Abstract: An optical coupler and method of making an optical filter is disclosed wherein a compound lens having two separate movable lenses are disposed between input/output ports and a filter element, such as a dichroic filter element. The filter is tuned during assembly by varying the gap between the movable lenses. Once it is established that optimum coupling is achieved and a desired wavelength response is achieved, the two lenses are fixed in place.

Abstract: A bi-directional polarization independent optical isolator simultaneously transmits two separate signal rays in opposite forward directions and simultaneously suppresses backward transmission of each signal ray in its respective reverse direction. The separate signal rays may comprise either two wavelength bands completely separated by wavelength or two sets of wavelengths, such that wavelengths of the two signal rays are interspersed in alternating fashion. The bi-directional polarization independent optical isolator includes a birefringent polarization separation/combining element, a reciprocal optical rotation element, a lens, a reflective element, and a reciprocal optical rotation element. The reflective element comprises either a mirror/waveplate assembly or a non-linear interferometer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with a number of optical fibers that are formed in high aspect ratio holes. The high aspect ratio holes extend through a semiconductor wafer. The optical fibers include a cladding layer and a core formed in the high aspect ratio hole. These optical fibers are used to transmit signals between functional circuits on the semiconductor wafer and functional circuits on the back of the wafer or beneath the wafer.

Abstract: A cable network with a light waveguide cable which is introduced in the pipeline of an existing pipeline system. The light waveguide cable is arranged along a line, preferably at the vertex of the pipeline, and is provided with a protective layer so that a smooth transition exists between the wall surfaces of the pipeline and the cable.

Abstract: The invention concerns a monomode optical fiber having at a wavelength of 1550 nm a dispersion slope from −0.8 ps/nm2.km to −0.5 ps/nm2.km and a chromatic dispersion from −130 ps/nm.km to −90 ps/nm.km, the fiber having a cladding and a core whose index profile features a central part having an index higher than that of the cladding, a ring having an index higher than that of the cladding and lower than that of the central part, and a trench between the central part and the ring having an index lower than that of the cladding, and the use of a fiber of this kind to compensate dispersion. The fiber of the invention finds applications in high bit rate transmission systems in particular. The invention also concerns a wavelength division multiplex optical fiber transmission system comprising at least one section of fiber in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device comprising a free space region, suitably provided by a slab waveguide, having optical signal ports for coupling to input and output waveguide sections and an optical waveguide grating including an array of grating waveguides coupling the free space region to a reflector surface to provide a folded structure. Dielectric waveguide structures are preferred. The grating includes tapered optical waveguide sections laterally spaced and optically isolated from each other which extend from the free space region, with the grating waveguides continuing as extensions of the tapered waveguide sections. Each of the grating waveguides differs in length from a neighboring grating waveguide by a constant increment, preferably an optical path length increment.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to facilitate optical signal processing includes a micro-electro-optic system (MEMS) device having a moveable mirror layer operable to receive a first copy of an input signal from a beam splitter and to reflect the first copy of the input signal for combination with a second copy of the input signal at an output to form an output signal. The moveable mirror layer being displaceable in a substantially piston-like motion to introduce a phase shift between the first and second signal copies at the output. The amplitude of the output signal varying depending on the displacement of the moveable mirror layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide having a core refractive index profile defined by upper and lower boundary profiles on a chart of relative index percent versus radius. The relative refractive index as a function of radial dimensions of the core are selected to provide an optical waveguide fiber having properties suitable for a high performance telecommunication system operating in the wavelength window of about 1530 nm to 1625 nm. Refractive index profile designs encompassing the wavelength window 1250 nm to 1350 nm are also disclosed. The embodiments of the core waveguide have exceptionally low total dispersion slope and attenuation over these wavelength windows.

Abstract: A method of controlling an optical fiber splicing machine utilizes a power control mode to control the amount of power delivered to fuse the fibers. In the power control mode, the attenuation is measured while the fusing process is occurring. The power control mode shuts down the splicer when the measured insertion loss is less than or equal to the target insertion loss value plus a margin value. The margin value accounts for the transient attenuation difference value indicative of the changing attenuation as the splice cools. If the desired attenuation is not achieved, an energy control mode is utilized which controls the amount of energy delivered to fuse the fibers. After delivering this energy, the method measures the attenuation. If not within desired values, the energy mode is repeated. At each iteration the splicing control function utilized by the energy control mode may be reprogrammed. With these techniques, optical fibers may be spliced having a controlled attenuation to within +/−0.

Abstract: A method of controlling an optical fiber splicing machine utilizes an optimized power control mode to control the amount of power delivered to fuse the fibers. The attenuation is measured while the fusing process is occurring and a final jump value is calculated. The final jump value is indicative of the transient attenuation difference that occurs as the splice cools. The optimized power control mode shuts down the splicer when the measured insertion loss is less than or equal to the difference between the estimated final jump value and the desired attenuation. The final jump value may also be recalculated as further data are gathered during the splicing process. If the desired attenuation is not achieved, an optimized energy control mode is utilized which determines optimal energy settings and controls the amount of energy delivered to fuse the fibers. After delivering this energy, the method measures the attenuation. If not within desired values, the optimized energy mode is repeated.

