Abstract: An apparatus comprising, a monolithic crystal comprising a substrate portion and at least one oscillator; a first electrode provided at a first location of the oscillator; a second electrode provided at a second location of the oscillator; a gap separating the oscillator from the substrate portion, exposing a side surface of the oscillator; and one or more tethers that extend across the gap so that the oscillator is supported by the substrate portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of making the apparatus, the apparatus including an optical component; an electromagnetic microactuator configured to deflect the optical component; and a substrate configured to support the electromagnetic microactuator, wherein in an undeflected state the electromagnetic microactuator is configured to support the optical component above a plane of the substrate, and wherein the electromagnetic microactuator is configured to deflect from the undeflected state, to deflect at least a portion of the optical component towards the plane of the substrate without the portion of the optical component intersecting the plane of the substrate.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus (101), a wearable electronic device and an optical arrangement for optical coherence tomography. The apparatus comprises an optical coherence tomography system (103) and an optical arrangement (105). The optical arrangement comprises at least one means for beam shaping (109) configured to shape a beam of light from the optical coherence tomography system. The optical arrangement also comprises at least one minor (111) positioned so that light from the means for beam shaping is incident on the at least one minor. The at least one mirror is configured to move in at least one direction relative to the optical coherence tomography system.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus (101), a wearable electronic device and an optical arrangement for optical coherence tomography. The apparatus comprises an optical coherence tomography system (103) and an optical arrangement (105). The optical arrangement comprises at least one means for beam shaping (109) configured to shape a beam of light from the optical coherence tomography system. The optical arrangement also comprises at least one mirror (111) positioned so that light from the means for beam shaping is incident on the at least one mirror. The at least one mirror is configured to move in at least one direction relative to the optical coherence tomography system.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a thermally-actuated microactuator configured to deflect a component in dependence on an applied stimulus; and an extender having a length configured to increase deflection of the component by the microactuator, wherein the extender comprises one or more voids.

Abstract: A device, and method of operating the device, are disclosed. The device includes: a heat spreader having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the heat spreader including at least one oscillating heat pipe arranged between the first side and the second side, at least one of the at least one oscillating heat pipe including a plurality of interconnected channels including a working fluid; at least one optoelectronic component coupled to the first side of the heat spreader; and at least one thermoelectric cooler, wherein a cold side of the at least one thermoelectric cooler is coupled to the second side of the heat spreader. The heat spreader may include one or more heat exchange features.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to apparatus for providing control signals to an adjustable mirror in optical systems such as laser scanning systems. The optical systems could be LiDAR systems or optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems or any other suitable systems. The apparatus comprises means for providing a control signal to at least one adjustable mirror to control movement of the at least one adjustable mirror where the at least one adjustable mirror is provided within a laser scanning system. The control signal comprises a multi-step signal where step widths of the multi-step signal are based on half of a period of oscillation of the at least one adjustable mirror.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising, a monolithic crystal comprising a substrate portion and at least one oscillator; a first electrode provided at a first location of the oscillator; a second electrode provided at a second location of the oscillator; a gap separating the oscillator from the substrate portion, exposing a side surface of the oscillator; and one or more tethers that extend across the gap so that the oscillator is supported by the substrate portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of making the apparatus, the apparatus including an optical component; an electromagnetic microactuator configured to deflect the optical component; and a substrate configured to support the electromagnetic microactuator, wherein in an undeflected state the electromagnetic microactuator is configured to support the optical component above a plane of the substrate, and wherein the electromagnetic microactuator is configured to deflect from the undeflected state, to deflect at least a portion of the optical component towards the plane of the substrate without the portion of the optical component intersecting the plane of the substrate.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus (101), a wearable electronic device and an optical arrangement for optical coherence tomography. The apparatus comprises an optical coherence tomography system (103) and an optical arrangement (105). The optical arrangement comprises at least one means for beam shaping (109) configured to shape a beam of light from the optical coherence tomography system. The optical arrangement also comprises at least one minor (111) positioned so that light from the means for beam shaping is incident on the at least one minor. The at least one mirror is configured to move in at least one direction relative to the optical coherence tomography system.

