Abstract: An n by m array of lenses layer where n is greater than 1 and m is greater than 1 is disposed on a combination of layers comprised of a first walk-off layer, a first non-reciprocal rotator layer, a first half-wave plate layer, a second half-wave plate layer, a second walk-off layer, a second non-reciprocal rotator layer, and a mirror layer. A method of forming optical p by q structures, where p is greater than 1 is provided. An n by m array of lenses layer where n is greater than 1 and m is greater than 1 is disposed on a combination of layers. The combination of layers is formed of the layers described above. An n by m structure comprising the array of lenses and the combination of layers is formed which is then divided into p by q structures having a p by q array of lenses layer, where p is greater than 1. Preferably p by 1 optical circulator strips are formed. Preferably all layers are formed by lithographic methods. The n by m array of lenses can be formed by reactive ion etching.

Abstract: A reflective Faraday-based optical system is formed to include a partially transmissive optical reflector so that a portion of the optical signal propagating through the system will not be reflected but instead used as an input signal to a monitoring system. The partially transmissive reflector is configured to transmit only a relatively small portion of the optical signal (about 1-10%) so that the performance of the system is not affected. The optical monitoring arrangement may comprise one or more photodetectors, optical fibers, or other optical components for capturing the transmitted signal and converting into an electrical representation that can be evaluated to monitor the power in the optical signal.

Abstract: A polarization separator/combiner for separating a light beam having two orthogonally polarized components into two parallel orthogonally polarized light beams which is especially useful as a reflective substitute for conventional walk-off devices or other birefringent separator/combiners. The light beam passes through a polarizing interface which reflects one component of the light and transmits the other, which is reflected off a parallel reflective interface and passes back through the polarizing interface to emerge parallel to the reflected component. A first embodiment of the invention comprises a flat plate having a coating on the front surface which reflects substantially all of one of the components of the light beam, while transmitting substantially all of the orthogonally polarized component.

Abstract: A moving mirror switch includes a focusing element adapted to focus an incoming light beam transmitted from an input optical port, a movable mirror, and an actuator. The actuator moves the mirror between first and second mirror positions corresponding to reflective and pass-through states, respectively. In the reflective state, the mirror at least partially reflects the focused beam back upon the input port. In the pass-through state, the focused beam is at least partially transmitted towards an optical output port of the switch. The first and second positions may correspond to complete reflective and complete transmission states, respectively. The mirror may further be positioned in intermediate positions to achieve partial transmission states (and/or partial reflective states), such that the mirror switch operates as a variable attenuator. Embodiments are presented in which the input and output ports are disposed on the same side of the switch, or on opposite sides of switch.

Abstract: In an optical material formed of strips of laminated methods, through channels or "trenches" are produced in at least one of the lamination materials in a manner that the material will then consist of "stiff islands" interspersed with flexible regions created by the properly created through channels. The trenching alows a strip to become piece-wise alignable, and also makes it flexible enough to bond it in alignment in a laminate, yet continuous enough to be handled as one sheet for initial placement. "Chain-like" capability can be provided by making the sheet into a form resembling a jig-saw puzzle where the chances of the individual pieces slipping apart is reduced using narrow, slanted trenches. Alternatively, "springy" flexibility can be provided by forming relatively long, thin, bent strips of material that support the islands of continuous sheet. The islands are thus allowed to move two dimensionally relative to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for aligning optical beams from a source to a destination. The apparatus comprises a first pair of cylindrical lenses comprised of a first cylindrical lens and a second cylindrical lens. The first and second cylindrical lenses are adapted to slide up and down or back and forth along first and second line segments. The first and second line segments can be parallel to each other. A second pair of cylindrical lenses is disclosed comprised of a third cylindrical lens and a fourth cylindrical lens. The third and fourth cylindrical lens are adapted to slide up and down or back and forth along a third and fourth line segments. The first, second, third, and fourth line segments can be parallel to each other. The first, second, third, and fourth cylindrical lenses can adapted to slide between an optical source and an optical destination. The first and second cylindrical lenses, and the third and fourth lenses respectively can be closely adjacent one another.

Abstract: An optical circulator is disclosed that utilizes a polarization rotator comprising a polarization changer (e.g., a properly-oriented half-wave plate) in combination with a pair of latched garnet Faraday rotators. The latched garnet rotators are positioned next to each other and oriented so that one latched garnet rotator provides clockwise rotation and the other provides counterclockwise rotation. The use of latched garnet with a single half wave plate results in an arrangement that is reduced in overall size and does not require epoxy to interconnection the various piece parts.

