Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit may include a substrate and an optical waveguide integrated with the substrate. The optical waveguide may include a bend section, wherein a bend shape of the bend section is defined by a curvature function to suppress waveguide mode conversion.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit may include a substrate and an optical waveguide integrated with the substrate. The optical waveguide may include a bend section, wherein a bend shape of the bend section is defined by a curvature function to suppress waveguide mode conversion.

Abstract: A silicon photonics module may include a waveguide for receiving and transmitting an optical beam. The silicon photonics module may include a tap connected to the waveguide to allow measurement of an optical power of the optical beam. The silicon photonics module may include one or more splitters connected to the waveguide to tap a portion of the optical beam from the waveguide and to split the portion of the optical beam into a first part and a second part. The silicon photonics module may include a first Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) to filter the first part to allow measurement of an optical power of the filtered first part. The silicon photonics module may include a second MZI to filter the second part to allow measurement of an optical power of the filtered second part.

Abstract: A mode-converting optical coupler may include a secondary waveguide to guide light in one or more secondary optical modes, and a primary waveguide to guide light in one or more primary optical modes, each adiabatically coupled to a secondary optical mode of the secondary waveguide having a secondary mode index. Each primary optical mode of the primary waveguide may have a first primary mode index near a first end and a second primary mode index near a second end. The first primary mode index may be lower than the second primary mode index. The secondary mode index may be between the first primary mode index and the second primary mode index. The primary waveguide may include a plurality of silicon core structures including a central core structure arranged between a first neighboring core structure and a second neighboring core structure.

Abstract: A silicon photonics module may include a waveguide for receiving and transmitting an optical beam. The silicon photonics module may include a tap connected to the waveguide to allow measurement of an optical power of the optical beam. The silicon photonics module may include one or more splitters connected to the waveguide to tap a portion of the optical beam from the waveguide and to split the portion of the optical beam into a first part and a second part. The silicon photonics module may include a first Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) to filter the first part to allow measurement of an optical power of the filtered first part. The silicon photonics module may include a second MZI to filter the second part to allow measurement of an optical power of the filtered second part.

Abstract: A mode-converting optical coupler may include a secondary waveguide to guide light in one or more secondary optical modes, and a primary waveguide to guide light in one or more primary optical modes, each adiabatically coupled to a secondary optical mode of the secondary waveguide having a secondary mode index. Each primary optical mode of the primary waveguide may have a first primary mode index near a first end and a second primary mode index near a second end. The first primary mode index may be lower than the second primary mode index. The secondary mode index may be between the first primary mode index and the second primary mode index. The primary waveguide may include a plurality of silicon core structures including a central core structure arranged between a first neighboring core structure and a second neighboring core structure.

Abstract: An optical switch is configured in a “dual-ganged” switch geometry to provide for the simultaneous switching of a selected transmit/receive pair of optical signal paths between a specific optical communication device and an optical communication network. A biaxially-symmetric signal redirection component may be used to direct the signals between the selected channel and the optical communication device. A specific waveguide (e.g., fiber) array topology within the dual-ganged switch (DGS) breaks the symmetry between the network transmit/receive arrays and a pair of transmit and receive signal paths associated with the communication device to improve isolation and minimize the possibility of cross-talk between non-selected waveguides in the transmit and receive arrays. The possibility of “hits” during switching between channels can be eliminated, and is controlled by dictating the process or switching steps used to rotate the biaxially-symmetric signal redirection element.

Abstract: An optical switch is configured in a “dual-ganged” switch geometry to provide for the simultaneous switching of a selected transmit/receive pair of optical signal paths between a specific optical communication device and an optical communication network. A biaxially-symmetric signal redirection component may be used to direct the signals between the selected channel and the optical communication device. A specific waveguide (e.g., fiber) array topology within the dual-ganged switch (DGS) breaks the symmetry between the network transmit/receive arrays and a pair of transmit and receive signal paths associated with the communication device to improve isolation and minimize the possibility of cross-talk between non-selected waveguides in the transmit and receive arrays. The possibility of “hits” during switching between channels can be eliminated, and is controlled by dictating the process or switching steps used to rotate the biaxially-symmetric signal redirection element.

Abstract: A two-input bistable resonator that can be switched in a robust way by phase modulation of the input beams is presented. An optical flip-flop of the present invention may be embodied as a two-input Kerr resonator. The disclosed switching mechanism is compatible with cross-phase modulation induced by set and reset pulses for realization of an ultrafast, passive, all-optical memory element.

Abstract: A satellite attitude/orbit control system (300) for managing a satellite cluster (200) in a satellite constellation (207). A satellite cluster (200) comprises a master satellite (203) and secondary satellites (201, 202, 204, 204). The master satellite (203) receives sensor data from secondary satellites (201, 202, 204, 204) and combines such secondary sensor data with master sensor data from a master satellite (203) to calculate attitude/orbit estimates for all satellites within the satellite cluster (200). Attitude estimates are forwarded to each satellite for initiation of attitude/orbit control. Each satellite cluster (200) subordinates to a constellation master satellite (301) for receiving additional attitude/orbit estimates for use in determining and controlling satellite attitude/orbits.