Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide stable lithium niobate waveguide devices, and methods of making and using the same. A lithium niobate-based waveguide device may include a Z-cut lithium niobate substrate having upper and lower surfaces, an optical waveguide embedded within the lithium niobate substrate, a signal electrode disposed on the upper surface of lithium niobate substrate and parallel to the optical waveguide, guard electrodes disposed on the upper surface of the lithium niobate substrate and flanking but spaced apart from the signal electrode, and a conductive layer on the lower surface of the lithium niobate substrate, wherein the conductive layer serves as a common ground reference for the signal and guard electrodes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide stable lithium niobate waveguide devices, and methods of making and using the same. A lithium niobate-based waveguide device may include a Z-cut lithium niobate substrate having upper and lower surfaces, an optical waveguide embedded within the lithium niobate substrate, a signal electrode disposed on the upper surface of lithium niobate substrate and parallel to the optical waveguide, guard electrodes disposed on the upper surface of the lithium niobate substrate and flanking but spaced apart from the signal electrode, and a conductive layer on the lower surface of the lithium niobate substrate, wherein the conductive layer serves as a common ground reference for the signal and guard electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides stable lithium niobate waveguides, and systems and methods for making same. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a waveguide includes a lithium niobate substrate having an upper surface; and a soft proton-exchanged layer embedded within the substrate, the soft proton-exchanged layer formed by exposing the lithium niobate substrate to a proton exchange solution including a proton exchange acid and a lithium salt of the proton exchange acid at a temperature of less than an atmospheric boiling point of the solution, followed by annealing the lithium niobate substrate under a vapor pressure of water preselected to inhibit protons in the substrate from forming water and evaporating from the upper surface of the substrate. The preselected water vapor pressure may be between 0.1 atm and about 0.9 atm, for example, between about 0.4 atm and about 0.6 atm, in one embodiment about 0.47 atm.

Abstract: The invention provides stable lithium niobate waveguides, and systems and methods for making same. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a waveguide includes a lithium niobate substrate having an upper surface; and a soft proton-exchanged layer embedded within the substrate, the soft proton-exchanged layer formed by exposing the lithium niobate substrate to a proton exchange solution including a proton exchange acid and a lithium salt of the proton exchange acid at a temperature of less than an atmospheric boiling point of the solution, followed by annealing the lithium niobate substrate under a vapor pressure of water preselected to inhibit protons in the substrate from forming water and evaporating from the upper surface of the substrate. The preselected water vapor pressure may be between 0.1 atm and about 0.9 atm, for example, between about 0.4 atm and about 0.6 atm, in one embodiment about 0.47 atm.

Abstract: A thermal conductor is made of copper and carbon nanotubes powders that are compressed together and then cold rolled into sheets for aligning the carbon nanotubes for providing a composite matrix having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, and high electrical conductivity, for preferred use as a conducting heat sink, such as a laser submount, for heat sinking dissipation and electrical grounding of high-power electrical components and circuits, such as a laser diode.

Abstract: Optical package and module designs use multiple-port (e.g. six-port) optical packages to create compact DWDM modules, add/drop packages, heat dissipation packages, optical amplifier filters, and the like.

Abstract: An optical system couples laser light into an optical fiber, such as a optical amplifier fiber, from the side of the fiber by side-pumping of the fiber that is in contact with the laser such that refracted laser light is redirected into and through the fiber using direct attachment of a laser, such as a high-power laser diode, to the inner cladding of a fiber.

Abstract: A multiple-port optical device uses improved fiber ferrules comprising various capillary designs and shapes to precisely position optical fibers and, in particular, the optical fiber cores. The fibers are screened for geometric characteristics which further aide in precisely positioning the fiber cores. The ferrules, capillaries, fibers, and adhesives are combined to reduce adverse thermal effects and maintain the position of the fibers over a broad range of environmental conditions in which DWDM packages and modules are required to operate.

Abstract: Optical package and module designs use multiple-port (e.g. six-port) optical packages to create compact DWDM modules, add/drop packages, heat dissipation packages, optical amplifier filters, and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing multiple-port optical devices and packages includes the steps of positioning pairs of screened optical fibers in a precision ferrule of a collimating assembly; determining a desired angle of incidence (AOI) for an optical element; positioning the assembly in a movable fixture; moving the assembly into engagement with an optical element holder unit having an optical element mounted thereto; micro-tilting the element holder to actively align the optical element and fibers to preferably achieve an insertion loss (IL) less than about 0.2 dB; and curing adhesive to initially secure the aligned optical element assembly.

