Abstract: A variable optical attenuator for optical communications comprises: a substrate on which a plurality of alignment grooves are patterned; an input optical fiber aligned in one of the alignment grooves and receiving an optical signal; a reflector formed on the substrate so as to move to change a path of an optical signal which has passed through the input optical fiber; an output optical fiber aligned in one of the alignment grooves and outputting an optical signal whose path has been changed; a first lens aligned in one of the alignment grooves between the input/output optical fibers and the reflector so as to collimate an optical signal in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; and a second lens patterned on the substrate between the input/output optical fibers and the reflector so as to collimate an optical signal in a direction horizontal to the substrate, thereby facilitating an assembly process, reducing an alignment error, and miniaturizing its entire size.

Abstract: To provide an on-chip optical interconnection circuit, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus, in which high signal transmission speed, easy miniaturization, and easy fabrication can be attained, there are provided a plurality of circuit blocks, which are provided on one integrated circuit chip, and an optical waveguide, which is provided on the integrated circuit chip to optically connect the circuit blocks to each other.

Abstract: An electronic device including a plurality of pixels is provided. Each pixel includes fist, second, and third subpixels, which, from a plan view, the first subpixels are arranged in a spaced apart relation; for each pixel, the second subpixel is disposed on a first side of the first subpixel, the third subpixel is disposed on a second side of the first subpixel, and the second side is opposite the first side on a first axis; and, for pixels adjacent on the first axis, either the second subpixels of the adjacent pixels are adjacent to each other on the first axis, or the third subpixels of the adjacent pixels are adjacent to each other on the first axis; and for pixels adjacent on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the first subpixels of the adjacent pixels on the second axis are adjacent to each other on the second axis.

Abstract: Optical components may be precisely positioned in three dimensions with respect to one another. A bonder which has the ability to precisely position the components in two dimensions can be utilized. The components may be equipped with contacts at different heights so that as the components come together in a third dimension, their relative positions can be sensed. This information may be fed back to the bonder to control the precise alignment in the third dimension.

Abstract: An optical layer structure having at least two layers and also a sensor based on this layer structure are described. The layer structure comprises at least a substrate layer and at least one (light) waveguide layer and a coupling element for the coupling of the optical beam, the layer adjacent to the waveguide layer having a smaller refractive index than the waveguide layer, and at least one layer consisting of a photoaddressable polymer.

Abstract: Optoelectronic devices of the present invention include several embodiments of an electronically active optical waveguide made of a strip loaded waveguide with a lateral, self-aligned diode fabricated in a layer of silicon. A voltage applied across the diode changes the free carrier density in a portion of the active waveguide, which can change the refractive index in that portion of the waveguide. Changing the refractive index can cause a phase shift of an optical signal propagating down the waveguide and this effect can be used to control the optical signal. Changing the free carrier density can also change the amount of optical attenuation in a section of an active waveguide. Optoelectronic devices such as: modulators, attenuators, switches, beam diverters, tunable filters and other devices can be fabricated on a standard SOI substrate (silicon on insulator), which is typically used in the fabrication of CMOS integrated circuits.

Abstract: An optical communications module in which electrical crosstalk is reduced. The term “optical communications module” represents a surface-mounting-type optical tranceiver, transmitter, or receiver module. The optical communications module has a following structure. (a) An Si substrate carries at least one signal-transmitting section comprising an LD, at least one signal-receiving section comprising a PD, or both together with other components. (b) An insulating substrate is bonded to the back face of the Si substrate. (c) A separating groove separates the Si substrate along the or each boundary line between the sections in order to prevent an AC current flowing through the Si substrate. To attain this object, the separating groove is provided from the top surface of the Si substrate to some midpoint of the insulating substrate.

Abstract: Optoelectronic devices of the present invention include several embodiments of an electronically active optical waveguide made of a strip loaded waveguide with a lateral, self-aligned diode fabricated in a layer of silicon. A voltage applied across the diode changes the free carrier density in a portion of the active waveguide, which can change the refractive index in that portion of the waveguide. Changing the refractive index can cause a phase shift of an optical signal propagating down the waveguide and this effect can be used to control the optical signal. Changing the free carrier density can also change the amount of optical attenuation in a section of an active waveguide. Optoelectronic devices such as: modulators, attenuators, switches, beam diverters, tunable filters and other devices can be fabricated on a standard SOI substrate (silicon on insulator), which is typically used in the fabrication of CMOS integrated circuits.

