Abstract: A walker device for lifting and supporting a body of a person is provided. The walker device includes a structure having a first side member and a second side member, the first side member and the second side member are configured to be disposed on a vertical surface and extend upwards, and a top member coupling the first and second side member to one another at a top portion thereof, such that at least a bottom portion of the first side member is disposed at distance from a bottom portion of the second side member. The walker device further includes a lift coupled to the top portion and having a gripping member disposed between the first and second side members and configured to be displaced up and down by the lift.

Abstract: A walker device for lifting and supporting a body of a person is provided. The walker device includes a structure having a first side member and a second side member, the first side member and the second side member are configured to be disposed on a vertical surface and extend upwards, and a top member coupling the first and second side member to one another at a top portion thereof, such that at least a bottom portion of the first side member is disposed at distance from a bottom portion of the second side member. The walker device further includes a lift coupled to the top portion and having a gripping member disposed between the first and second side members and configured to be displaced up and down by the lift.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for manipulating light beams propagated through an optical apparatus that includes a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) and free-space optics unit. A multi-wave optical signal coupled to the PLC is propagated through a first and second waveguide array to generate a phased array output at an edge facet of the PLC. The phased array output at the edge facet is spatially Fourier transformed by the lens to generate a spectrally resolved image having a discrete light spot for each channel of the input optical signal, which is coupled to a pixelated optical receiving unit. When the optical receiving unit is a reflector, one or more of the discrete light spot are reflected to a desired waveguide array of a PLC to produce a desired output. When the optical receiving unit is a pixelated transmissive modulator, one or more of the discrete light spot are modulated as they pass through the modulator.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for modulating one or both of spectral phase and amplitude of a received optical signal. The apparatus includes a spatial dispersion mechanism for spatially dispersing the received optical signal to enable optical communication of the received optical signal to an array of modulators. The apparatus includes a modulating mechanism having a first modulating component and a second modulating component. A first portion of the spatially dispersed optical signal is incident on the first modulating component and a second portion of the spatially dispersed optical signal is incident on the second modulating portion. The apparatus further includes a controller coupled to the modulating mechanism. The controller is adapted for moving the first and second modulating components in a direction normal to their planes for modulating one or both of phase and amplitude of the received optical signal.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling curvatures of light directing devices. The apparatus includes a first substrate portion having formed therein a plurality of cavities, and a substantially flexible membrane disposed over the cavities for forming a respective plurality of light directing mechanisms, the light directing mechanisms disposed over the cavities. The respective curvatures of the light directing mechanisms are set using a pressure difference across each of the membrane portions disposed over the cavities. The respective curvatures of the light directing mechanisms may be controllably adjusted during operation of the light directing mechanisms.

Abstract: A fully integrated microelectromechanical (MEMS) 1×K wavelength selective switch (WSS) includes an array of N solid-immersion micromirrors (SIMs) and a K+1 dispersion waveguide arrays that are integrally fabricated together. In one embodiment, the WSS is fabricated in Silicon. In another embodiment, the N actuators of the SIMs are etched in the Silicon layer of a Silicon-on Insulator (SOI) wafer. Thereafter, a Silica layer is deposited on the Silicon layer and the K+1 waveguide arrays and the mirrors for the N SIMs are etched in that Silica layer.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for modulating an optical signal. The apparatus includes a spatial dispersion mechanism and a modulating mechanism. The spatial dispersion mechanism spatially disperses the optical signal. The spatially dispersed optical signal has a plurality of frequency components where each frequency component has an associated beam size. The modulating mechanism includes an array of modulating components where each modulating component has a pitch. The pitch of each modulating component is substantially equal to or less than the beam size of each frequency component.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for receiving an optical signal from an optical input means and directing the optical signal to one of a plurality of optical outputs means. The apparatus includes a solid signal propagating material having a refractive index greater than the refractive index of air. The solid signal propagating material includes a first transparent surface optically cooperating with the optical input and output means, a second transparent surface optically cooperating with a first light directing mechanism, and a reflective surface optically cooperating with the first light directing mechanism. A first reflecting component of the light directing mechanism directs a received optical signal to a second reflecting component of the light directing mechanism via the reflective surface of the signal propagating material. The second reflecting component of the light directing mechanism directs the respective incident optical signal to the selected one of the plurality of optical outputs means.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for modulating an optical signal. The apparatus includes a modulating mechanism comprising a plurality of modulating component arrays, each modulating component array comprising a plurality of modulating components, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of modulating components in each modulating component array are separated by gaps, and wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of modulating component arrays are offset along a dispersion direction of an incident optical signal such that the gaps associated with the adjacent ones of the plurality of modulating component arrays are offset. In one embodiment, rows of the modulating components in the modulating component arrays are offset along the dispersion direction of the incident optical signal by a fraction of the modulating component pitch.

Abstract: A signal identification method for efficiently identifying Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) channel modulation formats, signal powers, and center frequency detuning of signals that may be used in conjunction with telecom-grade monitoring equipment. The method utilizes least-square curve fitting estimates applied to a set of curves, each curve is characteristic of a modulation format and rate. For each least-square estimate an error value is calculated, and a curve fit with the least error is selected as the identified signal format for a signal.

