Abstract: A photonic device can include an optical detector (e.g., a photodetector) coupled to silicon waveguides. Unlike silicon, germanium is an efficient detector at the wavelength of optical signals typically used for data communication. Instead of directly coupling the waveguide to the germanium, in one embodiment, the waveguide extends below the germanium but is spaced sufficiently away from the germanium so that the optical signal is not transferred. Instead, an optical transfer structure (e.g., a tapered waveguide or an optical grating) is disposed between the germanium and the waveguide. The waveguide first transfers the optical signal into the optical transfer structure which then transfers the optical signal into the germanium.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a Mach-Zehnder modulator includes: preparing a substrate product having a waveguide mesa, an embedding resin body and an inorganic insulator, the waveguide mesa being disposed on a supporting base, the inorganic insulator covering the embedding resin body to separate the embedding resin body from the waveguide mesa, the waveguide mesa having top and side faces covered with the inorganic insulator, and the embedding resin body embedding the side face of the waveguide mesa; forming an opening in the inorganic insulator by etching to form an inorganic insulating region, the opening reaching the top face of the waveguide mesa, the inorganic insulating region covering the embedding resin body and the side face of the inorganic insulator; and forming an ohmic electrode in the opening to make contact with the top face of the mesa, the inorganic insulating region separating the ohmic electrode from the embedding resin body.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensor includes: a central core disposed at a center of an optical fiber; and an outer peripheral core that spirally surrounds the central core. The effective refractive index ne2 of the outer peripheral core is lower than the effective refractive index ne1 of the central core. A ratio between the effective refractive index ne2 and the effective refractive index ne1 matches a ratio between an optical path length of the central core and an optical path length of the outer peripheral core.

Abstract: An optical conversion module having a printed circuit board having a proximate and a distal end and including an electrical interface at the distal end. The optical conversion module also having a faceplate modularly connected to the proximate end of the printed circuit board, the faceplate having at least one retention device. The optical conversion module further having an optical transceiver disposed on and electrically connected to the printed circuit board, a chip optical connector disposed on and optically connected to the optical transceiver, and a faceplate optical connector modularly disposed through the faceplate and modularly connected to the chip optical connector through an optical fiber jumper.

Abstract: For multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers that have a plurality of input and output ports, e.g. 4×4, a large number of modes may be supported in the multimode region, e.g. >10, as the width of the MMI core grows larger. In order for MMI couplers to form good images, the supported modes preferably have low modal phase error, which can't be achieved using a conventional single layer design. Accordingly, a multi-mode interference (MMI) coupler comprising an MMI core comprising a plurality of waveguide core strips alternating with a plurality of cladding strips solves the aforementioned problems.

Abstract: An optical module includes a circuit board and a receiver disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board includes a groove disposed in a surface of the circuit board. The groove is recessive along a height direction of the circuit board. The receiver includes an arrayed waveguide grating. The arrayed waveguide grating is configured to receive optical signal from an optical fiber. The arrayed waveguide grating is arranged above the groove and opposite to the groove.

Abstract: An optical module that includes a shell, an optical fiber, a coupling portion, and a ferrule is disclosed. The shell installs an optical device, for instance, a multi-mode interference (MMI) device therein. The optical fiber in a tip thereof is optically coupled with the optical device within the shell. The coupling portion has a cylindrical shape with a bore having an axis and secures the optical fiber, where the coupling portion is attached to the shell. The ferrule, which is secured in the coupling portion, has a pillared shape with a diameter that is slightly smaller than a diameter of the bore of the coupling portion. The ferrule has a groove that receives and secures the optical fiber therein. The filler fills the groove and fixes the optical fiber in the groove.

Abstract: A fiber optic drop terminal assembly includes a housing, a spool and a fiber optic distribution cable. The housing has a first exterior surface and an oppositely disposed second exterior surface. A plurality of ruggedized adapters is mounted on the first exterior surface of the housing. The ruggedized adapters include a first port accessible from outside the housing and a second port accessible from inside the housing. The spool is engaged with the second exterior surface and includes a drum portion. The fiber distribution cable is coiled around the drum portion. The distribution cable includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The second end is disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: Coupled resonators having two resonances are described. A first resonance occurs at the frequency of a pump signal. A second resonance occurs at the frequency of a first Stokes signal. The stop band of the coupled resonators suppresses the second Stokes signal and thus all other higher order Stokes signals. The coupled resonators can be used to more efficiently generate a first Stokes signal having a narrow line width signal.

Abstract: An coherent transceiver includes a single silicon photonics substrate configured to integrate a laser diode chip flip-mounted and coupled with a wavelength tuning section to provide a laser output with tuned wavelengths which is split in X:Y ratio partly into a coherent receiver block as local-oscillator signals and partly into a coherent transmitter block as a light source. The coherent receiver includes a polarization-beam-splitter-rotator to split a coherent input signal to a TE-mode signal and a TM*-mode signal respectively detected by two 90-deg hybrid receivers and a flip-mounted TIA chip assisted by two local-oscillator signals from the tunable laser device.

