Abstract: An optical instrument for splitting optical spectrum, comprising a series of hollow core optical wave guides (12, 22, and so on) connected by optical couplers (16, 26, and so on) transporting broad band incident optical wave from one stage to another, a narrow band optical wave guide (14, 24, and so on) made of photonic crystal materials mounted inside each of said hollow core optical wave guide and along it, and specified for confining certain portion of the incident optical spectrum. Said inner narrow band optical wave guides bend out at the ends of said outer hollow core optical wave guides to extract and guide out the selected component of the incident optical spectrum. Said optical couplers couple the output optical waves of said outer hollow core wave guides of the previous stages into said inner optical wave guides of the next stages for further splitting.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical multiplexing device comprising: a plurality of optical sources with integrated collimators (31-37) whose output beams are combined by mirrors (41-47) or other beam deflecting elements, which combine the beams into a single composite beam diverging from a common origin point (30). This is done by arranging the mirrors (41-47) staggered at different distances from the origin point, and at different angles to each other taking accourt of the dependence of the beam divergence in far field on the distance from the origin point.

Abstract: A monolithic cable assembly includes a communication cable and cable connectors coupled to either end of the communication cable. The communication cable includes at least one optical communication channel. The cable connectors include a physical end connector for electrically coupling to a data device connector, optoelectronic components for converting data signals between an electrical realm and an optical realm, and a passively aligned integrated lens cover. The integrated lens cover includes at least one optical pathway for coupling optical data signals between the at least one optical communication channel and the optoelectronic components.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical transceiver with an optical subassembly optically coupling with an optical connector via a receptacle member, in which the optical subassembly is positioned to the housing of the transceiver without causing any mechanical stress. The optical subassembly is fixed to the receptacle member by inserting a sleeve thereof into an opening of the receptacle member. The receptacle member is assembled with the housing via the holder by adjusting the positional relation between the holder and the housing. Therefore, even when the subassembly is fixed to the receptacle member via the sleeve thereof, the subassembly can fit to the housing without causing any mechanical stress because the holder is interposed therebetween, which secures the heat dissipating path from the optical subassembly to the housing.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the invention comprises an in-plane switching liquid crystal panel containing a liquid crystal layer whose alignment orientation changes according to an electric field in parallel with a surface of a substrate; a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate disposed sandwiching the liquid crystal panel therebetween; a first optical film inserted between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel; and a second optical film inserted between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel, wherein the first optical film includes: a retardation film A1 having a relation of nz>nx?ny; and a retardation film B having an in-plane retardation (Re) in the range of from 200 to 300 nm, a relation of nx>nz>ny and satisfying Nz coefficient in the range of 0.3<Nz<0.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical waveguide device including a cladding having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, a core laminated to the first surface of the cladding for guiding light in a longitudinal direction thereof, the core having a pair of light incident and emergent portions at the opposite ends, and a pair of light collimating or focusing members bonded to the second surface of the cladding at the opposite ends corresponding to the light incident and emergent portions of the core.

Abstract: Some exemplary embodiments of one version of the present invention provide an optical switch including: a splitting device having first, second, third and fourth terminals; a nonlinear element; an attenuator; and an optical loop associated with the third and fourth terminals, the optical loop including the attenuator and the nonlinear element, the nonlinear element being displaced from a mid-point of the optical loop, wherein the splitting device is able to receive an input signal via one of the first and second terminals and an activating signal via one of the first and second terminals and to provide an output signal at one of the first and second terminals in response to the activating signal. In exemplary embodiments of alternative versions of the present inventions, the optical switch may include a threshold device. In some versions, the optical switch may be operated with a continuous wave or a pulse based activating signal.

Abstract: Effects of diffraction of a spectral beam from an edge of the micromirrors are reduced in order to optimize the passband in a wavelength selective switch. The effects of diffraction on the pass band may be reduced by using rotation of the micromirror about both the attenuation axis and the switching axis to achieve the desired level of attenuation. Peak coupling can be attained by dithering the micromirror about a dither axis that is tangent to a contour of constant attenuation using simultaneous rotation about the switching and attenuation axes. A power level of a spectral channel may be attenuated by rotating the channel micromirror with respect to an effective attenuation axis that is non-orthogonal to the dither axis through a combination of rotations about the switching axis and the attenuation axis.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A planar optical waveguide has a set of diffractive elements and confines propagating optical signals in at least one transverse spatial dimension. Each diffractive element set routes, between input and output ports, a corresponding diffracted portion of an input optical signal propagating in the planar optical waveguide that is diffracted by the diffractive element set. The input optical signal is successively incident on the diffractive elements.

Abstract: A cable management support for a conventional equipment rack provides various bars and members to support, order, direct and otherwise manage cables coupled to equipment secured in the rack.

Abstract: Effects of diffraction of a spectral beam from an edge of the micromirrors are reduced in order to optimize the passband in a wavelength selective switch. The effects of diffraction on the pass band may be reduced by appropriate modification of the edges of the micromirrors, by modification of the input and/or output ports to allow for attenuation by rotation of the micromirror about the switching axis, by using rotation of the micromirror about both the attenuation axis and the switching axis to achieve the desired level of attenuation, by inserting an aperture at a focal plane or external to the device to reduce the magnitude of the micromirror edge diffraction transmitted to any or all output ports, or by appropriate filtering of angular frequencies with a diffraction grating used to separate a multi-channel optical signal into constituent spectral beams.

Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of the environment is disclosed. Sensors utilize exponential growth of a signal initiated by interaction of a sensor element with characteristics of the environment. Specific substances in the environment can be detected. The sensor element may be intrinsically sensitive to the specific substance or can be coated with a material that is sensitive to the specific substance. The sensor component is designed such that it can be made to cause exponential growth of a system signal. The exponential growth of the sensor signal is produced by parametric amplification.

Abstract: An optical accelerometer includes means for changing the length of at least one optical fiber in response to acceleration functionally coupled to the at least one optical fiber. The fiber and the means for changing length are enclosed in a pressure compensated housing. The housing is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid or gel.

Abstract: Terahertz radiation generation systems and methods are implemented using a variety of methods and devices. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, method for generating terahertz radiation is implemented where the wavelength of an optical pulse is controlled, and where the wavelength is controlled as a function of the group velocity dispersion in a nonlinear crystal. The optical pulse is then directed through consecutively-inverted parallel domains in the nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: Effects of diffraction of a spectral beam from an edge of the micromirrors are reduced in order to optimize the passband in a wavelength selective switch. The effects of diffraction on the pass band may be reduced by using rotation of the micromirror about both the attenuation axis and the switching axis to achieve the desired level of attenuation. Peak coupling can be attained by dithering the micromirror about an axis tangent to a contour of constant attenuation using simultaneous rotation about the switching and attenuation axes.

Abstract: A 1×2 splitter design having low loss is described. The splitter has a non-adiabatic tapered waveguide (22) connected between a substantially single-mode input waveguide (20) and two output waveguides (24, 26). The non-adiabatic tapered waveguide widens in width towards the output waveguide, and merges substantially continuously with the input waveguide in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the input waveguide. This keeps radiation mode generation to a minimum which, in turn, keeps insertion loss low. In the described embodiment, the non-adiabatic taper shape is based on a perturbed cosine function. The 1×2 splitter can be cascaded with other such splitters in order to build a 1×2N splitter design.

Abstract: A device for shifting the imaging axis of a microscope across the endfaces of a multi-fiber connector for inspecting the fiber-optic endfaces through the microscope comprises a supporting body for attaching at one end to the optical tube of a microscope; a pendular arm rotatably mounted to another end of the supporting body; a fitting tip attached to another end of the pendular arm; a bevel wheel fastened to the supporting body; and a torsion spring for pushing the pendular arm against a slanted surface of the bevel wheel. The bevel wheel is adapted to swing the pendular arm relative to the supporting body so that the imaging axis of the microscope is moved relative to the fitting tip to selectively align the imaging axis between adjacent fiber-optic endfaces for inspection.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises an optical fiber which is adapted to input/output optical signals and has a slant surface polished with an angle, a substrate having a groove formed on its upper portion to position the optical fiber therein, a wavelength distributor filter inserted into the substrate with a slant substantially matching the angle in the optical fiber, a photodiode positioned on the substrate to receive optical signals, a TO-Can having a laser diode that is positioned in a location opposite to the optical fiber to transmit optical signals, and a single housing adapted to mount the optical fiber, the substrate, and the TO-Can thereon.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fiber Bragg grating sensor system.