Abstract: A microLED may be used to generate light for intra-chip or inter-chip communications. The microLED, or an active layer of the microLED, may be embedded in a waveguide. The waveguide may include a lens.

Abstract: Coupling of light from large angular distribution microLEDs into smaller angular acceptance distribution of transmission channels is performed using optical elements.

Abstract: Optical chip-to-chip interconnects may use microLEDs as light sources. The interconnected chips may be on a same substrate. A pair of endpoint chips may each have associated optical transceiver subsystems, with transceiver circuitry in transceiver chips. Optical communications may be provided between the optical transceiver subsystems, with the optical transceiver subsystems in communication with their associated endpoint chips by way of metal layers in the substrate.

Abstract: Light from one or more microLEDs may be coupled into multiple waveguide cores. Parabolic reflectors, truncated parabolic reflectors, and encapsulants may be used to increase fraction of emitted light coupled into the waveguide cores.

Abstract: Integrated circuit chips may be optically interconnected using microLEDs. Some interconnections may be vertically-launched parallel optical links. Some interconnections may be planar-launched parallel optical links.

Abstract: The system contains an input fiber section coupled in optical communication with an optical input signal. A length of doped optical gain fiber is optically coupled with the input fiber section. A pumping mechanism is coupled to the doped optical gain fiber. An output port is formed at a distal end of the doped optical gain fiber, wherein the output port is approximately less than twenty centimeters long.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the phase of a tunable laser is provided. Stabilization of the mode of a laser beam is provided as the laser is tuned to a target frequency. For one embodiment, a laser generates a reference beam and an output beam. The power of each of beam is measured by optical detectors, and a ratio thereof is utilized to detect when a mode hop occurs as the laser is coarsely tuned. The average of the pre and post mode hop ratios is utilized as a control setpoint while finely tuning the laser to the target frequency. Wavelength lockers, optical power dividers and optical detectors are utilized to determine power levels of the reference and output beams while also monitoring frequency characteristics thereof. A control unit utilizes the outputs from the wavelength locker to control the operation of the extended cavity laser during and after tuning.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first reference element having an output power that varies monotonically with input frequency over an operating frequency range and receiving at least a portion of an output beam of light from an optical source. A second reference element having an output power that is frequency dependent receives at least a portion of the output beam of light. A first optical detector measures the power of a first reference beam of light from the first reference element. A second optical detector measures the power of a second reference beam of light from the second reference element. Electronic circuitry is coupled to the first and second optical detectors for receiving first and second reference signals therefrom and producing a coarse error signal for permitting coarse adjustment and a fine error signal for permitting fine adjustment of the frequency of the output beam of light.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving, while using a multimode diode laser and polarization-maintaining fibers, high signal-to-noise ratio in a magneto optical storage system. In particular, the system splits an incoming main light signal into two orthogonal polarization states, which then propagate over different distances before recombining. By pulsing the laser on and off at a high frequency and choosing an appropriate path difference for the polarization states, which is dependent upon the modulation frequency of the laser, the system eliminates first-order spectral polarization noise arising from a potential error in a key optical component.

Abstract: An optical data storage system utilizes optical fibers for transfer of information to and from storage media. The storage media comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared with conventional approaches, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber is accurately reproduced with reduced noise. Various noise reduction techniques are provided by substantially decreasing or eliminating spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at end faces and of an optical fiber. In particular, various techniques, such as index matching, a cover slip method, laser modulation, or angle polishing, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the front end face of the optical fiber. Various techniques, such as angle cleaving, index matching, or multi-mode fiber splicing, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the back end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving, while using a laser and optical fibers, high signal-to-noise ratio. In particular, the system splits an incoming main light signal into two orthogonal polarization states, which then propagate through an optical circuit before recombining. The use of appropriate path differences ensures that the system is immune from the conversion of mode partition noise to intensity noise arising from the interference between parasitic light waves which traveled through the system in undesired polarization states.

Abstract: A method and system for aligning optical fibers includes aperturing the optical beams from the optical fibers at two points along a path. Photodetectors are placed on the apertures and the positions of the tips of the optical fibers are controlled using actuators to center the optical beams within the apertures.

Abstract: An optical system and method for selective transmission of light between a source of light and set of storage disks along an optical path includes at least one polarization maintaining optical fiber optical fiber. Various noise reduction techniques are provided by substantially decreasing or eliminating spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at end faces and of an optical fiber. In particular, various techniques, such as index matching, a cover slip method, or laser modulation, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the front end face of the optical fiber. Various techniques, such index matching or multi-mode fiber splicing, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical data storage system 100 utilizes optical fibers 102 for transfer of information to and from storage media 107. The storage media 107 comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers 102 are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared to the prior art, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber 102 is accurately reproduced with reduced noise.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the phase of a tunable laser is provided. Stabilization of the mode of a laser beam is provided as the laser is tuned to a target frequency. For one embodiment, a laser generates a reference beam and an output beam. The power of each of beam is measured by optical detectors, and a ratio thereof is utilized to detect when a mode hop occurs as the laser is coarsely tuned. The average of the pre and post mode hop ratios is utilized as a control setpoint while finely tuning the laser to the target frequency. Wavelength lockers, optical power dividers and optical detectors are utilized to determine power levels of the reference and output beams while also monitoring frequency characteristics thereof. A control unit utilizes the outputs from the wavelength locker to control the operation of the extended cavity laser during and after tuning.

Abstract: An optical system and method for selective transmission of light between a source of light and a set of storage disks along an optical path includes at least one polarization maintaining optical fiber optical fiber. Various noise reduction techniques are provided by substantially decreasing or eliminating spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at end faces and of an optical fiber. In particular, various techniques, such as index matching, a cover slip method, or laser modulation, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the front end face of the optical fiber. Various techniques, such index matching or multi-mode fiber splicing, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the back end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first reference element having an output power that varies monotonically with input frequency over an operating frequency range and receiving at least a portion of an output beam of light from an optical source. A second reference element having an output power that is frequency dependent receives at least a portion of the output beam of light. A first optical detector measures the power of a first reference beam of light from the first reference element. A second optical detector measures the power of a second reference beam of light from the second reference element. Electronic circuitry is coupled to the first and second optical detectors for receiving first and second reference signals therefrom and producing a coarse error signal for permitting coarse adjustment and a fine error signal for permitting fine adjustment of the frequency of the output beam of light.

Abstract: An optical data storage system 100 utilizes optical fibers 102 for transfer of information to and from storage media 107. The storage media 107 comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers 102 are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared to the prior art, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber 102 is accurately reproduced with reduced noise.

Abstract: In general, the mode field pattern of a single-mode polarization-maintaining fiber is symmetric. There are preferred axes for the polarization states, but the intensity pattern emerging from the fiber is rotationally symmetric. If a short piece of multi-mode fiber is spliced onto the end of a polarization-maintaining single-mode fiber, it is possible to change the apparent shape of the mode field. The use of a fusion splicer affects the stress pattern in polarization-preserving fiber, and introduces asymmetry into the shape of the fiber mode field. If the spliced fiber is cleaved near the splice, and the asymmetry of the fiber mode field is matched to the asymmetry of a laser diode beam, then the laser beam is coupled efficiently into the fiber without the use of additional beam-shaping optics. The asymmetric beam from the laser is brought to a focus, which is also asymmetric.

Abstract: An optical data storage system 100 utilizes optical fibers 102 for transfer of information to and from storage media 107. The storage media 107 comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers 102 are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared to the prior art, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber 102 is accurately reproduced with reduced noise.