Abstract: An acousto-optic variable-wavelength TE/TM mode converter is configured by comprising an optical waveguide, a coupled acoustic waveguide composed of two acoustic waveguides, comb electrodes arranged at the acoustic waveguides, and surface acoustic wave absorbers arranged at the acoustic waveguide. If high-frequency electric signals having different frequencies are applied to the electrodes, surface acoustic waves W11 and W12 occur on the surface of the piezoelectric substrate, meander and propagate in the substrate, and are finally absorbed by the absorbers. The intensity distributions of the surface acoustic waves W11 and W12 are distributions where the intensity is high in a middle portion of the optical guide, and low at both ends of the optical waveguide. The peak positions of the intensities are different, and the bases of the distributions partially overlap between the two absorbers.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating module, mode converter, coupler and dispersion compensated optical fiber therein. The dispersion compensating fiber has a plurality of core segments, the refractive index profile being selected to exhibit properties such that an LP02 mode at 1550 nm may be propagated a distance (generally 0.5-3.0 km), upon conversion to LP02, to compensate for dispersion of a length of transmission waveguide preferably greater than 25 km propagating in an LP01 mode. In another embodiment, the dispersion compensating module has a mode converter having a reflective fiber grating for converting a first to a second mode interconnected to a dispersion compensated fiber propagating in the second mode. The mode converter has a coupler adapted to operatively couple light propagating in a first mode from a first fiber into a second, and a reflective fiber grating operatively coupled to the second fiber; the grating being capable of converting light from the first into the second mode.

Abstract: A large number of display components are arranged and fixed, for example, in a matrix configuration on a first principal surface of a large optical guide plate to construct a main display device body. A substance having a light-transmitting property adjusted for its refractive index is allowed to intervene at least between the large optical guide plate and the display components. The refractive index of the substance is preferably similar to the refractive index of the large optical guide plate as closely as possible. As for the light-transmitting property of the substrate, it is preferable that the transmittance is not less than 50% for the perpendicular incident light at the wavelength in the visible light region, and it is more preferable that the transmittance is not less than 70%, in order to successfully introduce the light into the display component and suppress the electric power consumption.

Abstract: An illuminating device for an endoscope system emits light toward a light receiving surface of an optical fiber bundle. Light incident on the light receiving surface of said optical fiber bundle is emitted from a light emitting surface of the optical fiber bundle for illuminating an object. The illuminating device is provided with a plurality of light emitting elements, each of which emits a directive monochromatic light beam. The light beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting elements are incident on the light receiving surface of the optical fiber bundle within an angular aperture of the light receiving surface thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical deflection switch having reduced insertion loss. The device includes a switching block having a reflective surface and a transmissive face, a second block having a first and a second face, and a switch for selectively switching the device from a first switching state to a second switching state. The optical deflection switch of the present invention provides a switch in which a deflected beam is directed to one of a plurality of output ports at normal incidence and hence the insertion loss of the optical deflection switch is reduced. The output beam in the first switching state is parallel to the output beam in the second switching state.

Abstract: An optical device includes a plurality of first optical waveguides (or optical fibers) arranged in the horizontal direction; a plurality of second optical waveguides (or optical fibers) arranged on the same plane as the plane on which the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers) are arranged, the second optical waveguides (or optical fibers) being perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers); and elements to be excited by light rays waveguided in the first and second optical waveguides(or optical fibers), the elements being arranged at crossing portions at which the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers) cross each other.

Abstract: Assembly allowing for connection of optical fibres with optical or optoelectronic components and process for manufacturing this assembly. According to the invention, at least one fibre support (4, 6) is formed including, for each fibre (2), a V-shaped housing. The support and the component (32) are attached to a substrate (12) with meltable elements (16, 38) and the fibre is positioned in the housing so as to vertically align the fibre with the component, horizontal alignment being obtained by the melted elements. Application is to microelectronics.

Abstract: An optical switching device comprises: a light guide including a total reflection plane capable of totally reflecting light thereby transmitting the light; a switching part capable of, at a position where its extraction plane is in close contact with the total reflection plane, capturing evanescent light and reflecting the captured light thereby outputting it; and a driving part for driving the optical switching part. The light guide, the switching part, and the driving part are laminated in this order into a multilayer structure. The employment of the multilayer structure makes it possible to optimize the respective layers independently of one another. The extracted light does not pass through the driving part. This allows the driving part to be optimized so as to achieve an optical switching device capable of operating at a high speed with low power consumption. Thus, it is possible to provide a low-loss and high-contrast optical switching device using an evanescent wave, which can respond at a high speed.

Abstract: A fast acting, low insertion loss switch for use in an optical fiber communication system includes a small diameter waist region incorporating a Bragg grating which is precisely tuned by tensioning to be reflective at a selective wavelength band. By a small physical shift of the waist, as by lateral displacement of an attached small magnetic element with a magnetic field, the periodicity of the grating is varied so that the selected wavelength is passed through the waist with virtually no loss. The incremental motion required can be introduced by a variety of devices, selected in accordance with cost, size and response time requirements. Modules having a number of such switches in close juxtaposition offer distinct advantages for wavelength division multiplexed systems.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer capable of simultaneously performing light multiplexing and demultiplexing is provided. This optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer includes an optical waveguide array having a plurality of optical waveguides, a planar waveguide region connected to the optical waveguide array, and an arrayed waveguide grating connected to the planar waveguide region. In this device, the optical waveguide array further includes a central waveguide formed at a location on which light transmitted from the arrayed waveguide grating to the planar waveguide region is focused, on the interface between the optical waveguide array and the planar waveguide region, and light multiplexed with a plurality of wavelengths is received or output via the central waveguide.