Abstract: A base device has a first waveguide positioned on a first base. The waveguide is at least partially defined by a ridge extending away from the first base. An auxiliary optical device has a second waveguide positioned on a second base. The second optical device is immobilized on the base device such that the second waveguide is between the first base of the first optical device and the second base of the auxiliary device. The first waveguide is optically aligned with the second waveguide such that the first waveguide and second waveguides can exchange optical signals.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide on a base and a taper on the base. The waveguide and the taper are optically aligned such that the taper and the waveguide exchange light signals during operation of the device. The taper is configured to guide the light signals through a taper material and the waveguide is configured to guide the light signals through a waveguide medium. The taper material and the waveguide medium are different materials and/or have different indices of refraction.

Abstract: An optical device includes a laser or amplifier positioned on a base. The laser includes a ridge of a gain medium positioned on the base such that the base extends out from under the ridge. The ridge includes a top that connects lateral sides of the ridge. Electronics are configured to drive an electrical current through the ridge such that the electrical current passes through one or more of the lateral sides of the ridge.

Abstract: A laser chip including a laser cavity that produces multiple laser outputs. A laser waveguide guides light through the laser cavity and has multiple output facets. Each of the laser outputs passes through one of the output facets. The laser waveguide guides the laser outputs such that the angle between the exit direction of different laser outputs is less than 180°. The exit direction for a laser output is the direction of propagation of light in the laser waveguide at one of the output facets.

Abstract: An optical device includes a laser or amplifier positioned on a base. The laser includes a ridge of a gain medium positioned on the base such that the base extends out from under the ridge. The ridge includes a top that connects lateral sides of the ridge. Electronics are configured to drive an electrical current through the ridge such that the electrical current passes through one or more of the lateral sides of the ridge.

Abstract: A base device has a first waveguide positioned on a first base. The waveguide is at least partially defined by a ridge extending away from the first base. An auxiliary optical device has a second waveguide positioned on a second base. The second optical device is immobilized on the base device such that the second waveguide is between the first base of the first optical device and the second base of the auxiliary device. The first waveguide is optically aligned with the second waveguide such that the first waveguide and second waveguides can exchange optical signals.

Abstract: The device includes a waveguide on a base. A light-absorbing portion of the waveguide receives a light signal, absorbs a portion of the light signal and guides a transmitted portion of the light signal to the output portion of the waveguide. A light-absorbing portion of the waveguide is partially defined by a light-absorbing medium that has lateral sides that each extends between a top side and a bottom side of the light-absorbing medium. The device also includes a monitor absorption of the absorbed portion of the light signal. The monitor includes field sources that are each configured to serve as a source of an electrical field in the light-absorbing medium. The field sources each contacts one of the lateral sides of the light-absorbing medium.

Abstract: A transceiver unit for use at an end-location in a communications network includes a downstream monitor configured to monitor downstream optical signals that travel from a service provider to the end-location. The downstream optical signals carry downstream data for use by a device in communication with the transceiver unit. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the downstream optical signals is on a common optical fiber that carries downstream optical signals for other end locations. The transceiver unit also includes an upstream attenuator configured to attenuate upstream optical signals traveling from the end-location to the service provider. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the upstream optical signals is on the common optical fiber. The transceiver unit also includes electronics configured to operate the upstream optical attenuator in response to output from the downstream monitor.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide immobilized on a base. The device includes a port configured to receive light signals from the waveguide such that the light signals travel through the port. The light signals enter the port traveling in a first direction. The port is configured to change the direction of the light signals from the first direction to a second direction that is toward a location above the device or below the device. The device also includes a wedge configured to receive the light signals from the port such that the light signals travel through the wedge and then exit the wedge traveling in a direction that is at an angle in a range of 88° to 92° relative to the device and that is toward a location above or below the device.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide immobilized on a base. The device includes a port configured to receive light signals from the waveguide such that the light signals travel through the port. The light signals enter the port traveling in a first direction. The port is configured to change the direction of the light signals from the first direction to a second direction that is toward a location above the device or below the device. The device also includes a wedge configured to receive the light signals from the port such that the light signals travel through the wedge and then exit the wedge traveling in a direction that is at an angle in a range of 88° to 92° relative to the device and that is toward a location above or below the device.

