adjusting the offset cancellation loop gain as the forward gain of the amplifier is altered.

Abstract: In at least one example, an optical component includes a central optical surface proximate an optical axis, a peripheral portion extending radially from the central optical surface, and a stepped portion between the central optical surface and the peripheral portion. The stepped portion may be formed to raise the central optical surface above the peripheral portion.

Abstract: A distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) includes a base substrate and a gain medium formed on the base substrate. A waveguide positioned above the base substrate in optical communication with the gain medium and defines a gap extending between the base substrate and the waveguide along a substantial portion of the length thereof. The waveguide may have a grating formed therein. A heating element is in thermal contact with the waveguide and electrically coupled to a controller configured to adjust optical properties of the waveguide by controlling power supplied to the heating element.

Abstract: A test module for establishing a releasable electronic connection to at least one radially arranged electrical lead of an electronic component is disclosed. The test module can include an elongate housing having a distal end and a proximal end, and a set of pivotal contact clamps for establishing a releasable electrical connection to the leads of an electrical component located at the proximal end of the elongate housing. The leads of the electrical component are radially arranged about a center point of the electrical component and at least one lead is located at a different radial distance from the center point of the electrical component.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing lead frame connectors for use in connecting optical sub-assemblies to printed circuit boards in optical transceiver modules are disclosed. The lead frame connectors are formed by first stamping a selected configuration of conductors in a conductive ribbon. Each of the conductors can then be secured in a fixed position with respect to each other. A casing having a first part and a second part can then be molded about the conductors such that each of the conductors forms an electrical contact restrained in a fixed position with respect to the first part and a contact point extending from the second part. The conductors can be bent into any desired position to allow the electrical contacts to be connected to the optical sub assembly and the contact points to be connected to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system for receiving an electronic digital data signal and transmitting the same, comprising an optical signal source adapted to receive the digital data signal and to produce a frequency modulated optical signal from a directly modulated semiconductor laser; an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to convert the frequency modulated optical signal into an amplitude modulated optical signal; and compensation apparatus for compensating for the adverse effects of the thermal chirp normally induced in the frequency modulated optical signal by modulating the semiconductor laser with the electronic digital data signal.

Abstract: An optical transceiver for detecting an incoming light beam and for transmitting an outgoing light beam along a common optical axis is provided. Such an optical transceiver provides a compact optical transceiver that is suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: An optoelectronic package having passive optical components that are configured to reduce the amount of optical back reflection that reaches an optoelectronic device housed within the optoelectronic package. In one example, the optoelectronic package includes an optoelectronic device, a wave plate, and a linear polarizer. The optoelectronic device is configured to emit an optical signal along an optical path. The wave plate is positioned in the optical path of the optoelectronic device. The linear polarizer is positioned in the optical path of the optoelectronic device between the optoelectronic device and the wave plate.

Abstract: A method for dynamically updating an optical transceiver (or optical transmitter or optical receiver) that has at least one processor and persistent memory that includes one or more write-protected memory locations. The write-protected memory locations of the persistent memory includes loader microcode that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the optical transceiver to have access to a first set of functionality. In order to implement the invention, the optical transceiver first processes received microcode. Then, the processed representation of the received microcode is written to the persistent memory outside of the one or more write-protected memory locations. The optical transceiver then determines that all of the microcode that is to be written to the persistent memory during the update has been written to the persistent memory. Finally, the persistent memory is altered to reflect that the update is complete.

Abstract: An optical emission module including an optical emission element, which is driven by a current. A fuse is placed in the current's path. The fuse limits the current through the optical emission element and thereby guarantees that the optical output power of the optical emission element is limited to a maximum level which ensures eye safety.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for a network tap having integrated circuitry therein for obtaining statistics about a communication line. The network tap also has a routing node for allowing information to be transmitted back into the communication line from an attached device without disrupting the communication traffic. The routing node coordinates the transmission of device data from an attached device to avoid data collisions with data transmissions already existing in the communication line. The routing node may be an Ethernet switch or field programmable gate array (FPGA). The integrated circuit may be a microprocessor or FPGA. The integrated circuit also controls other components of the network tap. The integrated circuit may also be programmed or upgraded to provide other functions.

Abstract: A system and method for decrypting all encrypted data packets captured from at least one of a plurality of access points in a wireless network. In the wireless network, each access point operates on its own channel, preferably using its own key or keyset. A profile is established containing all keysets for all access points. The profile is stored on the network in an encrypted form that can only be viewed through network analyzer software. The network analyzer software uses the profile to access all of the keys in use without an individual having to manually enter any key data into the analyzer software. The network analyzer can perform iterative decryption steps using all keysets in the profile until all encrypted data is decrypted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an optical transceiver module to limit the amount of time the optical transceiver module is allowed to operate. The optical transceiver module includes at least one processor, a persistent memory and a system memory. The persistent memory, which is coupled to the at least one processor, contains microcode. The microcode is loaded from the persistent memory to the system memory and executed by the at least one processor. The executed microcode causes the optical transceiver module to detect the amount of time that the optical transceiver has been operating. The optical transceiver module then determines if the detected amount of operating time is in excess of a predetermined amount of operating time. If the detected operating time is in excess of the predetermined amount of operating time, the optical transceiver module causes itself to become non-operational. The optical transceiver module may then report its operational status.

Abstract: Circuitry for monitoring an optoelectronic device includes memory, including one or more memory arrays for storing information related to the optoelectronic device and analog to digital conversion circuitry for: receiving a plurality of analog signals from the optoelectronic device; converting the received analog signals into digital values; and storing the digital values in memory mapped locations within the memory. The analog signals correspond to operating conditions of the optoelectronic device. The circuitry further includes a memory interface for allowing a host device to read from and write to memory mapped locations within the memory in accordance with commands received from a host device. The memory interface allows the host device to read the digital values corresponding to operating conditions of the optoelectronic device from the memory mapped locations within the memory.

Abstract: An optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving arrangement having: at least one optoelectronic component; an electrical printed circuit board having electrical contact areas for electrical contact-connection of the optoelectronic component; and a coupling arrangement for coupling light between the optoelectronic component and an optical waveguide to be coupled. In this case, the optoelectronic component is arranged directly on the printed circuit board and the printed circuit board is configured in such a way that a movable mounting of the optoelectronic component relative to the printed circuit board is present. A strain relief for the optoelectronic component is thereby provided as a result.

Abstract: There is provided a fiber optic transmission system, comprising: an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal; and a multi-ring resonator optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to convert the frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal. And there is provided a method for transmitting an optical signal through a fiber comprising: producing a frequency modulated signal; passing the frequency modulated signal through a multi-ring resonator optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) so as to convert the frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal; and passing the substantially amplitude modulated signal into the fiber.

Abstract: A laser filter circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input laser signal and a first filter chain configured to generate a filtered signal. The first filter chain is coupled to the input terminal and has one or more filters connected in series. Each filter includes one or more adjustable capacitor networks. An adjustable capacitor controller generates one or more capacitor switch control signals based on an operating frequency of the input laser signal. The one or more control signals are for adjusting the capacitance of the one or more adjustable capacitor networks in the first filter chain. A plurality of output terminal output the filtered signal from the first filter chain.

Abstract: Monolithic opto-isolators and arrays of monolithic opto-isolators are disclosed. The monolithic opto-isolators are manufactured in a single semiconductor wafer where they may be tested at the wafer level before each opto-isolator is singulated from the wafer. The monolithic opto-isolators include a VCSEL monolithically produced adjacent to a photodiode where an axis of optical signal transmission of the VCSEL is substantially parallel to an axis of optical signal reception by the photodiode.