Abstract: An input optical fiber, an output optical fiber, a pair of directing elements, and a detector form an alignment channel in an optical switch. The optical switch includes one or more alignment channels. The input optical fiber and the output optical fiber in each alignment channel are dedicated to propagating an alignment beam of light through the optical switch. The dedicated directing elements direct the alignment beam of light to the dedicated output optical fiber from the dedicated input optical fiber. The detector receives the alignment beam of light from the dedicated output optical fiber and generates a signal representative of the alignment beam of light. The signal is transmitted to a controller, which generates a correction signal for an array of directing elements. The correction signal causes all of the directing elements in the array to be adjusted in order to minimize losses in optical signal power.

Abstract: A multistage optical switch utilizes different types of switching elements to propagate signals through the switch. Embodiments in accordance with the invention include electrical switching elements in one or more stages and optical switching elements in one or more different stages. An optical-to-electrical converter is connected to each signal line input into an electrical switching element and an electrical-to-optical converter is connected to each signal line output of an electrical switching element. Fiber optic cables may be used to transmit signals between stages. A multistage optical switch having any desired number of stages can be constructed in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: An optical switching fabric with an optical to electrical converter in the output plane. The optical switching fabric has an input plane with at least one input. The input plane provides at least a first optical signal (e.g., a first set of optical signals). The optical switching fabric has an output plane. The optical switching fabric has an interconnection mechanism for receiving the first set of optical signals and directing each received optical signal to a predetermined location in the output plane. The output plane has at least one optical to electrical converter (e.g., a plurality of optical to electrical converters) for receiving the directed optical signals and responsive thereto for generating a set of corresponding electronic output signals.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for monitoring a light signal in an optical switch having a first waveguide and a second waveguide that intersect a first trench such that optical coupling is dependent upon a fluid being at the first trench, and having a test waveguide that intersects a second trench such that optical coupling is dependent upon the fluid being at the second trench. By changing the fluid at the first trench to switch the optical switch to cause a light signal to be reflected from the first waveguide into the second waveguide and by partially changing the fluid at the second trench to switch the optical switch to cause a portion of the light signal to be reflected from the first waveguide into the test waveguide. The portion of the light signal in the test waveguide can be monitored using a light.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for monitoring a light signal in an optical switch having a first waveguide and a second waveguide that intersect a first trench such that optical coupling is dependent upon a fluid being at the first trench, and having a test waveguide that intersects a second trench such that optical coupling is dependent upon the fluid being at the second trench. By changing the fluid at the first trench to switch the optical switch to cause a light signal to be reflected from the first waveguide into the second waveguide and by partially changing the fluid at the second trench to switch the optical switch to cause a portion of the light signal to be reflected from the first waveguide into the test waveguide. The portion of the light signal in the test waveguide can be monitored using a light.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detection of gas intrusion into a fluid-containing device. The fluid-containing device has a first waveguide and a second waveguide that intersect at a trench such that optical coupling between the first and second waveguides is dependent upon an absence of a fluid in the trench. The fluid containing device includes a fluid removal mechanism for removing fluid to the trench to switch the fluid-containing device. An optical connection is made between first ends of the first and second waveguides and a light source provides a light at a second end of the first waveguide and a detector detects the light at a second end of the second waveguide. The times required to remove and return the fluid from the trench are used as an indicator of gas intrusion into the fluid containing device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detection of gas intrusion into a fluid-containing device. The fluid-containing device has a first waveguide and a second waveguide that intersect at a trench such that optical coupling between the first and second waveguides is dependent upon an absence of a fluid in the trench. The fluid containing device includes a fluid removal mechanism for removing fluid to the trench to switch the fluid-containing device. An optical connection is made between first ends of the first and second waveguides and a light source provides a light at a second end of the first waveguide and a detector detects the light at a second end of the second waveguide. The times required to remove and return the fluid from the trench are used as an indicator of gas intrusion into the fluid containing device.

Abstract: A word search based game including a playing surface divided into individual playing cells and a plurality of both alphanumeric playing and directional instruction tiles. The alphanumeric tiles are placed on the playing surface in a manner to form word following a word search format, that is to say words may be forwards or backwards, vertically, horizontally or diagonally and do not necessarily have to form words with every alphanumeric playing tile that happens to be adjacent on the board to the played alphanumeric playing tiles. Directional instruction tiles are of the same size, shape and color as the alphanumeric playing tiles so that they may be drawn at random with alphanumeric playing tiles, but indicate a desired direction in which to form a word and a bonus multiplier if a word follows said direction. Also provided are a plurality of category cards, one drawn at the start of a game, to provide a scoring bonus to words formed which meet the category.

Abstract: An optical switching device and a method of providing temperature control for the device utilize compensating thermal energy to maintain a consistent operating temperature. The optical switching device may be a thermally activated optical switch that routes optical signals using bubbles that are strategically created along optical paths within the device. The bubbles are created by thermal energy generated by switching heating elements. The compensating thermal energy may be generated by at least one compensating heating element or by at least one switching heating element that is not currently being used for optical switching, i.e., bubble creation. The compensating thermal energy is varied so that total thermal energy generated by the device is constant, which results in a consistent operating temperature. In a first embodiment, the device includes additional heating elements that are selectively activated to generate the compensating thermal energy.

Abstract: A multistage optical switch includes a stage-to-stage connectivity scheme that provides equalization of losses encountered as optical signals traverse switching crosspoints. Each stage includes more than one switching unit having a first array of input ports and a second array of output ports that are selectively coupled by varying the crosspoints between transmissive states and reflective states. The input ports of a particular switching unit and the output ports of the same unit have rankings that are reflective of the number of optical crosspoints that must be traversed by optical signals propagating between input and output ports having the same ranking. High ranking output ports of the switching units of one stage are optically coupled to low ranking input ports of the subsequent stage, thereby defining stage-to-stage optical paths that ensure equalization in the sums of the crosspoints that are traversed when optical signals propagate through the two stages.