Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a data bus-in-a-box (BiB) are disclosed. The system involves an electrical box, and at least one optical connector located on the box. The system further involves at least one mother board housed inside of the box, and comprising a transmit side comprising at least one transmit optical media converter (OMC) tile, and a receive side comprising at least one receive OMC tile. Also, the system involves first receive optical fibers that are each connected from at least one receive OMC tile to a receive coupler; and a second receive optical fiber connected from the receive coupler to one of the optical connectors. Further, the system involves first transmit optical fibers that are each connected from at least one transmit OMC tile to a transmit coupler; and a second transmit optical fiber connected from the transmit coupler to at least one of the optical connectors.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for an optical sub-assembly (OSA) are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed apparatus involves a package body, and a lock nut, where a first end of the lock nut inserted into a first cavity of the package body. The apparatus further involves a transistor outline (TO) can, where a first end of the TO can is inserted into a second cavity of the package body. Also, the apparatus involves an optical fiber, where a portion of the jacket from an end of the optical fiber is stripped off, thereby exposing bare optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber. The end of the optical fiber is inserted into a second end of the lock nut such that the bare optical fiber passes into the package body and at least a portion of the bare optical fiber is inserted into the TO can cavity.

Abstract: An optical transmission device includes a tapered mixing rod that includes an optically transmissive material and has a first face, a second face, and a length. A size of the first face is based on a first number of optical fibers and a size of the second face is based on a second number of optical fibers, where the size of the first face is different from the size of the second face. The length can be selected such that light entering the first face from one of the first number of optical fibers is distributed substantially uniformly across the second face and such that light entering the second face from one of the second number of optical fibers is distributed substantially uniformly across the first face.

Abstract: An optical network architecture can include a first pair of tapered mixing rods and a second pair of tapered mixing rods. The optical network architecture can also include a first plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to a first plurality of line replaceable units and a second plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the second pair of tapered mixing rods to a second plurality of line replaceable units. The optical network architecture can also include at least one plastic optical fiber communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to the second pair of tapered mixing rods.

Abstract: An optical network architecture can include a first pair of tapered mixing rods and a second pair of tapered mixing rods. A first plurality of plastic optical fibers is communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to a first plurality of line replaceable components, and a second plurality of plastic optical fibers is communicatively coupled from the second pair of tapered mixing rods to a second plurality of line replaceable components. At least one optical fiber communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to the second pair of tapered mixing rods, the at least one optical transmission line comprising a hard clad silica optical fiber.

Abstract: A data communication system is provided. The data communication system includes a data bus, and a line replacement unit including a terminal controller, and a plastic optical fiber serial interface module (POFSIM) coupled between the terminal controller and the data bus. The POFSIM is configured to transmit digital optical signals to the data bus based on electrical signals received from the terminal controller, and transmit electrical signals to the terminal controller based on digital optical signals received from the data bus.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for a hybrid silicon-organic scalable reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. An embodiment of a scalable reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes an optical bus for optical signals of different wavelengths, a plurality of add/drop optical waveguides, and a plurality of ring resonators, each being optically coupled to the optical bus and to one of the add/drop optical waveguides. The ring resonators are coated with an organic electro-optic cladding layer and are configured to switch wavelength selected optical signals between the optical bus and the add/drop optical waveguides in response to control voltages applied to the organic electro-optic cladding layer. The individual ring resonators of the ROADM can be independently modulated and tuned to filter specific wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical connector comprising a connecting structure, an optical receiver located within the connecting structure, an optical transmitter located within the connecting structure, and a heat sink located within the connecting structure. The heat sink is configured to conduct heat away from the optical receiver and the optical transmitter. The optical receiver and the optical transmitter are thermally connected to the heat sink.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for a ruggedized photonic crystal (PC) sensor packaging. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a ruggedized packaging for a photonic crystal sensor that includes of a hermetic-seal high-temperature jacket and a ferrule that eliminate the exposure of the optical fiber as well as the critical part of the photonic crystal sensor to harsh environments. The disclosed packaging methods enable photonic crystal based sensors to operate in challenging environments where adverse environmental conditions, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI), corrosive fluids, large temperature variations, and strong mechanical vibrations, currently exclude the use of traditional sensor technologies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an optical coupler system. A first plurality of optical fibers is connected to a first receptacle using an alignment system to align the first plurality of optical fibers in the first receptacle. A second plurality of optical fibers is connected to a second receptacle using the alignment system to align the second plurality of optical fibers in the second receptacle. The first receptacle is connected to a star coupler. The first plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to a mixing channel in the star coupler. The second receptacle is connected to the star coupler. The second plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to the mixing channel in the star coupler.

