Abstract: An optical interface device for a photonic integrated system includes a plug and a receptacle. The receptacle is operably arranged on a PIC that supports waveguides. The plug operably supports optical fibers. The receptacle and plug are configured to operably engage to establish optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. A tab on the receptacle is configured to constrain longitudinal motion while allowing for lateral motion of the receptacle to adjust its position relative to the PIC to optimize alignment. The plug can include a spacer sized to fit within a recess defined by the tab to further facilitate alignment. The receptacle and plug can be engaged and disengaged in a manner similar to conventional electrical connectors.

Abstract: An optical interface device for a photonic integrated system includes a plug and a receptacle. The receptacle is operably arranged on a PIC that supports waveguides. The plug operably supports optical fibers. The receptacle and plug are configured to operably engage to establish optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. A tab on the receptacle is configured to constrain longitudinal motion while allowing for lateral motion of the receptacle to adjust its position relative to the PIC to optimize alignment. The plug can include a spacer sized to fit within a recess defined by the tab to further facilitate alignment. The plug can also include lenses to establish the optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. The receptacle and plug can be engaged and disengaged in a manner similar to conventional electrical connectors.

Abstract: A method includes comparing a length of a first packet to a threshold, determining that the first packet is a short packet when the length of the first packet is less than the threshold, and determining that the first packet is a long packet when the length of the first packet is greater than or equal to the threshold. The method also includes when the first packet is a long packet placing the first packet in a long packet container and transmitting the long packet container to a photonic switch. Additionally, the method includes when the first packet is a short packet placing a first portion of the first packet in a first short packet container, where the first short packet container includes a sequence number, a source top-of-rack switch (TOR) address, and a destination TOR address and transmitting the first short packet container to an electronic switch.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a first packet, where the first packet has a length and comparing the length of the first packet to a length threshold. The method also includes when the length of the first packet is greater than or equal to the length threshold, placing the first packet in a long packet container and transmitting the long packet container to a first photonic switch and when the length of the first packet is less than the length threshold, placing the first packet in a first short packet container and transmitting the first short packet container to a second photonic switch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of aligning mirrors of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) photonic switch includes illuminating a first group of photodiodes associated with a first mirror of a first mirror array of the MEMS photonic switch by a first control beam during a first period of time and illuminating a second group of photodiodes associated with a second mirror of the first mirror array by a second control beam during a second period of time, where the second control beam is off during the first period of time, where the first control beam is off during the second period of time, and where the second period of time is after the first period of time. The method also includes illuminating the first group of photodiodes by the first control beam during a third period of time, where the second control beam is off during the third period of time, and where the third period of time is after the second period of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a bond interface is provided. The method comprises directing laser energy at a first surface of a first material connected to a second material by an adhesive at a bond interface. The first surface is opposite the bond interface. A first acoustic impedance of the first material is greater than a second acoustic impedance of the second material. The method also determines whether an inconsistency is present in the bond interface after directing the laser energy.

Abstract: The current invention is an improvement to the random number generator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,737. Random digits are generated by mixing ten differently colored balls in a transparent chamber. The entire surfaces of all the balls are uniformly colored and unmarked. None of the balls contains any electronic identification devices. A color sensor mounted near the settlement pocket of the mixing chamber emits data that is unique for each ball. A miniature computer and novel software correlate the data emitted for each of the ten balls with a different digit. One of the balls is randomly separated from the others and comes to rest near the color sensor without human intervention. The computer and its software record the digit that is correlated with the randomly separated ball and command a mini-projector to display the digit on the ball's surface in an upright position.

Abstract: A fiber to waveguide coupler is provided that includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The cladding includes an inner cladding and an outer cladding with a polymer. At least one of the core and inner cladding defines a substantially flat surface parallel with an axis of the optical fiber. The optical fiber defines a stripped portion substantially free of outer cladding configured to expose the at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding. A waveguide is configured to be evanescently coupled with the exposed at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding.

Abstract: A basket apparatus with enhanced strength for use with a water-based pet cremation machine includes a lower basket assembly having an inner compartment formed by a lower frame assembly that constructs a plurality of faces including a front face, a rear face, side faces, and a bottom face, each face having a perforated mesh coupled thereto, at least one divider disposed within the lower basket inner compartment to create a first set of compartments to store pets, an upper basket assembly disposed on the lower basket assembly and having an inner compartment formed by an upper frame assembly that constructs a plurality of faces including a front face, a rear face, side faces and a bottom face, each face having a perforated mesh coupled thereto, and at least one divider disposed within the upper basket inner compartment to create a second set of compartments to store pets.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first packet payload, and where the first packet payload originates from a first top-of-rack switch (TOR) and receiving a second packet payload, where the second packet payload originates from a second TOR. The method also includes placing the first packet payload in a transport container and placing the second packet payload in the transport container. Additionally, the method includes transmitting the transport container to a photonic switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a composite structure. A pulsed laser beam having a number of properties is generated. Each of the number of properties is within a selected range. The pulsed laser beam generated by the generation laser system is directed towards a composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. A number of ultrasonic waves are formed in the composite structure when the pulsed laser beam contacts the composite structure without causing any undesired inconsistencies in the composite structure outside of selected tolerances.