Abstract: An apparatus which routes light generated by a light source to a remote destination. The apparatus includes a cylindrical optical element defining a longitudinal axis. The element has an end face which is oblique relative to the longitudinal axis. The end face routes light by refraction or reflection. A support having a support surface is provided for positioning the optical element between the source and the destination so that the longitudinal axis of the element is substantially parallel to the support surface. The support substantially prevents rotational movement of the optical element about an axis extending normal to the support surface while allowing rotational movement of the optical element about its longitudinal axis so that the direction of the light routed by the end face can be selectively and continuously changed as a function of the rotation of the optical element.

Abstract: The invention is a circuit for monitoring the wavelength of a laser device such as a semiconductor laser. A piezoelectric resonator is positioned in the path of the light beam so as to form a Fabry-Perot cavity. The changes in the reflectivity of the cavity are detected as the resonator is driven by an oscillator circuit, and an error signal is produced in response thereto when the wavelength of the laser device strays from a desired value.

Abstract: A split reciprocal polarization switch (SRPS) for use in constructing high performance switching devices used in fiber optics. The SRPS allows selective changes in the polarization of one or the other of two optical rays passing therethrough along first and second bi-directional ray paths of the SRPS so that they emerge therefrom with the same polarizations. The SRPS includes a switching section for selectively changing the optical polarization of optical rays according to a selected state of the switching section, and a split section including a first and second sections having different polarization changing characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is a three port optical circulator including a reflective device such as a mirror. Advantageously, the incorporation of the mirror into the circulator of the present invention enables two ports of the circulator to be terminated using a dual fiber termination and a shared collimating system such as a single GRIN. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention an optical apparatus of the present invention comprises first and second polarization splitter/combiners including walk-off devices having a splitting end and a combining end. The polarization splitter/combiners further include a polarization interchanger disposed proximate input/output ports at the combining end of the walk-off device.

Abstract: A partial optical coupler of the present invention comprises first, second and third walk-off devices having a non-reciprocal polarization interchanger unit positioned between the first and second and the second and third walk-off devices. The first and third walk-off devices are matched in terms of the amount of walk-off and the direction of walk-off. A further embodiment includes a reflector which allows the light beam to pass through each walk-off device and each non-reciprocal polarization interchanger unit twice.

Abstract: An optical coupling prevents light from entering free space when disengaged. The optical coupling includes a receptacle and a connector plug. The receptacle has an opening and includes an optical radiation source, and a beam stop. The optical radiation engages the beam stop when the receptacle is disengaged from the connector plug. When the connector plug is engaged into the receptacle opening, optical radiation from the receptacle is emitted on the radiation receptor.

Abstract: A walk-off device comprising a birefringent or uniaxial material achieves increased spatial separation of the ordinary and extraordinary beams by using at least one face of the device for reflection. The two beams are folded and path length increased within the device; the folding increases the spatial separation of the beams when they exit from the device as compared to a device in which the beams are not folded. The reflection face is oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the optic axis of the material.

Abstract: Apparatus performs polarization dependent functions although the apparatus is polarization independent with respect to the outside world. The apparatus produces parallel beams with like polarization, and the parallel beams are then subject to polarization dependent processing.

Abstract: An optical coupling prevents light from entering free space when disengaged. The optical coupling includes a receptacle and a connector plug. The receptacle has an opening and includes an optical radiation source, and a beam stop. The optical radiation engages the beam stop when the receptacle is disengaged from the connector plug. When the connector plug is engaged into the receptacle opening, optical radiation from the receptacle is emitted on the radiation receptor.

Abstract: A walk-off device is used to split an incoming beam into two parallel outgoing beams having orthogonal polarization. A polarization flipper is positioned to change the polarization of one of the two beams exiting from the walk-off device so that the two beams are parallel and have essentially identical polarizations. A nonreciprocal device receives the two beams, and the resulting apparatus is a polarization independent nonreciprocal device. Conversely, a polarization flipper flips the polarization of one of the two parallel beams of like polarizations into orthogonal polarizations and subsequently a walk-off device combines or superimposes these two beams to form an unpolarized single beam.

Abstract: An optical package and methods for its use are disclosed. The optical package may suitably include a container and a rail that fit within the container for receiving a plurality of mounted optical components. The rail may be secured within the container so that neither the rail nor the received mounted optical components move within the container. The optical package may further have at least one optical fiber termination mounted to the end of the container that is in optical communication with the optical components within the container. In methods according to the present invention, the optical package may be used for the transportation, operation, manufacturing and rapid prototyping of optical systems.