Abstract: A method for forming electrically conductive patterns to provide an electrically conductive path on a polymer tube is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing a polymer tube and mounting such in a displaceable and rotatable mounting that is adapted to provide both axial and rotational motion. This is followed by forming at least one channel having a predetermined pattern in the polymer tube with a focused energy beam, the channel then being filled with an electrically conductive paste or electrically conductive slurry material. The polymer tube is then heated to temperatures less than 250° C. to cure the electrically conductive paste or electrically conductive slurry material. The electrically conductive paste or electrically conductive slurry material is then covered with a polymer layer.

Abstract: A delay line system able to reduce the microwave loss by reducing the effective dielectric loss and dielectric constant of the system including a signal line, dielectric system with opened trench or slot filled up with the air or lower dielectric loss material, a ground plane, and a system of switches if the line is to be variable. The delay line proposed in this invention could be made of any type of signal line configuration, for example: micro-strip line, strip line, or coplanar line. The signal line can also be made as single ended or differential pairs of any configurations. The delay line systems based on the fundamental techniques provided in this invention can be used for on-chip devices where the delay line is laid on the oxide or dielectric material, or in a traditional PCB implementation such as FR4.

Abstract: An encapsulated micro device includes a micro device on a substrate within a chamber, a transparent encapsulation cover in part defining the chamber, an opaque layered structure on the encapsulation cover and inside the chamber. The layered structure includes an opening over the micro device and is configured to absorb light and moisture in the chamber. A spacer wall between the substrate and the encapsulation cover in part defines the chamber.

Abstract: This invention provides a tunable delay of an optical signal having a carrier with an angular frequency ?0 and a single side band having a signal band with a median angular frequency ?r. The delay line comprises at least a first, a second and a third integrated resonators coupled sequentially to a waveguide. The first and the second resonators have angular resonant frequencies ?1=?r??? and ?2=?r+?? respectively, where ?? is a deviation from the median frequency. The third resonator provides a phase delay difference between the phase at the optical carrier ?0 and the phase at the median frequency ?r equal to (?r??0)Td, where Td is the time delay. The device provides an equal group delay to all frequency components in the output signal and also equal phase delay for all frequency components of an RF signal when the optical signal is downconverted at a photodetector. The device may find applications controlling the time delay to antenna elements in a phased array system.

Abstract: A non-contact sensor is attached to the indenting module with its working range encompassing the tip of the indenter. The sensor directly measures penetration depth of the indenter during scratch, wear or instrumented hardness testing. During the test, the non-contact sensor records the height of the surface as the indenter penetrates the surface of the testing specimen.

Abstract: A shared modulator applies radial stress to the polarization-dependent fiber chains to induce birefringence and simultaneously Q-switch two or more fiber lasers. Multiple temporally overlapping pulsed beams can be generated with pulses <100 ns and even <30 ns with repetition rates from 50 Hz up to 650 KHz. A pair of Q-switched fiber lasers at slightly different wavelengths being well suited to provide a low-frequency light source through difference frequency generation (DFG) by nonlinear optical materials.

Abstract: The apparatus and methods herein provide quantitatively controllable light sources and expanded dynamic range endoscopy systems that can improve the quality of images and the ability of users to distinguish desired features when viewing tissues by providing methods and apparatus that improve the dynamic range of images from endoscopes, in particular for example with endoscopes that have dynamic range limited because of small image sensors and small pixel electron well capacity, and other optical system constraints. The apparatus and methods herein, for example, combine light sources with quantitatively variable spectral output and quantitatively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution with image sensors and controllers to create an expanded dynamic range endoscopy system.

Abstract: The invention describes method and apparatus for a mode converter enabling an adiabatic transfer of a higher order mode into a lower order optical mode within a photonic integrated circuit exploiting integrated semiconductor ridge waveguide techniques. As disclosed by the invention, such a mode conversion is achievable by using an asymmetric coupler methodology. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the invention is used to provide a low insertion loss optical connection between laterally-coupled DFB laser operating in first order mode and passive waveguide operating in the zero order optical mode. The integrated arrangement fabricated by using one-step epitaxial growth allows for a launch of the laser's light into the waveguide circuitry operating in the zero order lateral mode or efficiently coupling it to single-mode fiber, an otherwise high loss interface due to the difference in laser and optical fiber modes.

Abstract: An optical fiber mode coupling device, capable of being readily connected to a conventional optical fiber with a high degree of ruggedness, is provided. The inventive mode coupling device only allows transmission of at least one supported fiber mode therethrough, and is preferably configured to maximize the coupling, of at least one desired fiber mode, to the at least one supported fiber mode. Advantageously, the inventive mode coupling device is capable of performing the functions of a mode filter for the signal entering its first end, or serving as a mode conditioner for the signal entering its opposite second end.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a spatial light modulator with high contrast are described. Light absorbing materials are used within a chamber that houses a spatial light modulator. The light absorbing materials absorb reflected light that is not intended for forming a part of a display image. The light absorbing material can form an aperture layer, wherein light to form the display image is transmitted through an opening in the aperture layer. An array of spatial light modulators can be within the housing and dummy spatial light modulators may be formed to enable easy alignment of the array with the opening in the aperture layer.

