Abstract: A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

Abstract: A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

Abstract: A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

Abstract: Data center network architectures, systems, and methods that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. Such data center network architectures, systems, and methods employ physical optical ring network and multi-dimensional network topologies and optical nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks. The respective optical nodes can be configured to provide various switching topologies, including, but not limited to, chordal ring switching topologies and multi-dimensional chordal ring switching topologies.

Abstract: A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

Abstract: A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

Abstract: A connectivity device permits simplified connections for realizing complex networking topologies using lower cost components. The device can be optically passive, or can have an active aspect to control switching to realize additional topology related features. The device permits cabling to be simplified while reducing cost to permit implementations of complex networking topologies to be realized faster and with greater reliability. The device aids in scaling out a network implementation and can provide connectivity for an arbitrary number of nodes with efficient capacity usage.

Abstract: Data center network architectures, systems, and methods that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. Such data center network architectures, systems, and methods employ physical optical ring network and multi-dimensional network topologies and optical nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks. The respective optical nodes can be configured to provide various switching topologies, including, but not limited to, chordal ring switching topologies and multi-dimensional chordal ring switching topologies.

Abstract: Data center network architectures, systems, and methods that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. Such data center network architectures, systems, and methods employ physical optical ring network and multi-dimensional network topologies and optical nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks. The respective optical nodes can be configured to provide various switching topologies, including, but not limited to, chordal ring switching topologies and multi-dimensional chordal ring switching topologies.

Abstract: A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

Abstract: Data center network architectures, systems, and methods that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. Such data center network architectures, systems, and methods employ physical optical ring network topologies, optical nodes, and optical junction nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the overall physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks.

Abstract: A connectivity device permits simplified connections for realizing complex networking topologies using lower cost components. The device can be optically passive, or can have an active aspect to control switching to realize additional topology related features. The device permits cabling to be simplified while reducing cost to permit implementations of complex networking topologies to be realized faster and with greater reliability. The device aids in scaling out a network implementation and can provide connectivity for an arbitrary number of nodes with efficient capacity usage.

Abstract: Data center network architectures, systems, and methods that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. Such data center network architectures, systems, and methods employ physical optical ring network and multi-dimensional network topologies and optical nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks. The respective optical nodes can be configured to provide various switching topologies, including, but not limited to, chordal ring switching topologies and multi-dimensional chordal ring switching topologies.

Abstract: Data center network architectures, systems, and methods that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. Such data center network architectures, systems, and methods employ physical optical ring network topologies, optical nodes, and optical junction nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the overall physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining, adding, and/or dropping channels in optical communication systems that utilize thin film filters without the creation of deadbands, using fiber Bragg gratings and additional thin film optical filters, are described. According to one aspect of the invention, an optical filter is used to drop a wavelength range from an optical signal. Prior to the optical signal entering the optical filter, one or more fiber Bragg gratings and an optical circulator are used reflects a portion of the communications spectrum which would normally lie with the deadband region of the optical filter. According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical filter is used to combine a first optical signal and a second optical signal to form a combined optical signal. Neither the first optical signal nor the second optical signal includes channels within a deadband region of the optical filter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining, adding, and/or dropping channels in optical communication systems that utilize thin film filters without the creation of deadbands, using fiber Bragg gratings and additional thin film optical filters, are described. According to one aspect of the invention, an optical filter is used to drop a wavelength range from an optical signal. Prior to the optical signal entering the optical filter, one or more fiber Bragg gratings and an optical circulator are used reflects a portion of the communications spectrum which would normally lie with the deadband region of the optical filter. According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical filter is used to combine a first optical signal and a second optical signal to form a combined optical signal. Neither the first optical signal nor the second optical signal includes channels within a deadband region of the optical filter.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing device is disclosed for multiplexing optical signals, for example, for a fiber-optic telecommunication system employing wavelength division multiplexing. The optical multiplexing device has a filter assembly defining a light path, preferably a multi-bounce zigzag expanded beam light path, from a common port at least to a first channel port and then a second channel port and then a pass-through port. The first channel port has a first optical filter element, for example, a multi-cavity interference filter, which is transparent to a wavelength sub-range within the wavelength range passed by the common port and the pass-through port, and substantially reflective of other wavelengths within such wavelength range. The second channel port includes a second optical filter element having light transmittance and reflectance properties substantially the same as those of the first optical filter element.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing device is provided comprising multiple wavelength division multiplexers cascaded together. A first one of the wavelength division multiplexers has a common port and multiple optical ports which are optically coupled to the common port. The common port may be optically coupled to a trunk line of a system employing wavelength division multiplexing, for example, a fiber-optic telecommunication system employing 4, 8, 16 or other number of multiplexed channels. The optical ports include multiple channel ports, each of which is transparent to a corresponding wavelength sub-range and reflective of other wavelengths. The second wavelength division multiplexer has a common port optically coupled to one of the optical ports of the first wavelength division multiplexer. The second wavelength division multiplexer also has multiple optical ports which are optically coupled to its common port and include multiple wavelength-selective channel ports.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing device demultiplexes collimated light from a fiber-optic source into separate individual wavelength sub-ranges or channels, and/or multiplexes separate channels to a common fiber-optic waveguide or other destination. An optical block defines an optical gap between two parallel surfaces having an optical port on a first such parallel surface for passing the multi-channel collimated light into the optical gap. A channel port and at least one other reflective element, e.g., multiple channel ports arrayed in spaced relation to each other, are secured to the optical block at the parallel surfaces, providing an unobstructed, epoxy-free multi-point light path within the optical gap. At each channel port an interference filter secured to the optical block spans the optical gap. Each filter transmits a wavelength sub-range of the multi-channel collimated light passed by the optical port, and reflects other wavelengths.

Abstract: A laser having a gain medium disposed in a resonant cavity having a pair of end reflectors. One of such reflectors has a reflectivity lower than the reflectivity of the other one of the reflectors. The reflectors are arranged to provide a single ended output for the cavity through the one of the reflectors having the lower reflectivity. A saturable absorber is formed on the one of the reflectors having the lower reflectivity. With such an arrangement, fabrication of the saturable absorber on the single ended output coupler is greatly simplified. The gain medium is a doped fiber and the saturable absorber formed on the one of the reflectors having the lower reflectivity is affixed to an end of the doped fiber gain medium. With such an arrangement, a highly efficient, relatively low cost, mode locked laser is provided.