Abstract: An optic switch for cross-connecting input light signals incoming from inlet fiber cables to outlet fiber cables is disclosed that makes use of a holographic filter (5) having a series of preformed different speckle patterns, each in the form of a hologram (H1, H2, . . . ). Associated with input light signals guided past respective inlet passages (4in) of a multimode waveguide (4), different speckle patterns are formed by applying different control voltages across respective electrode pairs (10, 10a) provided thereon. These speckle patterns past a single outlet passage (4out) of the multimode waveguide (4) into which the inlet passages (4in) converge are joined together and enter the holographic filter (5) in which an input light signal is selectively switched, addressed and cross-connected to an outlet waveguide (2) through a region thereof where a formed speckle pattern coincides with a preformed speckle pattern. The multi mode waveguides (4) is formed in, e.g., a LiNbO3 photorefractive substrate (3).

Abstract: A fiber optical attenuator utilizing the cut-off phenomenon for single mode propagation of an optical wave down a single mode fiber, comprising an element such as a pixelated liquid crystal element, capable of spatially changing the phase across the cross section of an input optical signal. Such a spatial phase change is equivalent to a change in the mode structure of the propagating wave. The signal propagating in the single mode output fiber is attenuated in accordance with the extent to which higher order modes are mixed into the low order mode originally present. When the mode is completely transformed to higher order modes, the wave is effectively completely blocked from entering the output single-mode fiber, and the attenuation is high. The level of attenuation is determined by the fraction of the wave which is converted to modes other than the lowest order mode, and is thus controllable by the voltage applied to the pixels of the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: A device for compensating for PMD occurring in a transmission optical fiber in an optical transmission system. An output beam from an optical fiber link changes its polarization state by a polarization controller (PC) to be applied to a PBS. A first polarization component passes through a variable delay line, rotates by a predetermined angle, and is inputted to the PBS. A portion of a second polarization component is transmitted by a predetermined mirror. The reflected second polarization component is applied to the PBS to be combined with the first polarization component inputted to the PBS. The transmitted second polarization component passes through a photo-detector and a BPF. The filtered signal is inputted to a PC controller to select the smaller value among the currently and previously measured power values.

Abstract: An optical add/drop multiplexer includes a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit having an input multiplexing port, an output multiplexing port and a plurality of demultiplexing ports each connected to a respective optical circulator. Each optical circulator includes a first port for internally inputting an added channel, a second port for outputting the added channel to a corresponding demultiplexing port and receiving a channel outputted by the corresponding demultiplexing port, and a third port for outputting the channel received from the second port.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic tap monitor has characteristics that are flatter over the wavelength range of interest. The polarization dependence of the characteristics of the tap monitor is reduced, and the package for the tap monitor is smaller. The tap monitor reduces the amount of light reflected back to the source. The tap monitor is also assembled in a manner to improve temperature stability, so that its characteristics over a range of temperatures are more nearly constant.

Abstract: A configuration for coupling optical signals of at least one optical data channel into and/or out of an optical waveguide carrying optical signals of at least two optical data channels includes at least two optical waveguide sections forming the optical waveguide, the sections positioned axially one behind the other, at least core regions of two optical waveguide sections being positioned one behind the other separated from one another by a free-radiating region, an end face of at least one waveguide section running obliquely with respect to an optical axis (7) of the waveguide and being coated with a wavelength-selective filter, and, for a specific optical data channel, light being coupled into or out of the optical waveguide by reflecting light of the optical data channel, before or after traversing the free-radiating region, at the end face of the optical waveguide section running obliquely with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: An optical wavelength cross connect is provided to receive multiple input optical signals that each have multiple spectral bands and to transmit multiple output optical signals that each have one or more of those spectral bands. The optical wavelength cross connect includes multiple wavelength routing elements, which are optical components that selectively route wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signals in either direction according to a configurable state.

Abstract: The present invention is for a fiber optic flow cell. The flow cell comprises a substrate having at least one sample channel and at least one optical fiber channel holder. At least one optical fiber is disposed within each optical fiber channel holder. Each optical fiber has at least one grating wherein each grating is in contact with each sample channel, defining a sensing area. At least one sample port is positioned in an operable relationship to at least one sample channel. Alternatively, at least one sample outlet is positioned in an operable relationship to at least one sample channel. The flow cell may be of a modular design providing a flow cell kit that contains pieces that may be assembled to form custom-made flow cells. The flow cell is used for conducting measurement studies on a sample.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for a rotating, tunable, holographic drop filter connected to a fiber optic source. The filter uses a quasi phase-conjugate optical system for a drop-channel fiber coupling and WDM channels which are introduced to the system. The light from these channels is collimated and passed through a volume phase holographic material so that only one WDM channel is diffracted and the rest pass through the holographic material unaffected. A quasi phase-conjugate diffracted beam is generated by the optical system to reflect the diffracted channel back towards the holographic material. The reflected light is Bragg matched to the holographic material so that it is re-diffracted along a path identical to the original incident light beam. A free-space circulator may be used to direct the diffracted beam to a fiber optic collimator, which is different from the fiber optic collimator of the incident light beam.