Abstract: Techniques for eye-tracking in a near-eye display system are disclosed. One example of a near-eye display system includes a substrate transparent to visible light and configured to be placed in front of a user's eye, one or more light sources configured to emit illumination light invisible to the user's eye, one or more input couplers configured to couple the illumination light into the substrate, and one or more grating couplers each configured to couple a portion of the illumination light out of the substrate and towards the user's eye at a different direction. The illumination light coupled into the substrate propagates within the substrate through total internal reflection. The one or more grating couplers include at least one of a chirped surface-relief grating coupler or a volume Bragg grating coupler.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes: (1) a substrate having a first surface; (2) a waveguide disposed in the substrate; and (3) an optical device including: (a) a first portion extending into the substrate and not extending beyond the first surface of the substrate, and (b) a second portion extending along the first surface of the substrate, wherein the second portion of the optical device comprises a protrusion and the substrate defines a groove extending from the first surface of the substrate, and wherein the protrusion of the second portion of the optical device engages with the groove of the substrate.

Abstract: MEMS-actuated optical switches can be implemented on photonic chips. These switches are compact, essentially planar, simple to implement and include only one moving MEMS component per switch. The switches exhibit low optical loss, require low power to operate, and are simple to control and easy to integrate with other optical devices. Each switch has two optical waveguides that are optically coupled in an ON switch state and not coupled in an OFF switch state. An end or a medial section of one of the two waveguides may translate between the ON and OFF states to affect the coupling. Alternatively, a coupling frustrator may translate between the ON and OFF states to affect the coupling.

Abstract: Fiber optic connectors and connectorized fiber optic cables include connector housings having locking portions defined on the connector housing that allow the connector housing to be selectively coupled to a corresponding push-button securing member of a multiport assembly. Methods for selectively connecting a fiber optic connector to, and disconnecting the fiber optic connector from the multiport assemblies allow for connector housings to be forcibly and nondestructively removed from the multiport assembly.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable management system includes a tray configured to reciprocate inside of an enclosure between an inserted position and an extended position. Optical fiber modules are located in the tray and retain optical fiber splitters or optical fiber multiplexer/de-multiplexers. The tray when moved to the extended position moves the optical fiber modules out of the front end of the rack enclosure. This allows a technician to access the back of the modules for maintenance operations without having to access the back end of the enclosure. A flexible cable guide allows the optical fibers connected to the modules to move with the tray into and out of the enclosure. Reflectors can be attached to the connectors to test fiber optic lines between a central office and the cell site location.

Abstract: Fiber optic connectors and connectorized fiber optic cables include connector housings having locking portions defined on the connector housing that allow the connector housing to be selectively coupled to a corresponding push-button securing member of a multiport assembly. Methods for selectively connecting a fiber optic connector to, and disconnecting the fiber optic connector from the multiport assemblies allow for connector housings to be forcibly and nondestructively removed from the multiport assembly.

Abstract: Described are various configurations of optical structures having asymmetric-width waveguides. A photodetector can include parallel waveguides that have different widths, which can be connected via passive waveguide. One or more light absorbing regions can be proximate to the waveguides to absorb light propagating through one or more of the parallel waveguides. Multiple photodetectors having asymmetric width waveguides can operate to transduce light in different modes in a polarization diversity optical receiver.

Abstract: An example adaptor for passively aligning an optical component of an optical connector with a ferrule of the optical connector. The adaptor may include first alignment feature and second alignment features. The first alignment features may be to, when the adaptor is connected to the ferrule, cooperate with alignment features of the ferrule to passively force the adaptor into a first configuration relative to the ferrule. The second alignment features may be arranged such that, when the optical component is held in contact with the second alignment features and the adaptor is in the first configuration relative to the ferrule, the optical component is in an aligned position relative to the ferrule.

Abstract: An electro-optical phase modulator includes a waveguide made from a stack of strips. The stack includes a first strip made of a doped semiconductor material of a first conductivity type, a second strip made of a conductive material or of a doped semiconductor material of a second conductivity type, and a third strip made of a doped semiconductor material of the first conductivity type. The second strip is separated from the first strip by a first interface layer made of a dielectric material, and the third strip is separated from the second strip by a second interface layer made of a dielectric material.

Abstract: An optical phase shifter includes, in part, a waveguide, a heating element adapted to heat the waveguide, and a cooling element adapted to cool the waveguide. The heating element may be integrated within a substrate in which the waveguide is formed. The cooling element is biased to maintain the temperature of the waveguide within a predefined range characterized by a substantially high gradient of the thermal constant of the waveguide. The optical phase shifter may optionally include a substrate on which the waveguide is positioned. The substrate may include, in part, through substrate vias for supplying electrical signals to the cooling element. A control circuit supplies electrical signals to the heating and cooling elements. The control circuit may maintain the cooling element and heating element on concurrently. Alternatively, the control circuit may turn off the cooling element before turning on the heating element.