Abstract: A re-configurable channel dropping de-multiplexer comprises an input, an output, a first 1×2 optical switch optically coupled to the input, a second 1×2 optical switch optically coupled to the output, a plurality of 2×2 optical switches optically coupled between the first and second 1×2 optical switches, a plurality of inter-switch optical couplings optically coupled between each pair of adjacent optical switches, a plurality of channel band pass filter assemblies, each optically coupled between two optical switches and a plurality of channel drop ports, each channel drop port being optically coupled to a respective channel band pass filter assembly.

Abstract: An optical switch with a compact form factor includes a multiple-fiber collimator and an angle tuning element for deflecting an optical beam from an input fiber into one of at least two output fibers. The angle tuning element may be provided between a pair of coaxially-aligned collimators, one of which is the multiple-fiber collimator. Alternatively, the angle tuning element may be provided between the multiple-fiber collimator and a reflective surface, so that only one collimator is required and the optical switch may be designed to have its input and output ports on the same side.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter comprises an optical switch having a single first optical port and a plurality of second optical ports; a plurality of band pass filters, each one of the band pass filters optically coupled to a respective second optical port; and an optical multiplexer having a plurality of inputs and a single output, each input optically coupled to a respective band pass filter, wherein the optical switch delivers a plurality of optical channels to a selected one of the band pass filters, the selected band pass filter transmitting a single selected optical channel to an input of the optical multiplexer. Alternatively, the multiplexer may be substituted by a second optical switch. Optionally, the band pass filters may reflect other channels back to the plurality of second optical ports.

Abstract: A system for a re-configurable optical de-multiplexer, multiplexer or add/drop multiplexer is provided. A re-configurable de-multiplexer system comprises a wavelength selective switch having an input port, an output port and an internal port; a wavelength division de-multiplexer (WDM) optically coupled to the internal port and a plurality of dropped-channel ports optically coupled to the WDM. The wavelength selective switch receives a plurality of input wavelength-division multiplexed channels from the input port and routes a first subset of the channels to the output port and a second subset of channels to the internal port and then to the WDM. The WDM separates each of the dropped channels to a different respective one of the channel ports.

Abstract: An optical switch with a compact form factor includes a multiple-fiber collimator and an angle tuning element for deflecting an optical beam from an input fiber into one of at least two output fibers. The angle tuning element may be provided between a pair of coaxially-aligned collimators, one of which is the multiple-fiber collimator. Alternatively, the angle tuning element may be provided between the multiple-fiber collimator and a reflective surface, so that only one collimator is required and the optical switch may be designed to have its input and output ports on the same side.

Abstract: An OADM includes optical input and output; first and second bandpass filters with a first pass band, optically coupled to the optical input and output, respectively; third and fourth bandpass filters with a second pass band, optically coupled to reflection ports of the first and second bandpass filters, respectively; first and second cascaded series of channel filter assemblies optically coupled to the transmission ports of the first and second bandpass filters, respectively, and third and fourth cascaded series of channel filter assemblies optically coupled to the transmission ports of the third and fourth bandpass filters, respectively. The OADM may be extended or upgraded so as to accommodate the throughput of additional channels or wavelengths by extending the number of filters within each cascaded series of bandpass filters, where the transmission ports of the additional bandpass filters are optically coupled to respective additional cascaded series of channel filter assemblies.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter comprises an optical switch having a single first optical port and a plurality of second optical ports; a plurality of band pass filters, each one of the band pass filters optically coupled to a respective second optical port; and an optical multiplexer having a plurality of inputs and a single output, each input optically coupled to a respective band pass filter, wherein the optical switch delivers a plurality of optical channels to a selected one of the band pass filters, the selected band pass filter transmitting a single selected optical channel to an input of the optical multiplexer. Alternatively, the multiplexer may be substituted by a second optical switch. Optionally, the band pass filters may reflect other channels back to the plurality of second optical ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides a switch assembly for use with a single-port OPM to realize a multi-port OPM having improved reliability. In one embodiment, an N×1 optical switch assembly, wherein N is an integer greater than one, is provided. The optical switch assembly includes N optical input ports, N micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) variable optical attenuators (VOAs), where each MEMS VOA is optically coupled to a respective optical input port and is operable between an on position and an off position, and an N×1 optical combiner optically coupled to the N MEMS VOAs. Each MEMS VOA is configured to transmit an optical signal from a respective one of the optical input ports to the N×1 optical combiner in the on position and to not transmit the optical signal in the off position.

Abstract: An optical switch with a compact form factor includes a multiple-fiber collimator and an angle tuning element for deflecting an optical beam from an input fiber into one of at least two output fibers. The angle tuning element may be provided between a pair of coaxially-aligned collimators, one of which is the multiple-fiber collimator. Alternatively, the angle tuning element may be provided between the multiple-fiber collimator and a reflective surface, so that only one collimator is required and the optical switch may be designed to have its input and output ports on the same side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring composite optical signals carried over plural fiber-optic lines within an optical network. Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention each utilize a single OPM to monitor each one of a set of sample proportions of composite signals split off from respective fiber-optic lines. In one embodiment, an optical performance monitoring system comprises a plurality of fiber-optic lines, each fiber-optic line carrying a respective composite optical signal, a plurality of optical taps, each optical tap being optically coupled to a respective one of the fiber-optic lines and splitting a portion of the composite optical signal thereof, a plurality of optical switches, each optical switch being optically coupled to a respective one of the optical taps and comprising either an Open configuration and a Closed configuration, an optical coupler, and an Optical Performance Monitor (OPM).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical switch. The optical switch includes at least two binary control elements movable between a first and second position. The binary control elements include an at least one angle tuning element for adjusting the pathway of an optical signal. With a binary control element in the first position, the angle tuning element is able to adjust the pathway of an optical signal. With the binary control element in a second position, the angle tuning element is not able to adjust the optical pathway of an optical signal. The optical switch of the present invention can also concurrently switch multiple optical signals in parallel.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for a fiber optic housing and aligning device. In one embodiment, a fiber optic housing and aligning device is provided. The device includes a housing having an opening in a wall thereof, the wall having a curved surface; a tubular casing comprising a ring therearound, the ring having a curved surface which mates with the curved surface of the housing so that the casing is directionally adjustable relative to the housing; and a collimator disposed within the casing, wherein the ring and the wall are configured to be permanently fixed to one another.

