Abstract: Electrostatic capacitors with high capacitance density and high-energy storage are implemented over conventional electrolytic capacitor anode substrates using highly conformal contact layers deposited by atomic layer deposition. Capacitor films that are suitable for energy storage, electrical and electronics circuits, and for integration onto PC boards endure long lifetime and high-temperature operation range.

Abstract: Electrostatic capacitors with high capacitance density and high-energy storage are implemented over conventional electrolytic capacitor anode substrates using highly conformal contact layers deposited by atomic layer deposition. Capacitor films that are suitable for energy storage, electrical and electronics circuits, and for integration onto PC boards endure long lifetime and high-temperature operation range.

Abstract: Electrostatic capacitors with high capacitance density and high-energy storage are implemented over conventional electrolytic capacitor anode substrates using highly conformal contact layers deposited by atomic layer deposition. Capacitor films that are suitable for energy storage, electrical and electronics circuits, and for integration onto PC boards endure long lifetime and high-temperature operation range.

Abstract: The invention provides tunable optical filters which incorporate a surface-micromachined out-of-plane plate having a moveable membrane with a high reflective (HR) coated mirror. The mirror defines one side of a Fabry-Perot (FP) filter cavity and is movable in a direction along an axis of the filter cavity. The other side of the filter cavity is defined by a second HR-coated mirror. In one illustrative embodiment, a first plate is formed on a substrate, and then subsequently released from the substrate and secured in a plane orthogonal to the substrate. The first HR-coated mirror is formed as part of a movable membrane supported in an opening through the first plate. The second mirror is formed on a second plate secured in another plane orthogonal to the plane of the substrate, such that the filter cavity is defined horizontally between the first and second mirrors.

Abstract: The invention provides tunable optical filters in which operating characteristics such as initial cavity length and mirror tilt, affecting passband wavelength position and filter finesse, respectively, can be controlled independently of membrane tuning bias. An illustrative embodiment incorporates a surface-micromachined plate with an opening in which a moveable frame is supported by, e.g., flexure bars or support arms. A moveable membrane with a high reflective (HR) coated mirror is supported in an opening in the moveable frame. The mirror defines one side of a Fabry-Perot (FP) filter cavity and is movable in a direction along an axis of the filter cavity. The other side of the filter cavity is defined by a second HR-coated mirror. The moveable frame has a number of electrodes arranged on a surface thereof, such that an operating characteristic of the filter, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing optical signal switching or other optical routing functions in an optical device or system, in which crosstalk induced by modal interference is suppressed by providing appropriate loss, gain and/or refractive index changes in different parts of a switch structure. An exemplary optical signal switch includes first and second branches each having a refraction-controlled section and an absorption-controlled section. An optical signal path over which an optical signal propagates in passing through the switch is selected to include a portion of at least one of the first and second branches, such that one of the first and second branches is a selected branch and the other branch is a non-selected branch.

Abstract: This invention provides smectic liquid crystal cells with lateral electrodes. The effective change in refractive index with field-induced tilting of the liquid crystal molecules is increased by providing an angle between the direction of propagation of light and the direction of the molecular directors at zero applied field. For homeotropically aligned liquid crystals this is accomplished by inclining the incident light beam at an oblique angle to the device surface. For tilted layer cells the liquid crystal layers are tilted and the light can impinge at normal incidence. This invention further provides Fabry-Perot filters utilizing lateral electrode liquid crystal cells.