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: An improved apparatus and system for a re-configurable optical channel dropping de-multiplexer is herein disclosed. A re-configurable channel dropping de-multiplexer in accordance with the present invention comprises an input, a first polarizing port optically coupled to the input, a first polarization modulator optically coupled to the first polarizing port, a polarization beam splitter (PBS) having a first side that is optically coupled to the first polarization modulator at a side opposite to the first polarizing port, a second polarization modulator optically coupled to the PBS at a second side of the PBS that is opposite to the first side, a second polarizing port optically coupled to the second polarization modulator at a side opposite to the PBS and a multiple-channel output optically coupled to the second polarizing port.

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 present invention discloses an apparatus and method for a fiber optic housing and aligning device. A fiber optic housing and aligning device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, a directionally adjustable tubular casing that is mechanically coupled to a wall of the housing, and a collimator disposed within the directionally adjustable tubular casing, wherein the adjustable tubular casing comprises a convex spherical cap surface that mates with a concave seating surface of an opening within the wall and wherein the spherical cap surface may be attached to the housing by laser welding or by epoxy.

Abstract: An interferometer includes: a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming an optical interferometric cavity therebetween; a first reflective coating coupled to the first glass plate within the optical interferometric cavity, where the first reflective coating is partially reflective; a second reflective coating coupled to the second glass plate within the optical interferometric cavity, where the second reflective coating is at least partially reflective; and a tuning plate residing within the interferometric cavity and optically coupled to the first and second reflective coatings, where the tuning plate comprises a photosensitive material, where a refractive index of the photosensitive material may be modified by exposure to light.

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: An optical module box made of aluminum that has a reworkable glass-sealed fiber feedthru is disclosed. A fiber is inserted through a glass seal and a C-seal for hermetically sealing an opening in the optical module box. In a first embodiment, a module box employing a single-fiber fiber feedthru is described. In a second embodiment, a module box employing a 2-fiber feedthru is described. In a third embodiment, a module box employing a ribbon fiber feedthru is described. A module box having an opening with a single-fiber feedthru, comprising a C-seal; a glass sealed feedthru having a front tube and a back tube, the back tube of the glass sealed feedthru extending through the C-seal; and a fiber passing through the glass sealed feedthru and the C-seal, thereby hermetically sealed into the opening of the module box.

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 optical module box made of aluminum that has a reworkable glass-sealed fiber feedthru is disclosed. A fiber is inserted through a glass seal and a C-seal for hermetically sealing an opening in the optical module box. In a first embodiment, a module box employing a single-fiber fiber feedthru is described. In a second embodiment, a module box employing a 2-fiber feedthru is described. In a third embodiment, a module box employing a ribbon fiber feedthru is described. A module box having an opening with a single-fiber feedthru, comprising a C-seal; a glass sealed feedthru having a front tube and a back tube, the back tube of the glass sealed feedthru extending through the. C-seal; and a fiber passing through the glass sealed feedthru and the C-seal, thereby hermetically sealed into the opening of the module box.

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 air-density-tuned interferometer includes: a hermetically sealed enclosure; a front window coupled to the hermetically sealed enclosure; an interferometer residing within the hermetically sealed enclosure; and a pressure changing device coupled to the hermetically sealed enclosure. The interferometer within the enclosure includes: a first glass plate optically coupled to the front window; a first reflective coating coupled to the first glass plate; a second reflective coating optically coupled to the first reflective coating; a second glass plate coupled to the second reflective coating; and a plurality of spacers coupled to the first and second glass plates, forming an optical interometric cavity therein. The pressure changing device manipulates the gas pressure within the cavity.

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: A tunable chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensator that utilizes a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA), a rotating transmissive diffraction grating, and a mirror with different curvatures for different cross-sections is disclosed. The compensator in accordance with the present invention provides simultaneous tunable compensation of chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope utilizing a single apparatus. The amount of compensation is accomplished by rotating the transmissive diffracting grating and/or translating the mirror. A system which utilizes the compensator is thus cost effective to manufacture.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an optical router for an optical communications system comprises a pair of transmissive Echelle gratings having their grating surfaces coupled by a waveguide grating. The arrangement provides for substantial design freedom in that the dispersive parameters include the shapes of the first and second Echelle gratings as well as the path length difference among the waveguides. Moreover the device eliminates any need for reflective surfaces in the Echelle gratings.

Abstract: Transmission characteristics of an optical device 200, fabricated from multiple layers 16, 27, 28 of silica-based glass on a silicon substrate 26, are modified by localized thermal treatment. The beam 501 of a carbon-dioxide (CO2) laser 510 is used to selectively soften the core and/or cladding material of a waveguide structure during or after the fabrication process. In one application, softening relieves the strain developed between the waveguide structure and the silicon substrate and substantially reduces or eliminates birefringence. In a second application, the CO2 laser is operated at another power level in order to modify the index of refraction. Changes in the index of refraction change the speed of light through a waveguide thereby changing the phase shift associated with the waveguide. In a third application, the CO2 laser is operated at yet another power level to increase the transmission loss of the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tunable chromatic dispersion compensator. The compensator includes: a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA); at least one reflector optically coupled to the VIPA; a mirror optically coupled to the at least one reflector; and a movable reflector holder coupled to the at least one reflector, where the movable reflector holder moves the at least one reflector such that a length of a beam path between the VIPA and the at least one reflector and the mirror is variable. The present invention uses the VIPA to produce a controlled variable degree of chromatic dispersion within a plurality of optical channels so as to compensate for unwanted chromatic dispersion in an optical communications system. Positional adjustment of the movable reflector holder permits variable control of the beam path length between the VIPA and the focusing lens.

Abstract: The specification describes techniques for fabricating tapered waveguides in planar photonic integrated circuits with the tapers formed in the z-direction (thickness). The tapers are formed by depositing the core layer in two operations. After depositing the first core layer, the layer is masked, and a step is formed in the first layer. When the second core layer is deposited over the step, a smooth taper results. The core layers are preferably formed by flame hydrolysis. During consolidation the two core layers coalesce into a single homogeneous layer with a smooth taper in the thickness dimension of the waveguide.