Abstract: A port including a lens for coupling one optical element with another optical element. The lens includes a focusing lens surface that has optical power and a flat lens surface that has little or no optical power. The lens is typically aspherical and couples high angle rays emitted from a source and also introduces aberrations such that the image formed on the receiving optical element is not reflected back to the source optical element. A point is imaged as a spot. The port couples light between optical elements by slightly defocusing the source without impeding the efficiency of the port.

Abstract: An optical fiber is fabricated with a refractive index profile having a central core; a middle part provided around the outer periphery of the central core and having a lower refractive index than that of the central core; and a cladding provided around the periphery of the middle part and having a higher refractive index than the middle part and a lower refractive index than the central core. This optical fiber has an effective core area of 120 ?m2 or more in an employed wavelength band selected from the range of 1.53˜1.63 ?m, and has a cut-off wavelength that is capable of substantially single mode propagation in the aforementioned employed wavelength band. As a result, it is possible to construct an optical transmission system having excellent transmission characteristics in which nonlinearity is decreased.

Abstract: The specification describes an optical pulse generator in a return-to-zero format in which a phase-modulated (PM) optical signal is converted to intensity-modulated (IM) optical pulses using chromatic dispersion. Compared with Mach-Zehnder-modulator-based pulse generators, this scheme is potentially more efficient (lower insertion loss). The pulse generator of the invention is suitable for very high data rates, e.g. 40 Gb/s. The structure of the pulse generator is a phase-modulated pulse source combined with a dispersive element having the required dispersion.

Abstract: A gain flattening device for an optical fiber amplifier. In the gain flattening device, a first end portion, having first and second ends, receives an amplified optical signal from a first amplification fiber via the first end. A second end portion, having third and fourth ends, outputs the amplified optical signal to a second amplification fiber via the fourth end. A first connector is included for connecting the first end to the third end. A second connector is included for connecting the second end to the fourth end. At least one reflective grating is further included with a predetermined gain curve at a predetermined wavelength band. An optical coupling portion couples the amplified optical signal from the first connector to the second connector in at least one coupling region where the first and second connectors are closer to each other than in any other area, and outputs part of the amplified optical signal reflected from the reflective grating via the second end.

Abstract: This application describes whispering gallery modes resonators that are optically coupled to one or two waveguide grating couplers formed on a substrate.

Abstract: An integrated device of the present invention comprises free-space optics, a bi-directional multiplexor/de-multiplexor, a diffractive light modulator, a beam splitter, an optical performance monitor, and a controller. The free-space optics collimate, transform and image optical signals including a range of component wavelength signals. The bi-directional multiplexor/de-multiplexor de-multiplexes a wavelength division multiplexed signal into the component wavelength signals and multiplexes equalized component wavelength signals into an equalized wavelength division multiplexed signal. The diffractive light modulator selectively equalizes each component wavelength signal. The beam splitter is optically coupled in free-space to the diffractive light modulator for receiving the equalized component wavelength signals and re-directing a representative portion of each of the equalized component wavelength signals.

Abstract: An optical waveguide fiber having large effective area, low slope, low cutoff, and low attenuation is disclosed. The optical fiber has at least two core segments and the inner profile volume of the core of the fiber is greater than 2.0%-?m2.

Abstract: A near-field scanning optical probe comprises an optical fiber for conducting imaging light therethrough, the fiber having at least a portion doped with an optical gain medium and further having a tapered end portion with a frustoconical wall and an end surface for emitting the imaging light. In use, pumping light and optionally imaging light are coupled into the optical fiber such that the pumping light excites the optical gain medium to a higher energy state to emit photons at the approximate wavelength of the imaging light desired, to thereby produce and optionally amplify the imaging light emitted by the probe.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating integrated optics devices are provided. According to one process, a photosensitive sol-gel glass material including a volatile photosensitizer is prepared. A film of the sol-gel is then produced on a substrate. The film is then imprinted with an image of an optical device by exposing the photosensitive sol-gel film to light energy patterned in the negative or positive image of the desired device, thereby photolyzing photosensitizer within the exposed portion in proportion to the amount of light energy delivered. The image of the written optical device is then fixed in the exposed film, thereby forming a planar device layer having an embedded optical device. The photoinduced refractive index change between the optical device and the surrounding region is preferably greater than or equal to 0.001. A variety of passive and active integrated optic devices may be fabricated using the disclosed processes and are also described.

Abstract: A data transfer system for the optical transmission of data using an optical waveguide. The emitter and/or the receiver is adapted to be displaced along the optical waveguide or positioned at different sites. The optical data transfer system allows light to be coupled or decoupled by scattering centers at optional positions.

Abstract: The present invention is an efficient system and method for cascading optical switches. A plurality of cascaded optical switches form a cascaded optical switch fabric and direct an optical signal beam from one of the plurality of optical switches to another of the plurality of optical switches. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fixed incidence corrective device is included in a cascaded optical switch fabric. The incidence corrective device directs an optical signal beam in a shallow angle so that it strikes the next optical switch at a corrected incidence angle. A corrected incidence angle permits an optical signal beam to be forwarded at a relatively shallow angle to an optical switch located in a relatively close proximity on the optical switch fabric. The present invention also provides for refocusing of spreading optical signal beams and mitigation of signal loss.