Abstract: A bond inspection system may include a material that reacts to applied activation energy by creating a compression wave, the material positioned adjacent a surface of a structure having a bond to be inspected and shaped in a predetermined pattern, such that reaction of the material causes compression waves to travel through the surface and structure; a source of activation energy capable of directing the activation energy at the material; and a controller programmed to actuate the source of activation energy to direct the activation energy at discrete portions of the predetermined pattern of material in a predetermined sequence selected to create a plurality of the compression waves so that the compression waves reflect from an opposite side of the structure as a plurality of tension waves that combine at substantially the same time at a bondline of the structure to be inspected.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for multi-wavelength encoding includes receiving an input optical packet stream having an address and data and encoding the address of the input optical packet stream producing an encoded address including a first group of symbols including a first selected symbol, where the first group of symbols has more than two symbols. The method also includes generating a first wavelength in accordance with the first selected symbol and generating an output optical packet stream having the data of the input optical packet and the first wavelength, where the first wavelength corresponds to the first selected symbol. Additionally, the method includes modulating the first wavelength with the input optical packet stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) photonic switch includes a first plurality of collimators including a first collimator configured to receive a first traffic optical beam having a traffic wavelength and a first control optical beam having a control wavelength, where a first focal length of the first collimators at the traffic wavelength is different than a second focal length of the first collimators at the control wavelength. The MEMS photonic switch also includes a first mirror array optically coupled to the first plurality of collimators, where the first mirror array including a first plurality of first MEMS mirrors integrated on a first substrate and a first plurality of first photodiodes integrated on the first substrate, where the photodiodes are disposed in interstitial spaces between the MEMS mirrors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for multi-wavelength encoding includes receiving an input optical packet stream having an address and data and encoding the address of the input optical packet stream producing an encoded address including a first group of symbols including a first selected symbol, where the first group of symbols has more than two symbols. The method also includes generating a first wavelength in accordance with the first selected symbol and generating an output optical packet stream having the data of the input optical packet and the first wavelength, where the first wavelength corresponds to the first selected symbol. Additionally, the method includes modulating the first wavelength with the input optical packet stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) photonic switch includes a first plurality of collimators including a first collimator configured to receive a first traffic optical beam having a traffic wavelength and a first control optical beam having a control wavelength, where a first focal length of the first collimators at the traffic wavelength is different than a second focal length of the first collimators at the control wavelength. The MEMS photonic switch also includes a first mirror array optically coupled to the first plurality of collimators, where the first mirror array including a first plurality of first MEMS mirrors integrated on a first substrate and a first plurality of first photodiodes integrated on the first substrate, where the photodiodes are disposed in interstitial spaces between the MEMS mirrors.

Abstract: The current invention is an improvement to the random number generator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,737. Random digits are generated by mixing ten differently colored balls in a transparent chamber. The entire surfaces of all the balls are uniformly colored and unmarked. None of the balls contains any electronic identification devices. A color sensor mounted near the settlement pocket of the mixing chamber emits data that is unique for each ball. A miniature computer and novel software correlate the data emitted for each of the ten balls with a different digit. One of the balls is randomly separated from the others and comes to rest near the color sensor without human intervention. The computer and its software record the digit that is correlated with the randomly separated ball and command a mini-projector to display the digit on the ball's surface in an upright position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) photonic switch includes a first plurality of collimators including a first collimator configured to receive a first traffic optical beam having a traffic wavelength and a first control optical beam having a control wavelength, where a first focal length of the first collimators at the traffic wavelength is different than a second focal length of the first collimators at the control wavelength. The MEMS photonic switch also includes a first mirror array optically coupled to the first plurality of collimators, where the first mirror array including a first plurality of first MEMS mirrors integrated on a first substrate and a first plurality of first photodiodes integrated on the first substrate, where the photodiodes are disposed in interstitial spaces between the MEMS mirrors.

Abstract: An optical connection includes a first array of holes on a first side of a registration plate and an array of grooves on a second side of the registration plate. The optical connection also includes a first plurality of GRIN lenses inserted into the first array of holes, where the first plurality of GRIN lenses includes a first GRIN lens in a first hole of the first array of holes and a second plurality of GRIN lenses inserted in grooves of the array of grooves, where the first side of the registration plate is opposite the second side of the registration plate, where the second plurality of GRIN lenses includes a second GRIN lens in a first groove of the array of grooves opposite the first GRIN lens, and where the first GRIN lens is optically coupled to the second GRIN lens by an air gap in the first.

Abstract: A method for photonic device includes an optical macromodule substrate including optical interconnects and a first photonic integrated circuit (PIC) including a first photonic switch, where the first PIC is mechanically coupled to the optical macromodule substrate and optically coupled to the optical interconnect. The photonic device also includes a PIC controller electrically coupled to the first PIC.