Abstract: A multiple-port optical device uses improved fiber ferrules comprising various capillary designs and shapes to precisely position optical fibers and, in particular, the optical fiber cores. The fibers are screened for geometric characteristics which further aide in precisely positioning the fiber cores. The ferrules, capillaries, fibers, and adhesives are combined to reduce adverse thermal effects and maintain the position of the fibers over a broad range of environmental conditions in which DWDM packages and modules are required to operate.

Abstract: Optical package and module designs use multiple-port (e.g. six-port) optical packages to create compact DWDM modules, add/drop packages, heat dissipation packages, optical amplifier filters, and the like.

Abstract: Methods of making a multiple-port optical device include precisely positioning pairs of optical fibers inside of a fiber ferrule using a positioning means, such as shaped capillaries or an external clamp, to hold the position of the fibers while adhesive is applied to the fibers and cured. The external precision positioning means comprise silicon wafers which are etched to form capillaries or guides for the fibers. Adhesive is applied to the fibers and wicked into the fiber ferrule capillary to completely fill the capillary. The external positioning means is removed after curing and the fiber ferrule is polished for use in optical devices such as multiple-port DWDM filter packages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of building multiple-port optical devices characterizes optical filters according to a desired angle of incidence. Fiber ferrules are manufactured to precisely position at least two pairs of optical fibers inside the ferrules. The fiber ferrules are then characterized according to the distance between the fiber cores of the fiber pairs (i.e. the separation distance). The filters and the fiber ferrules are matched according to predetermined tolerances. The filter, or other optical element, is optically aligned with each pair of optical fibers and bonded into place. Light signals, such as DWDM signals, are then transmitted through the devices and the single filter or optical device operates on the multiple signals.

Abstract: A multiple-port optical device uses improved fiber ferrules comprising various capillary designs and shapes to precisely position optical fibers and, in particular, the optical fiber cores. The fibers are screened for geometric characteristics which further aide in precisely positioning the fiber cores. The ferrules, capillaries, fibers, and adhesives are combined to reduce adverse thermal effects and maintain the position of the fibers over a broad range of environmental conditions in which DWDM packages and modules are required to operate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing multiple-port optical devices and packages includes the steps of positioning pairs of screened optical fibers in a precision ferrule of a collimating assembly; determining a desired angle of incidence (AOI) for an optical element; positioning the assembly in a moveable fixture; moving the assembly into engagement with an optical element holder unit having an optical element mounted thereto; micro-tilting the element holder to actively align the optical element and fibers to preferably achieve an insertion loss (IL) less than about 0.2 dB; and curing adhesive to initially secure the aligned optical element assembly.

Abstract: Methods of making a multiple-port optical device include precisely positioning pairs of optical fibers inside of a fiber ferrule using a positioning means, such as shaped capillaries or an external clamp, to hold the position of the fibers while adhesive is applied to the fibers and cured. The external precision positioning means comprise silicon wafers which are etched to form capillaries or guides for the fibers. Adhesive is applied to the fibers and wicked into the fiber ferrule capillary to completely fill the capillary. The external positioning means is removed after curing and the fiber ferrule is polished for use in optical devices such as multiple-port DWDM filter packages.

Abstract: A multiple-port optical device uses improved fiber ferrules comprising various capillary designs and shapes to precisely position optical fibers and, in particular, the optical fiber cores. The fibers are screened for geometric characteristics which further aide in precisely positioning the fiber cores. The ferrules, capillaries, fibers, and adhesives are combined to reduce adverse thermal effects and maintain the position of the fibers over a broad range of environmental conditions in which DWDM packages and modules are required to operate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of building multiple-port optical devices characterizes optical filters according to a desired angle of incidence. Fiber ferrules are manufactured to precisely position at least two pairs of optical fibers inside the ferrules. The fiber ferrules are then characterized according to the distance between the fiber cores of the fiber pairs (i.e. the separation distance). The filters and the fiber ferrules are matched according to predetermined tolerances. The filter, or other optical element, is optically aligned with each pair of optical fibers and bonded into place. Light signals, such as DWDM signals, are then transmitted through the devices and the single filter or optical device operates on the multiple signals.

Abstract: Optical package and module designs use multiple-port (e.g. six-port) optical packages to create compact DWDM modules, add/drop packages, heat dissipation packages, optical amplifier filters, and the like.