Abstract: The invention describes a fiber optic module package which uses a metal-to-metal contact seal between a lid and a module housing. The metal-to-metal contact seal provides a sealing mechanism between the lid and the module housing. The module housing has a knife-shaped edge that can bite into a bottom surface of the lid when pressure is exerted on the lid. In a first embodiment, the module housing has a side slot in which an outer wall of the lid can enter which serves as a holding mechanism between the lid and the module housing. In a second embodiment, the module housing has an interior wall which can be pressed into a curved surface of the lid that serves as a holding mechanism between the lid and the module housing. In a third embodiment, multiple screws are inserted through multiple holes on the lid and into the module housing which serve as a holding mechanism between the lid and the module housing.

Abstract: An improved fiber-optic communications system comprises a multi-mode waveguide carrying an optical signal, a single-mode waveguide optically coupled to and receiving the optical signal from the multi-mode waveguide and an adiabatic coupler optically coupled between the multi-mode waveguide and the single-mode waveguide. The multi-mode and single-mode waveguides may be optical fibers. The adiabatic coupler may comprise a tapered core surrounded by a cladding. Alternatively, the adiabatic coupler may comprise a core surrounded by a cladding, wherein the refractive index of at least one of the core and the cladding varies over the length of the adiabatic coupler.

Abstract: An OADM structure is disclosed with distributed optical performance monitor cells that utilize drop channels for OSNR measurement. The OSNR measurement is computed by calculating the electric noise spectrum density from the Fast Fourier Transform of a sample spectrum and from a frequency range based on traffic protocol and transmission rate, as well as considering the average optical power of the sample points.

Abstract: An optical apparatus functioning either as a multiplexer or a demultiplexer, including: a first polarization beam splitter (PBS); a second PBS optically coupled to the first PBS along an axis of the apparatus; a half-wave plate optically coupled between the first and second PBS; a common optical port optically coupled to the first PBS at a face intersecting the axis; a first non-common optical port optically coupled to the first PBS at a face not intersecting the axis; a second non-common optical port optically coupled to the second PBS; and a reflection interferometer optically coupled to the second PBS. The apparatus provides the benefits of using the reflection interferometer, but does not require paired reflection interferometers or Faraday rotators.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of first optical elements and a second optical element optically coupled to one another in cascaded fashion. Each first optical element has a group delay response characterized by a first period such that only one group delay peak occurs within a first channel. By contrast, the second optical element has a group delay response characterized by a second period, which is less than the first period, such that more than one group delay peak occurs within the first channel. The preferred embodiment uses cascaded GT etalons to provide the desired group delay responses. One advantage of the present invention is that the passband of the dispersion compensator is increased relative to prior art designs without increasing insertion losses. Alternatively, the same passband common in prior art designs may be achieved with fewer GT etalons, thereby reducing insertion losses.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical fiber for reducing insertion loss and insertion loss ripple includes a tapered region where the optical fiber has a diameter of approximately 125 microns at a first end and a diameter of approximately 50 microns at a second end. The cladding layer of the tapered region is tapered from the first end towards the second end. This section of the optical fiber may be tapered using an etch process or any other technically feasible process. The tapered configuration enables the distance between the optical axes of two optical fibers inserted into a ferrule to be reduced from approximately 125 microns to approximately 50 microns. Decreasing the distance between the optical axes causes a reduction in both insertion loss and insertion loss ripple.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical fiber for reducing insertion loss and insertion loss ripple includes a tapered region where the optical fiber has a diameter of approximately 125 microns at a first end and a diameter of approximately 50 microns at a second end. The cladding layer of the tapered region is tapered from the first end towards the second end. This section of the optical fiber may be tapered using an etch process or any other technically feasible process. The tapered configuration enables the distance between the optical axes of two optical fibers inserted into a ferrule to be reduced from approximately 125 microns to approximately 50 microns. Decreasing the distance between the optical axes causes a reduction in both insertion loss and insertion loss ripple.

Abstract: A transmitter on an integrated circuit chip is disclosed that employs a laser, modulator, and a dispersion compensator module and a modulator for overcoming chromatic dispersion and polarization dependent loss effects. With the present invention, the dispersion compensator module is placed on a chip, either integrated or monolithic, for operation with a laser and a modulator without the need to compensate for dispersion within a separate unit that is not part of the chip. The dispersion compensator module can be implemented, for example, with a ring resonator, an etalon or a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. In a first aspect of the invention, the optical transmitter module of the present invention provides a cost-effective solution for upgrading from an existing optical network to a faster optical network, such as upgrading from a 2.5 Gbps to a 10 Gbps network.