Abstract: A transceiver unit for use at an end-location in a communications network includes a downstream monitor configured to monitor downstream optical signals that travel from a service provider to the end-location. The downstream optical signals carry downstream data for use by a device in communication with the transceiver unit. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the downstream optical signals is on a common optical fiber that carries downstream optical signals for other end locations. The transceiver unit also includes an upstream attenuator configured to attenuate upstream optical signals traveling from the end-location to the service provider. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the upstream optical signals is on the common optical fiber. The transceiver unit also includes electronics configured to operate the upstream optical attenuator in response to output from the downstream monitor.

Abstract: An optical device includes an echelle grating and input waveguide arranged such that the echelle grating receives an input signal that exits from a port of the input waveguide. The echelle grating is configured to reflect the input signal such that when the input signal has a plurality of channels, the input signal separates into output signals that each includes a different one of the channels. The device also includes a plurality of output waveguides that each includes a port positioned to receive one of the output signals. The output waveguides include central waveguides. The central waveguides are the three centermost output waveguides when the total number of output waveguides is odd and the two centermost output waveguides when the total number of output waveguides is even. The central waveguides are positioned such that the grating axis passes through the port associated with one of the central waveguides or passes between the ports associated with the central waveguides.

Abstract: A rib waveguide structure comprising a layer (4) of light conductive material defined between two planar faces with a rib (9) formed on one of the faces and an optical component e.g. a tapered waveguide (6) optically coupled to the other face. An inverted rib waveguide comprising a light conductive layer (11) and a rib (10) that projects from the light conductive layer (11) into a substrate (4,8) is also described as well as other optical devices comprising a light conductive layer separated from a substrate by a non-planar layer (3) of light confining material and optical devices comprising two or more layers (2, 3; 18, 19, 20) of light confining material buried within a rib with a light conducting component (10; 17; 22) at least a part of which is formed between planes defined by the two layers of light confining material. A method of forming such devices is also described.

Abstract: An optical filter has at least one input waveguide, a wavelength dispersive device receiving light from the optical input, and an optical output having a plurality of spatially separated waveguides receiving respective wavelength bands of light from the wavelength dispersive device, at least one of the waveguides in the optical output or optical input forming part of an evanescent waveguide coupler comprising a group of coupled waveguides side by side.

Abstract: A silicon rib waveguide device includes a mode filter section serially connected to a curved rib section. The curved section has a width large enough to support multimode transmission while the filter section has a straight waveguide of smaller rib width supporting only single mode transmission. A tapered section connects the curved section to the straight section and an outwardly tapered waveguide is connected to the opposite end of the straight section.

Abstract: A rib waveguide structure comprising a layer (4) of light conductive material defined between two planar faces with a rib (9) formed on one of the faces and an optical components e.g. a tapered waveguide (6) optically coupled to the other face. An inverted rib waveguide comprising a light conductive layer (11) and a rib (10) that projects from the light conductive layer (11) into a substrate (4, 8) is also described as well as other optical devices comprising a light conductive layer separated from a substrate by a non-planar layer (3) of light confining material and optical devices comprising two or more layers (2, 3; 18, 19, 20) of light confining material buried within a rib with a light conducting component (10; 17; 22) at least a part of which is formed between planes defined by the two layers of light confining material. A method of forming such devices is also described.

Abstract: A silicon rib waveguide device includes a mode filter section serially connected to a curved rib section. The curved section has a width large enough to support multimode transmission while the filter section has a straight waveguide of smaller rib width supporting only single mode transmission. A tapered section connects the curved section to the straight section and an outwardly tapered waveguide is connected to the opposite end of the straight section.