Abstract: An optical pulse shaper without polarization dependencies includes, a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) having an arrayed waveguide and free space optics, combined with a lens and micromirror array characterized by piston-motion. The micromirror array is coupled to a controller that provides signals to the array for adjusting the positions of the micromirrors, which are used as a spatial light modulator to provide at least phase modulation to one or more of the separated frequency components of an input optical signal. The frequency separated components, including modified components, are recombined and directed back to the PLC to form a synthesized optical pulse. Information regarding the characteristics of the synthesized optical pulse is extracted from a spectrogram of that pulse. Extracted information is provided to the controller and responsive thereto the controller may generate signals for adjusting the position of one or more micromirrors.

Abstract: A MEMS device that enables an optical subsystem (e.g., an optical switch) having an optical component optically coupled to the MEMS device via free space to achieve optical alignment between the optical component and the MEMS device without moving the optical component with respect to the stationary part of the MEMS device. In one embodiment, a MEMS device of the invention has a stationary part and a movable part movably connected to the stationary part. The movable part has a platform and a plurality of mirrors mounted on the platform, wherein (i) each mirror is adapted to move with respect to the platform independent of other mirrors and (ii) the platform is adapted to move with respect to the stationary part together with the mirrors.

Abstract: A communication system adapted to use wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing for quantum-key distribution (QKD). In one embodiment, a communication system of the invention has a transmitter coupled to a receiver via a transmission link. The transmitter has (i) a first optical-frequency comb source (OFCS) adapted to generate a first plurality of uniformly spaced frequency components and (ii) a first multi-channel optical modulator adapted to independently modulate each component of the first plurality to produce a quantum-information (QI) signal applied to the transmission link. The receiver has (i) a second OFCS adapted to generate a second plurality of uniformly spaced frequency components and (ii) a second multi-channel optical modulator adapted to independently modulate each component of the second plurality to produce a local-oscillator (LO) signal.

Abstract: A communication system adapted to use wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing for quantum-key distribution (QKD) and having a transmitter coupled to a receiver via a transmission link. In one embodiment, the receiver is adapted to (i) phase-shift a local oscillator (LO) signal generated at the receiver, (ii) combine the LO signal with a quantum-information (QI) signal received via the transmission link from the transmitter to produce interference signals, (iii) measure an intensity difference for these interference signals, and (iv) phase-lock the LO signal to the QI signal based on the measurement result. In one configuration, the QI signal has a plurality of pilot frequency components, each carrying a training signal, and a plurality of QKD frequency components, each carrying quantum key data. Advantageously, the system can maintain a phase lock for the QKD frequency components of the QI and LO signals, while the QKD frequency components of the QI signal continuously carry quantum key data.

Abstract: A colorless, waveguide-grating-router-based tunable dispersion compensator includes a planar lightwave circuit and a deformable mirror, optically coupled to each other by a plano-cylindrical glass lens such that a fast tuning speed and single-knob dispersion adjustment are obtained. In a further aspect of the present invention, the waveguide-grating router is pinched, symmetrical about its center line, and has a half-wave plate inserted therein to provide polarization independence. In a still further aspect of the present invention, the deformable mirror includes, reflective film attached to opposing piezo-electric actuators.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective switches (WSSs) having embedded multiplexer or demultiplexer functionality include a stack of planar waveguide circuits (PLCs) in which all but one of the PLCs have identical features consisting of a single waveguide connected to a free space region, further connected to a waveguide array that terminates at the PLC edge facet, which are placed at the front focal plane of a lens, generating a spectrally resolved optical signal at the back focal plane of the lens. Due to the use of a single lens, the spectrally resolved optical signal of all the PLCs are superimposed, differing only by propagation direction. A tilting micro-mirror array at the back focal plane reflects the spectral components, implementing a wavelength-selective switch. The reflected light can couple to any of the remaining PLCs, for multiplexing, or to the different PLC in the stack, which implements the multiplexer/demultiplexer.

Abstract: A micromirror apparatus is provided with edge portion(s) of the micromirror(s) being tapered to provide a desired micromirror fill ratio and a desired amount of in-plane rotation tolerance.

Abstract: A MEMS device fabricated from a single multi-layered wafer, which alleviates the alignment problem associated with a two-piece prior-art design. In one embodiment, the MEMS device has a stationary part and a movable part rotatably coupled to the stationary part. The stationary part has an electrode and a first conducting structure electrically isolated from the electrode. The movable part has a rotatable plate and a second conducting structure located on the plate and electrically connected to the plate. The mass and location of the second conducting structure are selected such as to compensate for the plate's imbalance with respect to the rotation axis. In addition, at the rest position, the first and second conducting structures form, around the electrode, a substantially continuous barrier adapted to provide electrical shielding for the electrode.

Abstract: A free-space optical switch for switching light beams between waveguides of planar lightwave circuits (PLCs). Switching is accomplished using a combination of lenses and micromirrors. The lenses and the controlled tilt of the micromirrors can establish a one-to-one interconnection path between waveguides of the PLCs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotatable element includes a plate, a plate support, a cradle, and a cradle support. The plate is coupled to the cradle via the plate support. The cradle is coupled to a surrounding frame by the cradle support. The plate and cradle are suspended over a cavity so that, in conjunction with the plate support and the cradle support, both the plate and cradle are capable of freely rotating about different axes of rotation when suitably actuated. Since the plate is capable of rotating independently of the cradle, yet also rotates when the cradle is rotated, the plate is rotatable about two axes of rotation. In some cases, the axis of rotation of the plate is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cradle. Since the cradle does not surround the plate, the plates of adjacent rotatable elements can be placed very close to one another (i.e., as close as about 1 micron) to provide, for example, an array of very-closely-spaced mirrors.