Abstract: A low cost, high speed, short haul, optic interconnect and data link which employs an array of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays through which several optical signals are simultaneously transmitted through collimating optics that generate multiple, multiple-wavelength optical signals. Each combined optical signal is transmitted to a receiver array comprising a plurality of optical filters and photodetector arrangements that have a number of sections, each having an optical filter to pass a specific optical wavelength, and a mating photodetector element to convert the specific optical signal to an electrical signal. The signals may be coupled between the transmitter array and the receiver array through free space or through optical fibers.

Abstract: Coherent optical equalization is applied in the optical domain to an input optical signal that includes a wanted optical signal and an unwanted optical signal temporally delayed relative to the wanted optical signal. A first optical signal that includes at least the wanted optical signal is split into first beams that include a first beam subject to delay. The first beam subject to delay is delayed to provide a delayed first beam. Beams that include the delayed first beam are coherently summed to produce a second optical signal in which the unwanted optical signal has a reduced intensity compared with in the input optical signal. In the coherent summing, the instance of the wanted optical signal in the delayed first beam cancels the unwanted optical signal in another of the beams that are coherently summed.

Abstract: An optical switching system includes a substrate, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) input mirror, a MEMS output mirror, and an opposing mirror. The substrate is configured to carry an input light source and an output light source spaced from the input light source. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) input mirror is carried by the substrate. The MEMS output mirror is carried by the substrate and is spaced from the MEMS input mirror. The opposing mirror is disposed opposite the substrate and is configured to communicate optically with an input light source and an output light source carried by the substrate. The input mirror optically couples an input beam from the input light source via the opposing mirror to a location on the opposing mirror with the output mirror via the opposing mirror. The output mirror optically couples the location on the opposing mirror with the output light source via the opposing mirror.

Abstract: A three-dimensional optical switch using three-dimensional rewritable waveguides in a photosensitive substrate. At least two light beams are used to illuminate the substrate in the region where the waveguide is to be written. The refractive index of the substrate changes at the points where the beams intersect. Therefore, the light beams can be directed to create a three-dimensional waveguide in the photosensitive substrate. A plurality of inlet ports in one surface of the substrate are thereby connected to a plurality of outlet ports on another surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the inlet ports and the outlet ports may be on the same surface of the substrate. The invention also provides methods of creating waveguides in photosensitive media using the device described herein.

Abstract: An optical signal emitter for a multi-channel, wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system is disclosed. This optical signal emitter does not require an optical multiplexer, or other device, to combine components of an optical signal. Semiconductor die attached to a substrate emit independent components of a multi-channel optical signal from emission apertures that are positioned offset from the center of the die toward an aperture corner of the die. This aperture corner may be shaped so that the apertures can be located closer to each other. The shaping of the die may include a photolithographic process, an etching process, a reactive ion etching process, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based optical switch engine switches input light from an input switch element to an output switch element and directly couples through an optical waveguide each output of the input switch element to a respective input of the output switch element. The switch architecture reduces signal cross-talk because each signal passes through the optical switch engine using a dedicated optical path. The optical switch engine also maintains a consistent signal-to-noise ratio among all the paths through the switch and reduces the total number of switch points through which an optical signal may pass.

Abstract: An optical switching assembly comprised of a substrate, a first plurality of waveguides in a first plane in the substrate, a second plurality of waveguides in a second plane parallel to said first plane in the substrate, the optical signals being selectively transferable from one substrate to the other. The second waveguides cross the first waveguides at an angle and the first waveguides each have a segment extending generally parallel to a segment of the second waveguides at the crossing. Controllable coupling material is disposed between the segments of the waveguides at the crossing and a control circuit is employed for selectively changing the index of refraction of the coupling material by electrical or thermal means.

Abstract: The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprises an input/output channel array, a diffractive element, an arraying device and a converging element. The input/output channel array is located adjacent an optical axis and includes input/output channels arrayed in a first direction, orthogonal to the optical axis, at a predetermined pitch. The diffractive element is arranged to receive light from the input/output channel array at a location separated from the input/output channel array along the optical axis. The diffractive element diffracts the light to array the light wavelength-dependently in a second direction, different from the first direction. The arraying device receives light diffracted by the diffractive element and arrays the light in the first direction at a pitch equivalent to the predetermined pitch. The converging element is located along the optical axis between the diffractive element and either or both the arraying device and the input/output channel array.

Abstract: An optical switching system includes a substrate, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) input mirror, a MEMS output mirror, and an opposing mirror. The substrate is configured to carry an input light source and an output light source spaced from the input light source. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) input mirror is carried by the substrate. The MEMS output mirror is carried by the substrate and is spaced from the MEMS input mirror. The opposing mirror is disposed opposite the substrate and is configured to communicate optically with an input light source and an output light source carried by the substrate. The input mirror optically couples an input beam from the input light source via the opposing mirror to a location on the opposing mirror with the output mirror via the opposing mirror. The output mirror optically couples the location on the opposing mirror with the output light source via the opposing mirror.

Abstract: A demultiplexer system having an interleaver for dividing the incoming wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) signal into interleaved WDM signals and a single demultiplexing device for demultiplexing the de-interleaved WDM signals into single-channel signals is disclosed. Because a single demultiplexing device is used, size and cost savings can be realized.