Abstract: The invention describes method and apparatus for a mode converter enabling an adiabatic transfer of a higher order mode into a lower order optical mode within a photonic integrated circuit exploiting integrated semiconductor ridge waveguide techniques. As disclosed by the invention, such a mode conversion is achievable by using an asymmetric coupler methodology. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the invention is used to provide a low insertion loss optical connection between laterally-coupled DFB laser operating in first order mode and passive waveguide operating in the zero order optical mode. The integrated arrangement fabricated by using one-step epitaxial growth allows for a launch of the laser's light into the waveguide circuitry operating in the zero order lateral mode or efficiently coupling it to single-mode fiber, an otherwise high loss interface due to the difference in laser and optical fiber modes.

Abstract: A fiber-laser-based implementation of a Gigahertz source through difference frequency generation (DFG) by nonlinear optical (NLO) materials is compact, tunable and scalable. A pair of pulsed fiber lasers, preferably single-frequency, generate output pulses at frequencies ?1 and ?2 that overlap temporally. A beam combiner combines the laser outputs and routes the combined output to a GHz generator head where a nonlinear interaction process in the NLO material generates GHz radiation.

Abstract: There is provided an optical assembly and a method for assembling components of the optical assembly, the method comprising: providing a structure for guiding light; providing a plurality of optical fibers embedded in a fixed arrangement in the structure, the optical fibers for coupling the light from a coupling surface the structure; abutting a first package against the coupling surface, such that each one of multiple elements comprised in the first package is substantially aligned with each one of a first group of optical fibers in the plurality of optical fibers; and abutting a second package against the coupling surface, adjacent to the first package, and such that: the first and the second package are spaced apart by a gap; and each one of multiple elements comprised in the second package is substantially aligned with each one of a second group of optical fibers in the plurality of optical fibers, the gap providing a tolerance in a position of any one of: each one of the elements in the packages; the pac

Abstract: A micromirror for use in an optical apparatus may comprise a reflective portion, configured to be rotatable about a switching axis and an attenuation axis that is different from the switching axis. The reflective portion may include an edge that is substantially parallel to the attenuation axis. The edge may include one or more edge features that protrude above a plane of the micromirror surface and/or are submerged below the plane of the micromirror surface, and/or have an edge shape that deviates from a straight line. Alternatively, an array of micromirrors may have mirrors characterized by sawtooth features disposed along edges that are substantially parallel to the attenuation axis.

Abstract: A high contrast spatial light modulator for display and printing is fabricated by coupling a high active reflection area fill-ratio and non-diffractive micro mirror array with a high electrostatic efficiency and low surface adhesion control substrate.

Abstract: Novel structures of the photodetector having broad spectral ranges detection capability are provided. The photodetector can offer high quantum efficiency >95% over wide spectral ranges, high frequency response >10 GHz (@3 dB). The photodiode array of N×N elements is also provided. The array can also offer wide spectral detection ranges ultraviolet to 2500 nm with high quantum efficiency >95% and high quantum efficiency of >10 GHz, cross-talk of <1%. In the array, each photodiode can be independently addressable and can be made either as top-illuminated or as bottom illuminated type detector. The photodiode and its array provided in this invention, could be used in multiple purpose applications such as telecommunication, imaging and sensing applications including surveillance, satellite tracking, advanced lidar systems, etc. The advantages of this photodetectors are that they are uncooled and performance will not be degraded under wide range of temperature variation.

Abstract: The invention describes an integrated-photonics arrangement, implementable in a multi-layer III-V semiconductor structure, which has a semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial semiconductor structure grown on this substrate in one growth step; a common waveguide; and a plurality of wavelength-designated waveguides; all the waveguides being formed in this epitaxial structure using conventional semiconductor processing techniques. Each waveguide being defined by the bandgap wavelength of its core region and all the waveguides being arranged vertically in order of ascending bandgap wavelength; with the common waveguide placed at the bottom of the structure and the wavelength-designated waveguide having the longest bandgap wavelength placed at the top of the structure. In use, the bandgap wavelength of the common waveguide being well below any operating wavelength, therefore providing conditions for low-loss propagation of each operating wavelength to its designated waveguide through the common waveguide.

Abstract: The invention describes the method and apparatus for enhanced efficiency in a laterally-coupled distributed feedback (LC-DFB) laser. In a device featuring the effective ridge design, lateral confinement of the guided optical modes is provided by a surface etched grating, which also serves as a DFB element of the laser. Coupling and quantum efficiency of such a LC-DFB laser both improve with an increase of the lateral mode order. In accordance with this invention, a dramatic enhancement of the laser efficiency is achievable by designing it to operate in one of the higher order modes, notably the first order mode, while all the other lateral modes, including the zero order mode, are suppressed through gain-loss discrimination.

Abstract: A film structure of a ferroelectric single crystal which can be beneficially used in the fabrication of high-performance electric or electronic parts or devices is prepared by adhering a ferroelectric single crystal plate to a substrate by a conductive adhesive or metal layer, the ferroelectric single crystal plate being polished before or after the adhesion with the substrate.

Abstract: Control of average wavelength-converted power and/or wavelength converted pulse energy is described. One or more seed pulses may be generated and amplified with an optical amplifier to produce one or more amplified pulses. The amplified pulses may be wavelength converted to produce one or more wavelength converted pulses characterized by an average wavelength-converted power or pulse energy. Wavelength-converted power or pulse energy may be controlled by adjusting wavelength conversion efficiency without substantially changing the amplified power or pulse energy. Average wavelength-converted power may be controlled over a time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses without adjusting an average power of the amplified pulses over the time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses.