Abstract: Novel preforms and methods of making novel preforms are described. The preforms are suitable for being drawn into photonic bandgap optical fibres. In one form, the preform comprises a stack of elongate members having, in transverse cross section, a triangular close-packed arrangement of circular cross section capillaries, which define interstitial regions containing solid rods. The stack is supported around a relatively large capillary, which defines an inner region of the stack. The stack may be adapted by varying the number of rods in any given interstitial region, in order to generate various different configurations of cladding structure, which can be made into optical fibres having surprising operational characteristics, such as a split gap.

Abstract: An electro-optical circuit board is provided, which includes an electrical wiring board and an optical wiring board. The optical wiring board includes a first metal substrate, an optical guiding layer formed on the first metal substrate, and a metal supporting structure formed around the optical guiding layer, wherein the optical guiding layer includes an optical waveguide and a clad wrapping the optical waveguide. When the electrical wiring board is joined with the optical wiring board through a laminating process, the metal supporting structure absorbs the pressure applied to the electro-optical circuit board.

Abstract: A photonic crystal fiber includes a core region for propagating light in a longitudinal direction of the fiber, a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region including micro-structural elements extending in the longitudinal direction. The cladding region further includes at least one stress element having a coefficient of thermal expansion ?T,SAP and extending in the longitudinal direction of the photonic crystal fiber, the stress element(s) being located in a cladding background material having a coefficient of thermal expansion ?T,cladback different from ?T,SAP. The location of the at least one stress element relative to the core region and the micro-structural elements and the coefficients of thermal expansion ?T,SAP and ?T,cladback are adapted to provide a stress induced birefringence in the core region of the photonic crystal fiber. An article includes a photonic crystal fiber, a method of manufacturing and the use of a photonic crystal fiber are furthermore provided.

Abstract: A multi-mode optical fiber link is described that includes a single-mode optical fiber having an input that receives an optical signal for transmission through the multi-mode optical fiber link. A first spatial mode converter is coupled to the single-mode optical fiber. The first spatial mode converter conditions a modal profile of the optical signal for propagation through a multi-mode optical fiber. A multi-mode optical fiber is coupled to an output of the first spatial mode converter. A second spatial mode converter is coupled to an output of the multi-mode optical fiber. The second spatial mode converter reduces a number of optical modes in the optical signal. Both the first and the second spatial mode converters increase an effective modal bandwidth of the optical signal propagating through an output of the second spatial mode converter.

Abstract: A novel optical fiber, and a method for its production, having a diffuser portion and continuous unitarily-constructed outer sleeve, which is adapted for the transmission of light to a treatment locale. More particularly, a medical instrument has an optical fiber including a diffuser portion at a distal end wherein an alignment sleeve for the optical fiber extends uninterruptedly in a single piece from a connector for a laser light source to at least the distal end of the core of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for production of an optical element includes preparing a first member having formed on the surface of a first substrate 101 a first layer 103 by at least one of epitaxial growth and pore-making (micropore-making) and a second member having a porous layer for layer separation formed on a second substrate 104 and having formed thereon a second layer by at least one of epitaxial growth and pore-making (micropore-making), bonding the first layer 103 and the second layer, separating the second substrate 104 and the second layer of the second member from each other at the porous layer for layer separation in the second member, to form a laminated structure on the first substrate 101, forming a refraction index distribution pattern produced by a difference in refraction index in the plane of at least one of the first layer 103 and the second layer.

Abstract: An optical performance monitor for measuring the performance of optical networks has an echelle grating for demultiplexing an input beam into a plurality of wavelengths that are focused onto an array of divided output waveguides. Each divided output waveguide is positioned to receive a corresponding demultiplexed wavelength from the echelle grating or other waveguide multiplexer device. The divided output waveguides laterally separate the corresponding demultiplexed wavelength into a first and second portions. A detector array is positioned to receive the respective portions of the demultiplexed wavelengths and by comparing their relative intensity it is possible to detect any drift in the nominal wavelengths of the channels.

Abstract: Herein described is a method and system for identifying buffer tubes in a cable by including at least one colored filling material within a transparent or translucent buffer tube.

Abstract: A fiber optic mechanical splice connector including a single connector element operable for providing optical fiber alignment and strain relief includes opposed splice components that define first and second grooves for receiving the bare glass portions of mating optical fibers, as well as the coated or buffered portion of at least one of the optical fibers when the splice components are biased together by an actuator. The mating optical fibers are aligned while the coated or buffered portion of one of the optical fibers is retained within the same connector element, thus eliminating positioning problems that occur when separate connector elements are utilized for fiber alignment and strain relief. The splice components may be unbiased to allow removal of at least one of the mating optical fibers without destroying the connector assembly or potentially damaging the optical fibers.