Abstract: A collimating device having adjustable features that facilitate proper optical alignment of components positioned within the collimator is disclosed. In one embodiment, the collimating device includes a collimating portion including a collimating element, a core portion containing an optical device, and at least one adapter portion. An engagement surface on one end of the collimating portion is shaped to engage a corresponding engagement surface on one end of the adapter portion to form an adjustment point. An additional adjustment point is defined between another end of the adapter portion and an end of the core portion. These adjustment points enable the collimating portion to be maneuvered with respect to the core portion in order to align the collimating device. Minimal clearances between the adjustment point surfaces minimize the amount of adhesive needed to bond the collimator portion together after alignment, thereby producing a more stable and secure collimating device.

Abstract: An integrated type optical coupling device capable of easily accurately performing an optical arrangement between a narrow-pitch multi-channel optical waveguide and an optical fiber array and a master used in fabricating the same are provided. By forming a fixing projection between the optical fibers, the dynamic stability of the optical fiber array is increased and the optical arrangement between the optical waveguide and the optical fiber is easily accurately performed by hand. Accordingly, the cost required for the alignment is reduced and the alignment error due to the rolling of the optical fiber is not generated. In addition, the multi-step metal master is fabricated by using a photoresist film for X-ray exposure, and the narrow-pitch multi-channel optical coupling device is fabricated in a hot embossing method using the same, thereby the high-integrated device can be fabricated at a low price.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device is disclosed that includes a lower clad layer of a polymer resin material formed on a substrate, a core of a polymer resin material formed on the lower clad layer, and an upper clad layer of a polymer resin material covering the core. The core surrounded by the lower and upper clad layers forms an optical waveguide. The core has first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface facing the lower clad layer and the second surface facing away from the lower clad layer. The core is shaped so that the width of the first surface is greater than the width of the second surface in a cross section of the core.

Abstract: Provided is a focusing waveguide grating coupler using a leaky mode which can form single output beam while relieving the dependency on manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An all-fiber broadband polarization combiner is disclosed based on a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) structure. The entry coupler to the MZ is a polarization pump combiner (PPC) and the exit coupler is a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) coupler. The two couplers are interconnected with two standard SM fibers which form the arms of the central zone of the MZ. Two polarization maintaining (PM) fibers are spliced to the two input arms of the PPC and are oriented so that polarization X in one PM fiber is orthogonal to polarization Y in the other PM fiber. And the MZ is induced with a phase shift ?? of ? between the two arms of the central zone.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispersion compensation module of extremely simple design that does not rely on a spool-and-hub or similar device for holding the optical fiber used in the module, such module being here termed a “Free-Fiber dispersion compensation module”. In the inventive dispersion compensation module the optical fiber therein is in a relaxed coiled configuration having minimal tension. It has also been discovered that while coil tension is relieved by removing it from the winding spool prior to placing it in the dispersion compensation module, the tension can be further relieved by coating the coiled fiber with a finely powdered substance which will not react with or otherwise harm or damage wither the fiber or the module containing it, for example, talcum powder.

Abstract: A dual-use coaxial optical fiber connector comprises a main body, a spring, an assembly seat and a dust-proof cover. An assembly seat is provided with assembling bevels and locking holes which are used to engage with the assembling grooves and the locking elements of the main body, so as to enable the assembly seat to be more firmly assembled on the main body. Furthermore, the main body is provided with a spring seat which is specially designed for accommodation of a spring so as to prevent the loss of the spring during assembly. The spring is accommodated in the spring seat of the main body so as to push the dust-proof cover to seal the assembling hole of the assembly seat, thus the optical fiber connector can be prevent from dust.

Abstract: A tunable Fabry Perot filter (TFPF) uses the hybrid integration of MEMS and micro-optics. The mirrors forming the TFPF are actively aligned to provide a high finesse TFPF. One of the reflectors is mounted to a flexible member, for example a beam member fixed at both ends. The flexible member is deflectable in a direction parallel to the axis of the TFPF so as to adjust the gap between the reflectors, thus tuning the TFPF. One or both of the mirrors may be deposited on the end of an optical fiber.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field frequency filter which includes a bus waveguide that carries a signal having a plurality of frequencies, including a desired frequency, and a drop waveguide. A resonator-system is coupled to the bus and drop waveguides via directional couplers and transfers the desired frequency from the bus waveguide to the drop waveguide while allowing transmission of the remaining frequencies in the bus waveguide. The input signal in the bus waveguide is coupled from the bus waveguide to the resonator-system by a first directional coupler. The resonator-system includes two sub-elements each comprising at least one resonator. The first directional coupler splits the input signal into two preferably equal parts and directs each part into a resonator sub-element. The desired frequency is transferred to the drop waveguide by a second directional coupler. The non-desired frequencies are returned to the bus waveguide, in the forward direction, by the first directional coupler.