Abstract: A media converter for interfacing an optical fiber bus to an electrical interface of an electronic device is described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an optical coupler system. A first plurality of optical fibers is connected to a first receptacle using an alignment system to align the first plurality of optical fibers in the first receptacle. A second plurality of optical fibers is connected to a second receptacle using the alignment system to align the second plurality of optical fibers in the second receptacle. The first receptacle is connected to a star coupler. The first plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to a mixing channel in the star coupler. The second receptacle is connected to the star coupler. The second plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to the mixing channel in the star coupler.

Abstract: A media converter for interfacing an optical fiber bus to an electrical interface of an electronic device is described.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber (POF) based reflective star coupler is provided. The POF based reflective star coupler comprises a hollow cylindrical holding tube for receiving a plurality of plastic optical fibers (POF) at a front end of the holding tube and a mixing rod at a rear end of the holding tube; wherein a rear end of each POF is affixed to a front surface of the mixing rod; a rear convex surface of the mixing rod is coated with a highly reflective coating; and where the POFs, the mixing rod, and the holding tube are made from similar material, having similar refractive index and material properties.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a rapidly tunable wavelength selective ring resonator. An embodiment of a voltage-tunable wavelength selective ring resonator includes a ring-shaped waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate, an electro-optic cladding layer formed over the ring-shaped waveguide, and voltage applying means for applying a voltage across the electro-optic cladding layer. The ring-shaped waveguide is configured to propagate optical signals having predetermined resonant wavelengths, the electro-optic cladding layer has a voltage-controlled variable refractive index, and the means for applying is configured to apply a wavelength-specific control voltage to the electro-optic cladding layer. The wavelength-specific control voltage will shift or tune the predetermined resonant wavelengths for the ring-shaped waveguide.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber (POF) based reflective star coupler is provided. The POF based reflective star coupler comprises a hollow cylindrical holding tube for receiving a plurality of plastic optical fibers (POF) at a front end of the holding tube and a mixing rod at a rear end of the holding tube; wherein a rear end of each POF is affixed to a front surface of the mixing rod; a rear convex surface of the mixing rod is coated with a highly reflective coating; and where the POFs, the mixing rod, and the holding tube are made from similar material, having similar refractive index and material properties.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a rapidly tunable wavelength selective ring resonator. An embodiment of a voltage-tunable wavelength selective ring resonator includes a ring-shaped waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate, an electro-optic cladding layer formed over the ring-shaped waveguide, and voltage applying means for applying a voltage across the electro-optic cladding layer. The ring-shaped waveguide is configured to propagate optical signals having predetermined resonant wavelengths, the electro-optic cladding layer has a voltage-controlled variable refractive index, and the means for applying is configured to apply a wavelength-specific control voltage to the electro-optic cladding layer. The wavelength-specific control voltage will shift or tune the predetermined resonant wavelengths for the ring-shaped waveguide.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver module having built-in test capability is packaged in a housing to meet small-form-factor (SFF) requirements. The module has a first optical fiber having an angled end that defines an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the first optical fiber. A second optical fiber also has an angled end that defines an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the second optical fiber. The first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are aligned with one another. An optical source emits an optical signal propagated along the first optical fiber in which a portion of the optical signal is received at the second optical fiber and is propagated along the second optical fiber. An optical detector receives a return optical signal transmitted through the angled end of the second optical fiber in response to reflection from a discontinuity in the optical path of the second optical fiber.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for a hybrid silicon-organic scalable reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. An embodiment of a scalable reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes an optical bus for optical signals of different wavelengths, a plurality of add/drop optical waveguides, and a plurality of ring resonators, each being optically coupled to the optical bus and to one of the add/drop optical waveguides. The ring resonators are coated with an organic electro-optic cladding layer and are configured to switch wavelength selected optical signals between the optical bus and the add/drop optical waveguides in response to control voltages applied to the organic electro-optic cladding layer. The individual ring resonators of the ROADM can be independently modulated and tuned to filter specific wavelengths.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver module having built-in test capability is packaged in a housing to meet small-form-factor (SFF) requirements. The module has a first optical fiber having an angled end that defines an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the first optical fiber. A second optical fiber also has an angled end that defines an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the second optical fiber. The first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are aligned with one another. An optical source emits an optical signal propagated along the first optical fiber in which a portion of the optical signal is received at the second optical fiber and is propagated along the second optical fiber. An optical detector receives a return optical signal transmitted through the angled end of the second optical fiber in response to reflection from a discontinuity in the optical path of the second optical fiber.