Abstract: An optical pick and place machine that includes a self-calibrating optical controller for error feedback based optical placement of optical components using active alignment is described. The optical controller can include a loopback mode to generate a baseline value of light generated by a light source and measured by a photodetector within the optical controller. The optical controller can further include an active alignment mode in which the light is coupled from the pick and place machine to the optical device on which the component is placed. The optical coupling of the placed component can be evaluated against the baseline value to ensure that the optical coupling is within specification (e.g., within a prespecified range).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe apparatuses, optical systems, and methods related to utilizing optical cladding layers. According to one embodiment, a hybrid optical device includes a silicon semiconductor layer and a III-V semiconductor layer having an overlapping region, wherein a majority of a field of an optical mode in the overlapping region is to be contained in the III-V semiconductor layer. A cladding region between the silicon semiconductor layer and the III-V semiconductor layer has a spatial property to substantially confine the optical mode to the III-V semiconductor layer and enable heat dissipation through the silicon semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Examples are provided that use multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to disambiguate FMCW ladar range returns from one or more targets that may be greater than the Nyquist frequencies of one or more of the ADCs. Examples are also provided that use a first and a second laser FMCW return signal (e.g., reflected beam) in combination with two or more ADCs to disambiguate one or more target ranges (e.g., distances to one or more objects).

Abstract: A steerable illumination fixtures include an emitting source and a refractive optical system that steers an emitted beam by relative translation of the emitting source against the optical system. The light emitting source may be placed along an optical axis of one or more lenses to produce an output beam along that axis, or translated in-plane (orthogonal to the optical axis) relative to the lenses to produce a steered beam. The optical system may include refractive lenses and in some embodiments mixing channels and/or one or more baffles with apertures. The design is typically optimized to produce a round, uniform beam that retains approximately the same power level and beam width as it is steered. It is beneficial, but not required, that a second lens have a diameter equal to or larger than a first lens. The lenses may be configured so that the effective focal plane of the two lenses together is located approximately at the plane of the light emitting source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Examples are provided where high-closed-loop bandwidth, active feedback applied to laser frequency chirps may provide increases in the free-running laser coherence length for long-range FMCW distance measurements. Examples are provided that use an asymmetric sideband generator within an active feedback loop for higher closed-loop bandwidth. Examples of using a single shared reference interferometer within multiple active feedback loops that may be used for increasing the coherence length of multiple chirped lasers are described. Example calibrators are also described.

Abstract: Power consumption in MZI-based integrated photonic switches or filters throughout the operational life can be reduced by reducing fabrication-induced phase misalignment between the unpowered operational mode of the switch or filter and the predominant switch state, and/or by enabling low-power compensation for any such misalignment. In various embodiments, misalignment is reduced by increasing the width of the waveguides implementing the interferometer arms of the MZI, and/or by structuring a region containing the MZI symmetrically to diminish stress-induced misalignment. In some embodiments, phase tuners are used to actively compensate for any phase misalignment, with a tuner drive voltage substantially lower than used to switch to the non-dominant state.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sensor and sensor platform, for an autonomous system. The sensor and its platform sense, perform signal or data processing, and make the decision locally at the point of sensing. More specifically, the sensor along with its platform simulates the human-like or human capacity to make decisions by combing the data from several sensors that detect different data sets, and combine them in a series of data processes that allows autonomous decisions to be made. Additionally, the sensor platform combines multiple sensors in one metasensor with the functionality of multiple sensors placed on a common carrier or platform.

Abstract: A device, such as an electroabsorption modulator, can modulate a light intensity by controllably absorbing a selectable fraction of the light. The device can include a substrate. A waveguide positioned on the substrate can guide light. An active region positioned on the waveguide can receive guided light from the waveguide, absorb a fraction of the received light, and return a complementary fraction of the received light to the waveguide. Such absorption produces heat, mostly at an input portion of the active region. The input portion of the active region can be thermally coupled to the substrate, which can dissipate heat from the input portion, and can help avoid thermal runaway of the device. The active region can be thermally isolated from the substrate away from the input portion, which can maintain a relatively low thermal mass for the active region, and can increase efficiency when heating the active region.

