Abstract: Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

Abstract: A compact integrated APD device integrates the bias voltage and temperature compensation functions inside a standard 4-pin PIN package. The active components of the bias and temperature compensation circuits are integrated into a single ASIC using a high-voltage CMOS process and operated at frequencies of at least 1 MHz to greatly reduce the size of the passive components. To mount the relatively large ASIC chip inside the package with the APD chip, TIA chip and passives, the 4-pin package may be modified by either recessing the pins inside the can to facilitate surface mounting the ASIC or adding a spacer inside the can to facilitate three-dimensional packaging. Communication with the bias and temperature circuits is accomplished using a unique bi-directional 1-wire serial interface via the power supply pin. A clock signal is preferably embedded in the control data to synchronize the APD with an external controller.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

Abstract: A low cost compact integrated 4-port single-channel OADM with improved optical isolation and low insertion loss is provided in which a 4-fiber pigtail includes I/O fibers and add/drop fibers, which are arranged on the same side of the multiplexer. A lens, filter and reflector are arranged in a double-pass configuration to route the optical signals to and from the appropriate fibers. The fibers are suitably arranged with the input and drop fibers at the corners of one diagonal and the output and add fibers at the corners of the crossing diagonal with the midpoints of the diagonals intersecting. Furthermore, a point halfway between the input and output fibers suitably lies at or near the central axis of the collimating lens.