Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal variable optical attenuator is presented with one substrate that includes a integrated subwavelength nanostructured polarizer. The device may incorporate an integrated isolator whereby a substrate of the liquid crystal sandwich is formed from doped garnet to comprise a faraday rotator etched with a subwavelenth optical nanostructured polarizing grating and enabling the substrate to function as an isolator. The liquid crystal variable optical attenuator may include a deposited metal gasket moisture barrier bonding the opposing top and bottom substrates each having a spacer layer to accurately control cell gap thickness. The liquid crystal variable optical attenuator may also include an integrated thermal sensor and heater deposition layer sandwiched between or deposited on at least one or both opposing substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical processor is configured in various applications, including a liquid crystal optical switch, polarization independent variable optical attenuator, wavelength selector switch, optical multiplexer and demultiplexer, tunable filter and flexible optical add drop multiplexer. The optical processor is generally configured to include a deposited metal gasket moisture barrier bonding two opposing substrates each having a spacer layer to accurately control cell gap thickness. The optical processor may be temperature insensative and be configured in one or more pixel configurations. The optical processor may include integrated subwavelength optical gratings. It may also include an integrated thermal sensor and heater deposition layer sandwiched between or deposited on at least one or both opposing substrates.

Abstract: A polarization independent optical device is provided wherein the device has two optical paths that include one or more birefringent crystals, a electrically controllable rotator, and a fixed waveplate. The device may operate as a switch, attenuator, coupler, or polarization mode dispersion compensator. The device may also include several folded path embodiments, a multifunctional embodiment, and a temperature insensitive embodiment.

Abstract: A polarization independent optical device is provided wherein the device has two optical paths that include one or more birefringent crystals, a electrically controllable rotator, and a fixed waveplate. The device may operate as a switch, attenuator, coupler, or polarization mode dispersion compensator. The device may also include several folded path embodiments, a multifunctional embodiment, and a temperature insensitive embodiment.

Abstract: A polarization independent optical device is provided wherein the device has two optical paths that include one or more birefringent crystals, a electrically controllable rotator, and a fixed waveplate. The device may operate as a switch, attenuator, coupler, or polarization mode dispersion compensator. The device may also include several folded path embodiments, a multifunctional embodiment, and a temperature insensitive embodiment.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a polarization independent optical switch for selectively switching an optical signal from at least one input port to a preselected one of a plurality of different output ports. The optical switch operates to transmit all of the optical signal from an input port to a predetermined one of the output ports without first segmenting the optical signal into two polarizations.