Abstract: A hybrid automated testing equipment (ATE) system can simultaneously test electrical and optical components of a device under test, such as an optical transceiver. The device under test can be a multilane optical transceiver that transmits different channels of data on different lanes. The hybrid ATE system can include one or more light sources and optical switches in an optical test lane selector to selectively test and calibrate each optical and electrical components of each lane of the device under test.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a local free space optical (FSO) terminal that transmits and receives optical beams. The FSO terminal includes a fore optic, an optical relay system, and an actuator system. The fore optic focuses a receive (Rx) beam to a Rx spot on a focal plane of the fore optic. The focal plane also includes a Tx spot formed by a transmit (Tx) optical beam, however the Rx and Tx spots are laterally separated at the focal plane. The optical relay system creates a conjugate spot for the Rx or Tx spot so that the Rx and Tx fibers may be axially separated. Due to the axial separation, the actuator system can adjust a lateral separation of the Rx and Tx fibers to account for point ahead of the local FSO communication terminal.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) including an epitaxial stacked layer, first and second reflective layers which are disposed at two sides of the epitaxial stacked layer, a current conducting layer and first and second electrodes and a manufacturing thereof are provided. The epitaxial stacked layer includes a first-type and a second-type semiconductor layers and an active layer. A main light emitting surface with a light transmittance >0% and ?10% is formed on one of the two reflective layers. The current conducting layer contacts the second-type semiconductor layer. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode is electrically connected to the second-type semiconductor layer via the current conducting layer. A contact scope of the current conducting layer and the second-type semiconductor layer is served as a light-emitting scope overlapping the two layers, but not overlapping the two electrodes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a system for transferring an optical signal from one photonics chip or integrated circuit (PIC) to another. The system includes a first PIC having (i) an optical emitter or optical transmission mechanism and (ii) a focusing mirror thereon, and a second PIC having an optical receiver and a reflecting mirror thereon. The reflecting mirror is configured to reflect light transmitted by the optical emitter or optical transmission mechanism back to the first PIC. The focusing mirror is configured to (i) further reflect the light reflected by the reflecting mirror and (ii) focus the further reflected light on the optical receiver. Methods of using and manufacturing the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Measurement approaches and data analysis methods are disclosed for combining 3D topographic data with spatially-registered gas concentration data to increase the efficiency of gas monitoring and leak detection tasks. Here, the metric for efficiency is defined as reducing the measurement time required to achieve the detection, or non-detection, of a gas leak with a desired confidence level. Methods are presented for localizing and quantifying detected gas leaks. Particular attention is paid to the combination of 3D spatial data with path-integrated gas concentration measurements acquired using remote gas sensing technologies, as this data can be used to determine the path-averaged gas concentration between the sensor and points in the measurement scene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating frequency converted laser radiation. It is an object of the invention to provide a method that enables the generation of a frequency converted optical frequency comb and that is easy to implement at low cost. It is a further object to enable adjustment of the center frequency and the mode spacing in a frequency converted optical frequency comb.

Abstract: A local free space optical (FSO) terminal senses an external environment that includes at least two beacons transmitted from a remote FSO terminal. The local terminal is configured to sense the beacons at a frame rate. Each beacon comprises a pulse train with pulses that are transmitted at a pulse rate. The pulse trains are temporally offset relative to each other so that pulses from at least one of the pulse trains do not fall across frame boundaries during sensing, regardless of a temporal location of the frame boundaries. In addition to detecting the at least two beacons, the local terminal is configured to identity the beacon that contains pulses that do not fall across the frame boundaries, and adjust its orientation based on the identified beacon.

Abstract: An integrated photonics optical gyroscope fabricated on a silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide platform comprises a first silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide layer that constitute a rotation sensing element; and, a second SiN waveguide layer with additional silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide-based optical components that constitute a front-end chip to launch light into and receive light from the rotation sensing element. The two SiN waveguide layers can be stacked together to have a multi-layer configuration vertically coupled with each other. External elements (e.g., laser, detectors, phase shifter) may be made of different material platform than SiN and can be hybridly integrated to the SiN waveguide platform. The phase shifters can be made of lithium niobate or other electro optic material.

Abstract: High-performance ultra-wideband Phased Array Antennas (PAA) are disclosed, having unique capabilities, enabled through photonic integrated circuits and novel optical architectures. Unique capabilities for PAA systems are enabled by photonic integration and ultra-low-loss waveguides. Novel aspects include optical multiplexing combining wavelength division multiplexing and/or a novel extension to array photodetectors, providing the capability to combine many RF photonic signals with very low loss. Architectures include tunable optical up-conversion and down-conversion systems, moving a chosen frequency band between baseband and a high RF frequency band with high dynamic range. Simultaneous multi-channel RF beamforming is achieved through power combining/splitting of optical signals.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to monolithically integrating an optical gyroscope fabricated on a planar silicon platform as a photonic integrated circuit with a MEMS accelerometer on the same die. The accelerometer can be controlled by electronic circuitry that controls the optical gyroscope. Gaps may be introduced between adjacent waveguide turns to reduce cross-talk and improve sensitivity and packing density of the optical gyroscope.

Abstract: A light emitting diode chip including an epitaxy stacked layer, first and second electrodes and a first reflective layer is provided. The epitaxy stacked layer includes first-type and second-type semiconductor layers and a light-emitting layer. The first and second electrodes are respectively electrically connected to the first-type and second-type semiconductor layers. An orthogonal projection of the light-emitting layer on the first-type semiconductor layer is misaligned with an orthogonal projection of the first electrode on the first-type semiconductor layer. The first reflective layer is disposed on the epitaxy stacked layer, the first and second electrodes. An orthogonal projection of the first reflective layer on the second-type semiconductor layer is misaligned with an orthogonal projection of the second electrode on the second-type semiconductor layer. Furthermore, a light emitting diode device is also provided.