Abstract: The resonant frequency of an optical micro-resonator may be controlled by “locking” an operating frequency/wavelength of the resonator using CMOS compatible electronic components.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel that is free of bypass diodes is described herein. The solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic sub-modules, wherein at least two of photovoltaic sub-modules in the plurality of photovoltaic sub-modules are electrically connected in parallel. A photovoltaic sub-module includes a plurality of groups of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein at least two of the groups are electrically connected in series. A photovoltaic group includes a plurality of strings of photovoltaic cells, wherein a string of photovoltaic cells comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series. The strings of photovoltaic cells are electrically connected in parallel, and the photovoltaic cells are microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel is described herein. The solar panel includes a photovoltaic sub-module, which includes a group of microsystem enabled photovoltaic cells. The group includes a first string of photovoltaic cells, a second string of photovoltaic cells, and a differing photovoltaic cell. Photovoltaic cells in the first string are electrically connected in series, and photovoltaic cells in the second string are electrically connected in series. Further, the first string of photovoltaic cells, the second string of photovoltaic cells, and the differing photovoltaic cell are electrically connected in parallel. Moreover, the differing photovoltaic cell is used as a bypass diode for the first string of photovoltaic cells and the second string of photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system, the apparatus and system including a flexible microsystems enabled microelectronic device package including a microelectronic device positioned on a substrate; an encapsulation layer encapsulating the microelectronic device and the substrate; a protective layer positioned around the encapsulating layer; and a reinforcing layer coupled to the protective layer, wherein the substrate, encapsulation layer, protective layer and reinforcing layer form a flexible and optically transparent package around the microelectronic device. The method including encapsulating a microelectronic device positioned on a substrate within an encapsulation layer; sealing the encapsulated microelectronic device within a protective layer; and coupling the protective layer to a reinforcing layer, wherein the substrate, encapsulation layer, protective layer and reinforcing layer form a flexible and optically transparent package around the microelectronic device.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells and photovoltaic modules, as well as methods of making and using such photovoltaic cells and photovoltaic modules, are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the photovoltaic cells selectively reflect visible light to provide the photovoltaic cells with a colorized appearance. Photovoltaic modules combining colorized photovoltaic cells may be used to harvest solar energy while providing a customized appearance, e.g., an image or pattern.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system described herein includes a first group of photovoltaic modules that comprises a first plurality of microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules. A second group of photovoltaic modules comprises a second plurality of microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules, wherein the first group of photovoltaic modules are electrically connected in parallel to the second group of photovoltaic modules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical transmitter that includes an optical modulator configured to modulate an optical signal with a digital data stream, and a heater configured to apply heat to the optical modulator. The optical transmitter also includes an optical receiver configured to receive the modulated optical signal and to convert the modulated optical signal into a received digital data stream. A circuit is configured to compute bit errors in the received digital data stream by comparing the received digital data stream with the digital data stream, and control the heater based on the computed bit errors.

Abstract: Optical devices, phased array systems and methods of phase-shifting an input signal are provided. An optical device includes a microresonator and a waveguide for receiving an input optical signal. The waveguide includes a segment coupled to the microresonator with a coupling coefficient such that the waveguide is overcoupled to the microresonator. The microresonator receives the input optical signal via the waveguide and phase-shifts the input optical signal to form an output optical signal. The output optical signal is coupled into the waveguide via the microresonator and transmitted by the waveguide. At an operating point of the optical device, the coupling coefficient is selected to reduce a change in an amplitude of the output optical signal and to increase a change in a phase of the output optical signal, relative to the input optical signal.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel that is free of bypass diodes is described herein. The solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic sub-modules, wherein at least two of photovoltaic sub-modules in the plurality of photovoltaic sub-modules are electrically connected in parallel. A photovoltaic sub-module includes a plurality of groups of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein at least two of the groups are electrically connected in series. A photovoltaic group includes a plurality of strings of photovoltaic cells, wherein a string of photovoltaic cells comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series. The strings of photovoltaic cells are electrically connected in parallel, and the photovoltaic cells are microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A thermal microphotonic sensor is disclosed for detecting infrared radiation using heat generated by the infrared radiation to shift the resonant frequency of an optical resonator (e.g. a ring resonator) to which the heat is coupled. The shift in the resonant frequency can be determined from light in an optical waveguide which is evanescently coupled to the optical resonator. An infrared absorber can be provided on the optical waveguide either as a coating or as a plate to aid in absorption of the infrared radiation. In some cases, a vertical resonant cavity can be formed about the infrared absorber to further increase the absorption of the infrared radiation. The sensor can be formed as a single device, or as an array for imaging the infrared radiation.