Abstract: A planar array of lenses are configured and independently translatable along in-plane X and Y axes by corresponding MEMS actuators such that a light beam emanating from the facet of a first selected optical fiber in an adjacent bundle of fibers can be deflected in a first predetermined manner by a first one of the lenses, reflected off of an adjacent co-planar mirror back to the array of lenses, and deflected in a second predetermined manner by a second one of the lenses and focused on the facet of a selected second optical fiber in the bundle. In an alternate embodiment, the planar mirror is replaced with a second array of MEMS actuated lenses so that light pulses from a selected optical fiber in an input bundle can be steered to a selected optical fiber in an output bundle.

Abstract: Conductors to interconnect electronic devices, the conductors being formed on a detachable substrate. The substrate is aligned with a package containing electronic devices. The conductors are bonded to pads on the devices. Then, the substrate is detached. Each conductor is self supporting between the devices, has a two dimensional shape and has a surface that is substantially parallel to a surface of the pads.

Abstract: A three-dimensional optical switch using three-dimensional rewritable waveguides in a photosensitive substrate. At least two light beams are used to illuminate the substrate in the region where the waveguide is to be written. The refractive index of the substrate changes at the points where the beams intersect. Therefore, the light beams can be directed to create a three-dimensional waveguide in the photosensitive substrate. A plurality of inlet ports in one surface of the substrate are thereby connected to a plurality of outlet ports on another surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the inlet ports and the outlet ports may be on the same surface of the substrate. The invention also provides methods of creating waveguides in photosensitive media using the device described herein.

Abstract: Methods for performing time-domain equalization of an information signal represented by an optical signal are provided. A representative method includes: receiving the optical signal; optically splitting the optical signal into beams; optically delaying at least one of the beams; detecting a plurality of the beams to generate respective electrical signal components; and combining a plurality of the electrical signal components to generate an electrical output signal representing the information signal. Systems and other methods also are provided.

Abstract: An optical retimer is provided that retimes an optical data signal entirely in the optical domain, thus eliminating the need for optical-to-electrical and electrical-to-optical converters, which are needed to perform retiming in the electrical domain. Eliminating these conversion steps also eliminates, or at least decreases, the potential for errors in the retimed optical signal, such as jitter. The optical retimer samples the optical data signal during a clock cycle that has been determined by clock recovery, allows the sampled signal to traverse an optical pathway for the remainder of the cycle, out-couples a fraction of the sampled optical signal each time the signal traverses the optical pathway, and amplifies the signal traversing the pathway to maintain the signal at the power level it had when it was sampled. By the end of the clock cycle, the out-coupled signal corresponds to a retimed version of the original signal, synchronized to the recovered clock signal.

Abstract: An optical device for planar lightwave circuits and a method of making the same provide a waveguide with a core having a cylindrical shape and a more circular than rectangular cross section that is viewed perpendicular to an optical path formed by the optical waveguide. The optical device comprises a planar substrate having a peripheral index of refraction and the waveguide formed in the substrate. The waveguide has a core index of refraction that is greater than the peripheral index of refraction. The method of making the optical waveguide in a planar substrate comprises forming the waveguide core within the substrate such that the waveguide core has an index of refraction within the cross section that is higher than an index of refraction in a cladding region. The cladding region of the substrate surrounds the core. Furthermore, the core cross section can vary along its length to provide an optical mode transformer.

Abstract: An interleaver implemented using a directional separator and Bragg grating sections is disclosed. Wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal enters the interleaver and is directed from the input medium to a first output medium. The first output medium includes Bragg grating segments designed to reflect alternating channels of the WDM signal. The reflected channels are directed to a second output medium.

Abstract: An optical demultiplexer is implemented using a dispersive means and a photodetector array. An incoming wave division multiplexed (WDM) signal is dispersed into its component optical channels, and each optical channel is converted into its corresponding electrical signal. Outputs of the optical multiplexer are electrical signals.

Abstract: In a 3D MEMS optical switch titling mirrors are actively aligned to minimize losses in optical power. In one embodiment the optical signals in the output fibers are tapped and detected and the sensed outputs are used by a control circuit with a feedback loop that adjusts the alignment signals sent to the MEMS actuators. In a second embodiment, an emitter which is either a single LED or laser diode is optically coupled to the output fibers for injecting alignment beams back into the fibers. The alignment beams have a frequency bandwidth outside that of the information beams. The alignment beams are detected at the input fibers via directional optical couplers and the sensed outputs are used by a control circuit with a feedback loop to adjust the alignment signals. The alignment signals are dithered and their phase and amplitude shifts are used to generate the appropriate feedback signals.

Abstract: An optical switching assembly comprised of a substrate, a first plurality of waveguides in a first plane in the substrate, a second plurality of waveguides in a second plane parallel to said first plane in the substrate, the optical signals being selectively transferable from one substrate to the other. The second waveguides cross the first waveguides at an angle and the first waveguides each have a segment extending generally parallel to a segment of the second waveguides at the crossing. Controllable coupling material is disposed between the segments of the waveguides at the crossing and a control circuit is employed for selectively changing the index of refraction of the coupling material by electrical or thermal means.