Abstract: An optical fiber connector plug includes a housing through which extends a cable containing at least one optical fiber. A ferrule, which is supported by the housing, is provided for receiving the optical fiber. The ferrule has a mating facet and an opposing rear facet located in the housing. The ferrule has at least one guide pin thru-hole and at least one optical fiber thru-hole extending between the mating facet and the opposing rear facet. The guide pin thru-hole has an opening portion extending inward from the mating facet. The opening portion is tapered outward to meet the mating facet in an oblique manner such that the opening portion has a diameter in the plane of the mating facet that is greater than a diameter of a remainder of the guide pin thru-hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatically controlling the gain of an optical amplifier. The method begins by generating a first control signal based on a feed-forward error signal and a second control signal based on the feedback error signal. Next, the pump source is adjusted in accordance with the control signals. In this way both the speed of a feed-forward arrangement and the accuracy of a feedback arrangement can be achieved.

Abstract: A method is provided for alleviating congestion in a computer network. The network includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication links, which communicate in accordance with at least an optical layer protocol and a second protocol layer. The method begins by receiving a signal in accordance with the optical layer protocol and determining if local forwarding capacity is available to forward the signal in accordance with the second protocol layer. If the local forwarding capacity is unavailable, the method continues by forwarding the signal in accordance with the optical layer protocol to another node having excess capacity so that the other node can forward the signal in accordance with the second protocol layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for assembling an optical collimator array. The method begins by directing light through a first optical collimator to produce a first optical output beam. The first collimator is supported by a first carrier element. The first collimator is rotated about its central longitudinal axis to adjust a position of the first optical output beam on a surface that intercepts the first optical output beam. The first carrier element is then rotated about a carrier axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis and in a plane containing the central longitudinal axis to further adjust the position of the first optical output beam on the surface. The first collimator continues to be rotated about these axes until the first optical output beam is located at a desired position on the surface, at which point the first optical collimator is secured to the first carrier element. Next, the first carrier element itself is secured to prevent rotation about the carrier axis.

Abstract: An optical switch includes at least one input port for receiving a WDM optical signal having a plurality of wavelength components, at least three output ports, and a plurality of wavelength selective elements each selecting one of the wavelength components from among the plurality of wavelength components. A plurality of optical elements are also provided, each of which are associated with one of the wavelength selective elements. Each of the optical elements direct the selected wavelength component that is selected by its associated selected element to a given one of the output ports independently of every other wavelength component. The given output port is variably selectable from among all the output ports.

Abstract: An all-optical, optical cross-connect includes first and second pluralities of multiport optical devices. Each of the first plurality of multiport optical devices have at least one input port for receiving a WDM optical signal and a plurality of output ports for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal. Each of the second plurality of multiport optical devices have a plurality of input ports for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal and at least one output port for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal. At least one of the first or second plurality of multiport optical devices are all-optical switches that can route every wavelength component independently of every other wavelength component.

Abstract: An optical attenuator and a method of making an optical attenuator is disclosed. The method begins by arranging a first end of a first optical fiber and a second end of a second optical fiber so that they face one another in close proximity. The first and second ends of the optical fibers are then laterally offset from one another and the first end of the first fiber is fused to the second end of the second fiber to create a fusion splice. Next, the attenuation imposed on an optical signal transmitted from the first to the second optical fiber and through the fusion splice is measured to determine an initial deviation in attenuation from a prescribed value. The fusion splice is then re-fused while exerting an axially directed force on the first and second ends of the optical fiber. The measurement step is repeated to determine a subsequent deviation in attenuation from the prescribed value and the re-fusion step is repeated to reduce the subsequent deviation in attenuation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatically controlling the gain of an optical amplifier. The method begins by generating a first control signal based on a feed-forward error signal and a second control signal based on the feedback error signal. Next, the pump source is adjusted in accordance with the control signals. In this way both the speed of a feed-forward arrangement and the accuracy of a feedback arrangement can be achieved.

Abstract: In a WDM optical communication system that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication links, a node is provided that includes a reconfigurable optical switch having a plurality of input ports and at least one output port. The node also includes a plurality of transmitters that are each coupled to one of the input ports of the optical switch. Each of the transmitters generate an information-bearing optical signal at a different channel wavelength from one another. The reconfigurable optical switch is adaptable to receive at any of the input ports any of the channel wavelengths at which the plurality of transmitters operate and direct the channel wavelengths to the output port. At least one backup transmitter is coupled to one of the input ports of the optical switch. The backup transmitter includes a tunable laser tunable to any of the channel wavelengths at which the plurality of transmitters operate.

Abstract: In a WDM optical communication system that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication links, a node is provided which includes an optical coupling arrangement having at least one input port for receiving a WDM signal and a plurality of output ports for selectively receiving one or more wavelength components of the WDM optical signal. The optical coupling arrangement is adaptable to reconfigure its operational state to (i) selectively direct any one of the wavelength components received on the input port to any of the output ports independently of any other of the wavelength components and (ii) selectively direct any combination of two or more of the wavelength components from the input port to at least two of the output ports that serve as WDM output ports. At least one optical WDM interface is optically coupled to a first of the WDM output ports.