Abstract: An optical apparatus, comprising a wavelength selective switch, the wavelength selective switch including: one or more planar lightwave circuits and a plurality of optical beam steering assemblies. Each one of the planar lightwave circuits have at least one arrayed waveguide grating located thereon.

Abstract: An optical apparatus, comprising a wavelength selective switch, the wavelength selective switch including: one or more planar lightwave circuits and a plurality of optical beam steering assemblies. Each one of the planar lightwave circuits have at least one arrayed waveguide grating located thereon.

Abstract: As discussed herein, there is presented an apparatus comprising micro-posts. The apparatus includes a substrate having a planar surface, a plurality of micro-posts located on the planar surface, wherein each micro-post has a base portion on the planar surface and a post portion located on a top surface of the corresponding base portion, and wherein side surfaces of the base portions intersect the planar surface at oblique angles.

Abstract: As discussed herein, there is presented an apparatus comprising micro-posts. The apparatus includes a substrate having a planar surface, a plurality of micro-posts located on the planar surface, wherein each micro-post has a base portion on the planar surface and a post portion located on a top surface of the corresponding base portion, and wherein side surfaces of the base portions intersect the planar surface at oblique angles.

Abstract: An optical communication system comprising first and second planar substrates and an alignment assembly. The first substrate of a semiconductor material, is located on a planar surface of a sub-mount and having a planar first edge. The second substrate of a different second material, is located on said planar surface of said sub-mount and having a planar second edge. The alignment assembly is located on said sub-mount, said alignment assembly including rigid standoff structures configured to fixedly vertically align said first and second edges above said sub-mount such that each optical output of one of said lasers is vertically aligned with the end of one of said light-guiding structures.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical switch. The mechanical switch includes a bilayer with first and second stable curved states. A transformation of the bilayer from the first state to the second state closes the switch.

Abstract: A radio frequency circuit structure for transmitting radio signals includes a lower guide portion having a plurality of photocurable layers deposited on a substrate and an upper guide portion interfacing with the lower guide portion to define a guiding geometry. The upper guide portion may also include a plurality of photocurable layers deposited on a second substrate. A method for fabricating the radio frequency circuit structure includes depositing the plurality of photocurable layers on the substrate. A portion of each photocurable layer of the plurality of photocurable layers is exposed to ultraviolet light to form a latent image. The plurality of photocurable layers is developed to remove the portions not exposed to ultraviolet light to form a guide portion. The guide portion may be metalized and closed to form a guiding geometry. A lower guide portion may be closed by an upper guide portion formed in substantially the same manner as the lower guide portion.

Abstract: An optical communication system comprising first and second planar substrates and an alignment assembly. The first substrate of a semiconductor material, is located on a planar surface of a sub-mount and having a planar first edge. The second substrate of a different second material, is located on said planar surface of said sub-mount and having a planar second edge. The alignment assembly is located on said sub-mount, said alignment assembly including rigid standoff structures configured to fixedly vertically align said first and second edges above said sub-mount such that each optical output of one of said lasers is vertically aligned with the end of one of said light-guiding structures.

Abstract: A representative embodiment of the invention provides a thermal actuator for a MEMS-based relay switch. The thermal actuator has an “active” arm that is movably mounted on a substrate. The “active” arm has (i) a thermal expansion layer and (ii) a resistive heater that is electrically isolated from the thermal expansion layer. The thermal expansion layer is adapted to expand in response to a temperature change induced by a control current flowing through the resistive heater, thereby bending the “active” arm and moving that arm with respect to the substrate. Due to the fact that mechanical and electrical characteristics of the “active” arm are primarily controlled by the thermal expansion layer and the resistive heater, respectively, those characteristics can be optimized independently to obtain better operating characteristics for MEMS-based relay switches of the invention compared to those attained in the prior art.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical actuator employs metal for the hot arm and silicon for at least the flexible portion of the cold arm. The cold arm made of silicon is coupled to a metal wire that moves with it and is used to carry the signal to be switched when at least two of such actuators are formed into a switch. Arrays of such switches on a first chip may be cooperatively arranged with a second chip that is flip-chip bonded to the first chip, the second chip having thereon wires routing the electrical control currents to the various hot arms for heating them as well as the signals to be switched by the various switches.