Abstract: Many optical gyroscopes are based on an optical Sagnac interferometer configuration including various interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes (IFOG) to measure magnitude and direction of rotation. IFOGs require active phase modulation in their fiber coil to decipher direction of rotation. This patent document discloses a new type of IFOGs that utilizes a passive topological (also known as geometric) phase shift to sense magnitude and direction of rotation without requiring active phase modulation.

Abstract: The invention is a device for removable placement in the mouth, which advances the lower jaw and draws the tongue forward and upward, thereby providing relief for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The device includes an upper portion, the upper surface of which is adapted for engagement with the user's upper dentition. A downward extension, suspended from the anterior part of the upper portion, features an anterior surface that engages the back of the lower front teeth, so as to advance the lower jaw forward with respect to the upper jaw. The posterior surface of the downward extension features a rearward extension, which is curved upward at its lateral margins to meet the upper portion, so as to define, with the hard palate of the user, a cavity that is sized and shaped to snugly engage the user's tongue. Within the defined cavity, the device preferably features a soft elastomeric surface.

Abstract: Interferometric fiber optic gyroscope. The gyroscope includes a pulsed light source for generating light pulses and a sense coil for receiving and trapping the light pulses travelling in clockwise and counter clockwise directions for a selected number of times around the sense coil. A detector receives the counter propagating light pulses to determine the phase shift between the two counter propagating light pulses, the phase shift being proportional to rotation rate of the sense coil.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for integrating various optical components onto a planar substrate using a single semiconductor material system to produce an accelerometer. A light beam is generated on the semiconductor optical accelerometer. The light beam is split to form two light beams using a multimode interference (MMI) coupler. One of the two light beams that is formed is directed towards a reference mirror and the other is directed towards a flexured mirror. The flexured mirror moves as a result of acceleration and thereby reflects the light beam with a different light beam characteristic. The light beams are combined by the MMI coupler to produce an interference light beam. A microprocessor measures acceleration based on the differences in light beam characteristics of the reflected light beams. Along the optical path light beam detectors measure various beam characteristics. The microprocessor accounts for characteristics measured by the detectors when computing acceleration.

Abstract: In optical signal transmission, an input optical signal is received that has double side band (DSB) spectral characteristics. The input optical signal is optically filtered to produce an output optical signal having single side band (SSB) spectral characteristics. The output optical signal is caused to include a soliton pulse. In optical signal transmission, a modulated RZ optical signal is formed from an input optical signal. The modulated RZ optical signal has single side band (SSB) spectral characteristics. A data modulated optical signal is formed from the modulated RZ optical signal. The data modulated optical signal includes a soliton optical signal that has SSB spectral characteristics and that includes a soliton pulse. The peak power and the mid-amplitude width of the soliton pulse are linked by a relationship that depends on the characteristics of an optical medium in which the soliton pulse travels.

Abstract: An optical communication receiver, system, and method are disclosed. Optical communication may be implemented with less complicated and costly components yet use RZ-like signal formats. The method may also be adapted to provide communication with beneficial phase relationships among optical pulses. An originating signal has a plurality of pulses, each pulse defined by a leading edge and a falling edge. A plurality of first optical pulses are created and transmitted on an optical communication medium in which each first optical pulse corresponds to a leading edge of a corresponding pulse of the originating signal. A plurality of second optical pulses are created and transmitted on an optical communication medium in which each second optical pulse corresponds to a falling edge of a corresponding pulse of the originating signal.

Abstract: An optical communication system and method are disclosed. Optical communication may be implemented with less complicated and costly components yet use RZ-like signal formats. The method may also be adapted to provide communication with beneficial phase relationships among optical pulses. An originating signal has a plurality of pulses, each pulse defined by a leading edge and a falling edge. A plurality of first optical pulses are created and transmitted on an optical communication medium in which each first optical pulse corresponds to a leading edge of a corresponding pulse of the originating signal. A plurality of second optical pulses are created and transmitted on an optical communication medium in which each second optical pulse corresponds to a falling edge of a corresponding pulse of the originating signal.

Abstract: A process shifts wavelengths of optical pulses. The process includes transmitting an incoming optical pulse through a nonlinear optical material, splitting the transmitted pulse into a plurality of mutually coherent optical pulses, and recombining the mutually coherent pulses with temporal delays. The recombined pulses produce a temporal interference pattern. The pattern has a peak whose wavelength is shifted with respect to the wavelength of the incoming optical pulse.

Abstract: A method introduces variable time offsets into a stream of optical pulses. The method includes receiving a plurality of coherent optical pulses, receiving a plurality of control signals, and forming a coherent pulse array (CPA) from each pulse in response to one of the received control signals. Temporal spacings between pulses of each CPA are responsive to the associated one of the received control signals. For optical control signals, response times can be very short. The method further includes transmitting each pulse through a dispersive optical medium. The act of transmitting makes pulses of each CPA overlap to form an interference pattern.

Abstract: A method produces a wavelength shift into an optical signal. The method includes producing a coherent temporal array of optical signals (CTAS) from an incoming optical signal and broadening the signals of the CTAS to produce a interference pattern. The broadening results from transmitting the CTAS or the incoming optical signal through a dispersive medium. The method also includes selectively transmitting a peak of the interference pattern. The transmitted peak has a selected wavelength shift with respect to the incoming optical signal.

