Abstract: An optical communication system includes a first end terminal comprising a first transponder operable to receive a first electrical signal and generate an optical signal based at least in part on the first electrical signal for communication to a multiple span communication link. The optical signal experiences at least partial dispersion compensation from an optical dispersion compensating element as it traverses the communication link. The system also includes a second end terminal comprising a second transponder operable to receive the optical signal and generate a second electrical signal based at least in part on the optical signal. At least one of the first and second end terminals further includes an electronic dispersion compensation module operable to provide electronic dispersion compensation to at least a portion of at least one of the first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: In one of several embodiments, a method of communicating optical signals comprises communicating a plurality of optical signals over an optical communications medium, wherein each of at least some of the plurality of optical signals comprises a launch power that is a function of a noise property measured at or near a center wavelength of that signal. Launch powers of the plurality of optical signals primarily decrease with increasing center wavelengths of the plurality of optical signals.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to facilitate add/drop multiplexing of optical signals includes an input operable to receive an input optical signal and an added optical signal, the input operable to generate a first and a second copy of the input signal and a first and a second copy of the added signal. The apparatus further includes a plurality of at least substantially reflective surfaces, each operable to receive either the first signal copies or the second signal copies and to reflect the copies for ultimate combination at an output to form an output signal for transmission. At least one of the at least substantially reflective surfaces comprises a moveable mirror operable to change its position relative to the input to create a phase shift between the first and second signal copies so that either the input optical signal or the added optical signal is communicated as the output signal depending on the position of the at least one moveable mirror.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a gain equalizer comprises a wavelength division demultiplexer operable to separate one or more communication bands into a plurality of wavelengths and an array of phase shifter stages. Each phase shifter stage comprises a micro-electro-optic system (MEMS) device comprising 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 is 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: An optical communication system includes a first end terminal comprising a first transponder operable to receive a first electrical signal and generate an optical signal based at least in part on the first electrical signal for communication to a multiple span communication link. The optical signal experiences at least partial dispersion compensation from an optical dispersion compensating element as it traverses the communication link. The system also includes a second end terminal comprising a second transponder operable to receive the optical signal and generate a second electrical signal based at least in part on the optical signal. At least one of the first and second end terminals further includes an electronic dispersion compensation module operable to provide electronic dispersion compensation to at least a portion of at least one of the first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes a first end terminal comprising a first transponder operable to receive a first electrical signal and generate an optical signal based at least in part on the first electrical signal for communication to a multiple span communication link. The optical signal experiences at least partial dispersion compensation from an optical dispersion compensating element as it traverses the communication link. The system also includes a second end terminal comprising a second transponder operable to receive the optical signal and generate a second electrical signal based at least in part on the optical signal. At least one of the first and second end terminals further includes an electronic dispersion compensation module operable to provide electronic dispersion compensation to at least a portion of at least one of the first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: An interferometric micro electro-mechanical switching (MEMS) device includes an interferometer. The interferometer includes an optical cavity having a depth and formed between an inner mirror assembly and an outer mirror assembly. The MEMS device further includes an actuator coupled to the interferometer. The actuator includes an electrode gap having a depth and formed between an inner conductor and an outer conductor. In one particular embodiment, the depth of the optical cavity and the depth of the electrode gap are capable of being selected substantially independently of one another.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: A polarization controller includes a first polarization beam splitter operable to receive an input optical signal having an input state of polarization and to separate the signal into a first and a second principal mode of polarization. The polarization controller further includes at least three stages of phase shifters each operable to introduce a phase shift between the first and second principal modes, at least one phase shifter comprising a beam splitter that is shared with at least one other of the phase shifters. The at least three stages of phase shifters include a first stage coupled to the first polarization beam splitter and a last stage coupled to a second polarization beam splitter. The second polarization beam splitter is operable to receive phase shifted copies of the first and second principal modes, and to align the phase shifted copies of the principal modes to an output state of polarization.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a polarization controller includes a first polarization beam splitter operable to receive an input optical signal having an input state of polarization and to separate the signal into a first and a second principal mode of polarization. The polarization controller further includes at least three stages of phase shifters each operable to introduce a phase shift between the first and second principal modes, at least one phase shifter comprising a beam splitter that is shared with at least one other of the phase shifters. The at least three stages of phase shifters include a first stage coupled to the first polarization beam splitter and a last stage coupled to a second polarization beam splitter. The second polarization beam splitter is operable to receive phase shifted copies of the first and second principal modes, and to align the phase shifted copies of the principal modes to an output state of polarization.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

Abstract: A tunable optical device includes a thin film device. The thin film device includes a plurality of cavities each including an electro-optic material. The electro-optic material includes an optical characteristic capable of being manipulated by application of an electric field. In this embodiment, at least some of the plurality of cavities are coherently coupled to others of the plurality of cavities. In this embodiment, the plurality of cavities include a sufficient number of cavities to result in an approximately square frequency response for the device.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a polarization controller includes a first polarization beam splitter operable to receive an input optical signal having an input state of polarization and to separate the signal into a first and a second principal mode of polarization. The polarization controller further includes at least three stages of phase shifters each operable to introduce a phase shift between the first and second principal modes, at least one phase shifter comprising a beam splitter that is shared with at least one other of the phase shifters. The at least three stages of phase shifters include a first stage coupled to the first polarization beam splitter and a last stage coupled to a second polarization beam splitter. The second polarization beam splitter is operable to receive phase shifted copies of the first and second principal modes, and to align the phase shifted copies of the principal modes to an output state of polarization.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a gain equalizer comprises a wavelength division demultiplexer operable to separate one or more communication bands into a plurality of wavelengths and an array of phase shifter stages. Each phase shifter stage comprises a micro-electro-optic system (MEMS) device comprising 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 is 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: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.