Abstract: An optical ferrule is provided with a ferrule body having a front face and at least one covering applied to the front face to protect the front face of the ferrule from a laser beam used during a trimming process. The optical ferrule may also have a second covering disposed between the front face of the ferrule and the first covering to assist in adhering the first covering to the optical ferrule. A method is also provided for applying the first covering or the first covering and the second covering to the front face of the ferrule. A method is also provided for trimming, and in particular, ablating portions of one or more optical fibers that protrude beyond the front face of the ferrule.

Abstract: A method for controlling one or more temperature dependent optical properties of a structure in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes heating at least a portion of a photonic band-gap structure and oxidizing the portion of the photonic band-gap structure during the heating to alter at least one temperature dependent optical property of the stack.

Abstract: An optical transmitting and receiving module for an optical waveguide performs both a transmitting operation and a receiving operation simultaneously. The linear first waveguide is provided such that one side is coupled to an optical fiber and the other side is coupled to a light receiving element. A second waveguide is coupled so as to meet and make an acute angle with the first waveguide. The second waveguide is shaped with a tapered portion adjacent to the first waveguide.

Abstract: An optical plug-in connection including: an optical plug-in connector; a coupling configured to receive the plug-in connector; and locking means for locking the plug-in connector in the coupling when the plug-in connector is inserted into the coupling, wherein the locking means are designed to prevent unintentional unlocking when in a locked state.

Abstract: An optical waveguide mounting member for mounting to a substrate is disclosed. The optical waveguide mounting member includes an optical waveguide for transmitting optical signals therethrough and an optical waveguide mounting base material having a through-hole to which the optical waveguide is mounted. The optical waveguide mounting base material is formed of silicon.

Abstract: A method for providing an optical interface with at least one optical coupling structure for a packaged optical device is described. The at least one optical coupling structure may be, for example, wave-guides and/or microlenses. The packaged optical device includes an external alignment structure. The external alignment structure has a support means with at least one hole and at least one alignment feature. The method includes providing optical encapsulate material in the hole of the support means. Optical coupling structures, such as wave-guides or microlenses, may be provided into the encapsulation at a well-defined position relative to the at least one alignment feature of the external alignment structure. By providing the optical coupling structures directly in the material comprised in the encapsulation, a high degree of alignment accuracy is obtained.

Abstract: A light source supplies optical signal to an optical switch and a detector detects light receiving level. A control unit changes a deflection control amount for changing an angle of a tilt mirror, and outputs the deflection control amount to a driving unit. When an input and an output ports are same, optical offset of the tilt mirror is calculated based on optimal angle at which the light detector detects an optimal point of the light receiving level. Whenever the input and the output port are different, a structure parameter of the tilt mirror is calculated based on the optical offset and the optimal angle. The optical offset and the structure parameter are stored in a memory as a test result.

Abstract: A technique to stabilize the effective refraction index of a laser generating system's wave guide, as well as a technique to stabilize the phase of the wave guide. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a polymer is used within the wave guide to counteract the effects of temperature on the clad material of the wave guide in order to create an overall effective refraction index that is substantially independent of temperature variations. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention relative segment lengths of the wave guide are chosen to stabilize the phase of the wave guide.

Abstract: A flexure arrangement, suitable for use with or as part of, e.g., an optical beam steering arrangements, and intended for supporting and transmitting movement to any appropriate element, the arrangement including a first flexure to which movement is applied, a second flexure which attaches the arrangement to any appropriate supporting structure, structure linking the first flexure to the second flexure and structure for receiving any appropriate element, the first and second flexure being appropriately spaced so that any movement applied to the first flexure is amplified by the flexure arrangement.

Abstract: Optical devices are provided for optical signal modulation under the control of an electrical signal propagating along a traveling wave electrode structure. The electrode structure comprises a coplanar stripline including a control signal electrode interposed between a pair of ground plane electrodes. Each of the ground plane electrodes defines a positively or negatively biased elevated ground plane portion isolated from the control signal input and the control signal output. The present invention also contemplates provision of a coplanar stripline as described and claimed herein.

Abstract: A novel optical plastic fiber comprising a core region and having a center line along a longitudinal axis of the fiber is disclosed. The refractive index of the core region increases along a direction going from a periphery portion to the center line in any plane perpendicular to the center line, and the birefringence index of the core region varies along a direction going from the center line to a periphery portion perpendicular to the center line in any plane parallel to the center line and containing the center line.