Abstract: A system and method of replicating optical pulses are disclosed. An optical pulse replicator includes a Fabry Perot interferometer operating in reflection mode. An optical signal distribution circuit has an input link, an output link, and a bi-directional link. The Fabry Perot interferometer optically communicates with the bi-directional link. According to one embodiment, the Fabry Perot interferometer includes an etalon having a first and second reflective surface. The first surface receives optical signals from the bi-directional link of the optical signal distribution circuit, and the first surface has a reflectivity of about 17% and up to 50%. The second surface has a reflectivity of about 24% and up to 50%. According to another embodiment of the invention, the Fabry Perot interferometer is tunable. According to another embodiment of the invention, the reflectivity of the surfaces create replicated pulses of approximately equal magnitude.

Abstract: An optical communication system and method are disclosed. Optical communication may be implemented with less complicated and costly components yet use RZ-like signal formats. The method may also be adapted to provide communication with beneficial phase relationships among optical pulses. An originating signal has a plurality of pulses, each pulse defined by a leading edge and a falling edge. A plurality of first optical pulses are created and transmitted on an optical communication medium in which each first optical pulse corresponds to a leading edge of a corresponding pulse of the originating signal. A plurality of second optical pulses are created and transmitted on an optical communication medium in which each second optical pulse corresponds to a falling edge of a corresponding pulse of the originating signal.

Abstract: A multiphase optical pulse generator for selective side band suppression of a pulse stream includes an unbalanced interferometer responsive to a pulse of the pulse stream to generate at least first and second replica pulses, a delay device for delaying the replica pulses relative to each other to define a free spectral range to include only one or both of a pair of selected spectral side bands to be suppressed, a phase shifting device for shifting the phase of the replica pulses relative to each other to align the free spectral range and create a combined multiphase pulse to suppress only one or both of the selected spectral side bands.

Abstract: A process shifts wavelengths of optical pulses. The process includes transmitting an incoming optical pulse through a nonlinear optical material, splitting the transmitted pulse into a plurality of mutually coherent optical pulses, and recombining the mutually coherent pulses with temporal delays. The recombined pulses produce a temporal interference pattern. The pattern has a peak whose wavelength is shifted with respect to the wavelength of the incoming optical pulse.

Abstract: An optical signal is transmitted, optically amplified, optically filtered, and received. The optical filtering rejects optical noise such as Amplified Spontaneous Emission noise and is configured to pass a single side band optical signal, and multimode filtering may be applied. A change in the optical signal may be detected, and the characteristics of the optical filtering may be altered based on the detected change.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transmitting optical signals that are more tolerant to various forms of distortion inherent in transmitting optical signals over fiber are disclosed. An optical signal transmission apparatus includes a tunable filter block that receives optical signals and provides filtered optical signals. The tunable filter block includes an IIR filter and a FIR filter, at least one of which is tunable in response to a filtered signal, such as the output signal of the apparatus. Certain embodiments have a tunable IIR filter and a tunable FIR filter. The tunable IIR filter receives optical signals and creates IIR filtered signals therefrom. The received optical signals may be characterized in the frequency domain by an optical carrier having associated left and right side band spectral components. Each side band spectral component is separated from the optical carrier by a spectral distance.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transmitting optical signals that are more tolerant to various forms of distortion inherent in transmitting optical signals over fiber are disclosed. A tunable IIR filter receives optical signals and provides filtered optical signals. The tunable IIR filter has a predefined pass band spectral width and a center frequency that can be adjusted in response to a control signal. A decision circuit providing a control signal to the tunable IIR filter in response to the filtered optical signals. The optical signals include an optical carrier and associated left and right side band spectral components. Each side band spectral component is separated from the optical carrier by a spectral distance. The optical carrier and the left and right side band spectral components each have at least two associated data side bands.

Abstract: A method of transmitting optical pulses in a transmission media includes separating a coherent source optical pulse into a plurality of mutually coherent pulses, and producing a series of mutually coherent optical pulses from the plurality of pulses. The series is transmitted through the media, and the pulses of the series are received at a distant region of the media. The series of pulses is adapted to interfere and form a packet whose width is narrower than the width of any pulse of the series at the distant region.

Abstract: A process shifts wavelengths of optical pulses. The process includes transmitting an incoming optical pulse through a nonlinear optical material, splitting the transmitted pulse into a plurality of mutually coherent optical pulses, and recombining the mutually coherent pulses with temporal delays. The recombined pulses produce a temporal interference pattern. The pattern has a peak whose wavelength is shifted with respect to the wavelength of the incoming optical pulse.

Abstract: A method produces a wavelength shift into an optical siqnal. The method includes producing a coherent temporal array of optical signals (CTAS) from an incoming optical siqnal and broadening the signals of the CTAS to produce a interference pattern. The broadening results from transmitting the CTAS or the incoming optical signal through a dispersive medium. The method also includes selectively transmitting a peak of the interference pattern. The transmitted peak has a selected wavelength shift with respect to the incoming optical siqnal.