Abstract: A plug device for use during manufacturing and/or testing processes for optoelectronic (OE) devices is described. The plug device has a handle and structures that extend off of the handle to cover “barrels” of an OE device. The plug device prevents contaminating particulates from reacting the lenses and/or the photonic devices within the OE device. The plug device can also be made of a material that transmits light signals so that testing of the OE devices can be easily performed. The plug device can also have a surface to which a pick and place machine can attach itself so that the plug device and a respective optoelectronic device can be easily transported. Overall, the plug device can simplify both the manufacturing and testing processes for OE devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical waveguide (optical fiber) based on quartz glass having reduced internal mechanical stresses. In prior art optical waveguides, the internal mechanical stresses are primarily due to the production process, namely due to the difference of the linear thermal coefficients of expansion of the core and sheathing material during the cooling of the fiber and due to the drawing itself. In an inventive optical waveguide, the difference of the linear thermal coefficients of expansion of the core and/or sheathing material is selected by means of an appropriate doping of the core and sheathing material. This selection is made so that the internal mechanical stresses, which are caused by the cooling during the production process, are significantly reduced or eliminated and/or they counteract the stresses caused by the drawing.

Abstract: An optical fiber trough includes a base member having a plurality of latches adapted to secure the optical fiber trough to an optical fiber closure. A retention member extends from the base member. The retention member includes a proximate edge supported by the base member and a distal edge. At least a portion of the distal edge is angled with respect to a plane of the base member.

Abstract: The specification describes optical fiber gain devices, such as lasers and amplifiers, wherein losses due to a large step transition between an input section and a gain section are reduced by inserting an adiabatic transformer between the input section and the gain section. In the preferred case the adiabatic transformer comprises a GRadient INdex (GRIN) lens. The lens serves as an adiabatic beam expander (reducer) to controllably increase (reduce) the modefield of the beam as it travels through the step transition.

Abstract: A method for attenuating an optical beam is provided, and in one embodiment, a communication beam and associated alignment beam are generated by a beam generating element. The alignment beam may later be sampled by a sensor that can provide a relative location of the alignment beam with respect to the sensor. The communication beam may then be positioned so that a desired percentage of the communication beam enters an output fiber. Information, such as alignment beam offset, may be used to position the communication beam. In another embodiment, optical beam attenuation may be provided by using one or more reflecting devices, such as a MEMS device. In this configuration, a MEMS device may position a focused communication beam in such a manner that a desired percentage of the communication beam enters an output fiber.

Abstract: The choice for the optical coupling device of a holder that has only one support makes it possible to keep this optical component compact. This is advantageously achieved in that according to the invention the support surrounds the extensible element. The carrier of the optical waveguide thus remains in the immediate environment of the support and the point at which the optical coupling device is to be attached to the optical component. The alignment of the end of the optical waveguide is thus not impaired by unavoidable curvatures of the optical component. The configuration according to the invention of the support of an alternative optical coupling device with a movable arm as an additional connection to the hinge-like web at one end of the carrier of the optical waveguide makes it possible to achieve even more precise alignment of the end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A DCF adapted to compensate for dispersion and slope of a length of SMF in the C-band window that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index ?c. The core includes at least three radially adjacent segments, a central core segment having a positive ?1, a moat segment having a negative refractive index ?2, and a ring segment having a positive refractive index ?3, wherein ?1>?3>?c>?2. The DCF exhibits a negative Dispersion Slope (DS), where ?0.29 (ps/nm2·km) at 1546 nm, a dispersion (D), where ?100<D<?120 (ps.nm·km) at 1546 nm, and a ? value (D/DS) at 1546 nm that is preferably between 250 and 387 nm. The DCF preferably has a cutoff wavelength (?c) less than 1500 nm, attenuation at 1550 nm of less than 0.6 dB/km, and a bend loss of less than 0.01 dB/m on a 40 mm mandrel at 1550 nm. A transmission link including the combination of a SMF and a DCF having a dispersion (D), where ?100<D<?120, is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an integrated optical lightguide device including a light-transmitting core layer, an inclusion or buffer layer, and an active or cladding layer. The cladding layer is divided into segments. Groups of different segments exhibit different refractive indices, light intensity profiles or different degrees of sensitivity which have been effected by different methods. Thus, repeated adjustable or controllable transmission has resulted in an extremely sensitive waveguide system for a sensor, a modulator, or a spectrophotometer.

Abstract: A fiber connecting method and a laser apparatus using the fiber connecting method are disclosed. A plurality of fibers are bundled into a fiber bundle. The ends of the plurality of the fibers are connected to an end of a single-core fiber having a larger core diameter than the plurality of the fibers. The plurality of the fibers have different directions and characteristics depending on the position connected to the single-core fiber.

Abstract: A slow-wave transmission line component having a slow-wave structure. The slow-wave structure includes a floating shield employing one of electric and magnetic induction to set a potential on floating strips of said floating shield to about 0, thereby reducing losses caused by electric coupling to a substrate. A spacing between the strips is small to inhibit electric field from passing the metal strips to the substrate material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wavelength switching a laser source. An external cavity (2) having a Bragg grating (5) is provided in an optical fiber (4). Space division switching is performed in the external cavity between a plurality of optical fibers (4) each having a different Bragg grating (5). A space division switch (3) is provided in the external cavity for switching between a plurality of optical fibers (4) each carrying a different Bragg grating (5).