Abstract: An integrated optical-power adjustable WDM is provided, which has a plurality of channels, each channel having a first input port, a second output port and a third output port, the second output port of one channel being connected to the first output port of the next channel, the first port of each channel having a waveguide, the third port of each channel having a waveguide, each channel comprising a pair of collimating elements composed of a first collimating element and a second collimating element, a thin film filter and a tunable optical filter chip functioning as a variable optical attenuator, wherein the tunable optical filter chip is set between the thin film filter and the third output port for each channel, thereby the respective tunable optical filter chip is integrated into the corresponding internal optical path for each channel of WDM to achieve optical-power control for each channel of the WDM.

Abstract: Photonic signals of high bandwidth are input into a planar spiral of waveguide. The spiral has a number of waveguide loops having a series optical tap areas wherein optical energy is leaked from the loops. The leaked optical energy is received by optical tap waveguides that carry the light for further processing.

Abstract: A first optical waveguide having at least a core layer with a refractive index ncj and a second optical waveguide having at least a core layer with a refractive index nck are arranged to oppose their end surfaces, and at least any one end surface of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is formed by the etching, and the end surface formed by the etching is covered with a coating medium with a refractive index nij or nik that is equal to a refractive index ncj or nck of the core layer that is exposed from the end surface.

Abstract: A device and method for collecting subject responses, particularly during magnetic imaging experiments and testing using a method such as functional MRI. The device comprises a non-metallic input device which is coupled via fiber optic cables to a computer or other data collection device. One or more optical switches transmit the subject's responses. The input device keeps the subject's fingers comfortably aligned with the switches by partially immobilizing the forearm, wrist, and/or hand of the subject. Also a robust nonmetallic switch, particularly for use with the input device.

Abstract: Provided is a small size, high resolution display element with an extremely high utilization efficiency of light emitted by a light source unit and a high contrast. A display element of the present invention has a photonic crystal, a light source unit, and a control unit. The control unit changes the resonance wavelength of point defect resonators formed within the photonic crystal, thus effecting a control between a state in which light guided from the light source unit to a linear defect waveguide is emitted to the outside of the photonic crystal, and a state where emission of light to the outside of the photonic crystal is blocked.

Abstract: A robust protective casing is provided that includes an inner tubing having a passageway therethrough, an outer tubing, and a plurality of flexible strength members disposed between the inner and outer tubing. The protective casing has a wall tubing thickness ratio of the inner tubing wall thickness to the outer tubing wall thickness of about 0.5 or less while still inhibiting the kinking of the protective casing during relatively small bend radii. Additionally, an outer diameter of the protective casing is relatively small while still allowing the routing of a standard sized 900 micron tight-buffered optical fiber through the passageway. Thus, the protective casing is advantageous in applications where limited space is available space. A fan-out assembly using the protective casings is also described.

Abstract: Numerical aperture of transmitted light is varied to NAs by a transmitting lens. The numerical aperture, NAs, of the transmitted light is made larger than the numerical aperture, NAp, of an optical fiber, whereby the numerical aperture, NAf, of received light radiated from the optical fiber is made smaller as the transmission distance increases. A receiving optical system is arranged such that the receiving efficiency of the received light is increased by the provision of an aperture member according as the numerical aperture, NAf, is made smaller. This improves the receiving efficiency when the transmission distance is long and reduces a variation in the received light quantity even if the transmission distance is varied.

Abstract: A multimode interference device and method of making the same comprises at least one input port, at least one output port, a multimode interference region separating the input port from the output port, and at least one subregion in the multimode interference region, wherein a self-image length within the multimode interference region is reduced by a factor that is approximately equal to one plus a number of subregions configured in the multimode interference region, wherein the at least one subregion is configured to have an effective width and effective refractive index running longitudinally through the multimode interference region. Additionally, the subregion may comprise at least one slot.

Abstract: Optical components may be integrated into planar light circuits. For example, thin film filters may be integrated through trenches in planar light circuits to achieve demultiplexing of at least two multiplexed optical wavelengths. An optical waveguide may be interfaced with a laser or a light detector through a mode converter formed as a trench in the planar light circuit. The mode converter may have a curved surface to achieve mode conversion.

Abstract: A process of fabricating a fiber device includes providing a hollow core fiber, and forming a sol-gel material inside the hollow core fiber. The hollow core fiber is preferably an optical fiber, and the sol-gel material is doped with a dopant. Devices made in this manner includes a wide variety of sensors.

Abstract: An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of referaction n.sub.1, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination .phi.. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n.sub.2. The first layer index n.sub.2 causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as alight polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a circuit for regulating optical power levels. Electrooptic attenuators are used to control optical output intensity by means of feedback loops from the outputs of the attenuators to the electrodes of the attenuators which determine the amount of light going to the outputs. The attenuators may be used in combination with an optical switch array in a wavelength division multiplexing system.