Abstract: A module that includes both an “add-in”/“drop-out” pair of ports and a “drop-in”/“add-out” pair of ports comprises an arrangement of elements that combines an optical signal having a chosen wavelength with an optical signal applied at the “add-in” port, and outputs the combined signal at the “add-out port.” Concurrently, the module extracts an optical signal with the same wavelength from an optical signal applied at the “drop-in” port signal, yielding an optical signal at the “drop-out” port that is missing that same wavelength. When the amount of information that needs to be sent from a first network node to a second, remote, node, is greater than that which a single wavelength can handle, a plurality of the above-described modules are interconnected within the first node by optically coupling the “add” ports in a “daisy chain” fashion and the “drop” ports in a “daisy chain” fashion, with each module operating at a different wavelength.

Abstract: A reconfigurable ADD/DROP multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus is implemented by connecting a multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus to a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) apparatus having a loop-back capability. By selectively activating the loop-back functionality of the SERDES apparatus the combination can be made to function as a reconfigurable ADD/DROP multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus.

Abstract: A synchronization circuit including a plurality of samplers, the plurality of samplers sampling an input signal with a plurality of respective clock signals and producing a plurality of respective sampled output signals. The synchronization circuit also includes at least one phase detector coupled to the plurality of samplers, the at least one phase detector determining whether the plurality of sampled output signals are different and producing at least one control signal, the at least one control signal indicating whether the plurality of sampled output signals are different. In addition, the synchronization circuit includes a delay adjuster coupled to the at least one phase detector, the delay adjuster adjusting a delay of the input signal according to the at least one control signal output by the at least one phase detector.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for embedding control information in a data signal to be transmitted over a data link by a network node includes the generation of control information to be transmitted over a data link by a network node. Additionally, a transmission signal is generated by combining the control information with data to be transmitted. In an embodiment of the present invention, the data is transmitted within a prescribed frequency bandwidth such that a frequency gap is defined within the frequency bandwidth. Control information is, as such, transmitted within the defined frequency gap.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for embedding control information in a data signal to be transmitted over a data link by a network node includes the generation of control information to be transmitted over a data link by a network node. Additionally, a transmission signal is generated by combining the control information with data to be transmitted. In an embodiment of the present invention, the data is transmitted within a prescribed frequency bandwidth such that a frequency gap is defined within the frequency bandwidth. Control information is, as such, transmitted within the defined frequency gap.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for embedding control information in a data signal to be transmitted over a data link by a network node. The method comprises generation of control information to be transmitted over a data link by a network node. A signal is generated by combining the control information with the data. In a first embodiment, the data includes individual temporal packets of information such that an interpacket gap is temporally defined between said temporal packets of information. Control information is transmitted within the interpacket gap. In a second embodiment, the data is transmitted within a prescribed frequency bandwidth such that a frequency gap is defined within the frequency bandwidth. Control information is transmitted within the frequency gap. The data handling capacity of the control information is maintained in both the first and the second embodiments.

Abstract: A reconfigurable ADD/DROP multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus is implemented by connecting a multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus to a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) apparatus having a loop-back capability. By selectively activating the loop-back functionality of the SERDES apparatus the combination can be made to function as a reconfigurable ADD/DROP multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus.

Abstract: A switch, of the crossbar type, in which no clock recovery is undertaken. Multiple optical fibers deliver input signals to a single semiconductor die. The die contains circuitry which selectively connects each input fiber to a respective output fiber, which carries the signals off the die, to their destinations. The communication is asynchronous: no continuous clock signal accompanies the incoming data. However, periodic sequences of clock signals accompany the incoming data, and are used by circuitry on the die in “clock recovery” routines, to generate local clock signals. The invention eliminates the need for local clock recovery: the incoming signals are routed through the die to outgoing fibers, without generation of a local clock signal on the die.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling the transport of a higher line rate time-multiplexed data signals (e.g., Ethernet at 10 Gb/s) at a lower line rate (e.g., SONET OC-192) and for regenerating the higher line rate time-multiplexed data signals at the receiving end. At a transmitter end, a data stream compression apparatus removes a predetermined portion of non-unique, invariant content of the higher line rate data stream thereby generating the lower line rate data stream which is transmitted over a communication link to the receiver end. At the receiver end, a data stream expansion apparatus adds back the missing predetermined portion of non-unique, invariant content to the lower line rate data stream thereby regenerating the higher line rate data stream. A data compression multiplexer apparatus is formed by combining a plurality of the data stream compression apparatuses with a data multiplexer.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and method for receiving optical signals and for generating output signals is disclosed. In particular, a photoconductor is illuminated with a preset beam before an input beam is incident on a detector to reset an input FET. An optical receiver according to the invention controls the voltage swings and the allowed voltages at the input stage, and can be monolithically integrated to allow uniform operation across a semiconductor chip and between circuits on different chips.