Abstract: A bidirectional electrostatic rotary microactuator has two sets of fixed electrodes, one set for driving the microactuator counterclockwise and the other set for driving it clockwise, and a rotatable frame that has movable electrodes attached to its outer wall and interleaved between the fixed electrodes. A layer of insulating material is located between the outer wall to which the movable electrodes are attached and the remainder of the frame so that the movable electrodes are electrically isolated. The frame is maintained at ground electrical potential and the movable electrodes at a fixed non-zero electrical potential. The microactuator is driven by applying a plus or minus voltage to one set of fixed electrodes and the opposite voltage to the other set, while maintaining the movable electrodes at a fixed non-zero voltage. The microactuator is usable as a secondary actuator in a disk drive for fine positioning the read/write head.

Abstract: Optical communication system apparatus and methods of operating an optical communications system is described. The system advantageously may utilize existing optical fiber networks and provide significantly increased channel capacity. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the system apparatus provides for a plurality of communications channels and a processor unit receives requests for allocation of one or more channels from a node coupled to the optical communications system. The system apparatus dynamically allocates one or more channels selected from unused channels.

Abstract: Optical communication system apparatus and methods of operating an optical communications system is described. The system advantageously may utilize existing optical fiber networks and provide significantly increased channel capacity. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the system apparatus provides for a plurality of communications channels and a processor unit receives requests for allocation of one or more channels from a node coupled to the optical communications system. The system apparatus dynamically allocates one or more channels selected from unused channels.

Abstract: A switched optical wavelength selective reflector includes a 1×n bi-directional optical switch coupled to a plurality of wavelength selective reflective filters.

Abstract: Optical communication system apparatus and methods of operating an optical communications system is described. The system advantageously may utilize existing optical fiber networks and provide significantly increased channel capacity. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the system apparatus provides for a plurality of communications channels and a processor unit receives requests for allocation of one or more channels from a node coupled to the optical communications system. The system apparatus dynamically allocates one or more channels selected from unused channels.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated optic device having at least one waveguide formed in a surfaced thereof is described. The waveguide is formed utilizing a two-step proton exchange process in which the substrate is bathed in a strong acid and then subjected to a plurality of annealing cycles.

Abstract: A variable chirp optical modulator is provided in which an optical waveguide is split for part of its length into first and second waveguide arms. Electrode pairs are utilized to provide modulating electric fields in a portion of the first and second waveguide arms. The optical lengths of the portions of the first and second waveguide arms that are subject to the modulating electric fields are different and are selected to provide a predetermined level of chirp. By controlling the optical power split from the optical waveguide to the first and second arms, the chirp is varied from the predetermined level.

Abstract: A variable chirp optical modulator is provided. An optical waveguide is split for part of its length into first and second waveguide arms. Electrode pairs are positioned to be proximate a first portion of corresponding waveguide arms. The lengths of each of the electrodes are different and are selected to provide a predetermined level of chirp.

Abstract: Optical apparatus for selectively coupling optical wavelength components of wavelength multiplexed optical signals from an input port to an output port includes an interferometer coupled to the input and output port. The interferometer includes a first optical path and a second optical path. A plurality of optical phase modulators is arranged in said first path to include one optical phase modulator for each wavelength component. Each wavelength component is split into a wavelength component first portion on the first optical path and a wavelength component second portion on the second optical path. Each optical phase modulator is selectively operable to phase shift the corresponding one wavelength component first potion by first or second predetermined phase shifts, whereby the wavelength component is or is not coupled from the input port to the output port.

Abstract: An optical fiber network comprises a plurality of communications nodes. Each node is able to communicate utilizing multiplexed optical signals comprising a plurality of optical wavelength components. A plurality of optical fiber links interconnects the nodes. A dynamic balancer is inserted into each corresponding optical fiber links. Each dynamic balancer adjusts the intensities of a plurality of optical wavelength components in multiplexed optical signals transmitted over the optical fiber link.

Abstract: An optical wavelength multiple access system includes a laser source providing multiple wavelength component optical signals. The optical signals are coupled to a rapid switched narrow line filter. The rapid switched narrow line filter is controllable to output selected predetermined wavelength components. A micro controller coupled to the rapid switched narrow line filter receives data and controls the rapid switched narrow line filter to select a plurality of wavelength components in response to the data.

Abstract: A non-reciprocal optical phase shifter comprises a plurality of switchable phase shifter stages. Each phase shifter stage is optically coupled to an adjacent phase shifter stage. At least one phase shifter stage produces a fixed Faraday rotation on the optical signal components. The plurality of switchable phase shifter stages is optically coupled to at least one phase shifter stage to produce a cumulative non-reciprocal phase shift that is the summation of the phase shifts of the plurality of switchable phase shifter stages and the at least one phase shifter stage.

Abstract: A dynamic optical wavelength balancer is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of wavelength selective reflectors. Each wavelength selective reflector reflects optical signals at a predetermined one optical wavelength selected from a plurality of predetermined optical wavelengths. A bi-directional optical variable coupler array has a first port and a plurality, N, of second ports. Each wavelength selective reflector is coupled to a corresponding one of the second ports. The bi-directional optical variable coupler array is responsive to control signals for establishing different degrees of optical couplings between the first port and selected ones of the plurality of second ports.

Abstract: The invention is a polarization independent non-reciprocal phase shifter that operates on optical signals. Two optical paths are provided. Optical signal components of a first polarization traverse a first path and optical signal components of a second polarization traverse a second path. Faraday rotator crystals are provided in each path and in conjunction with a magnetic field source produce non-reciprocal phase shifts in optical signal components traversing the respective crystals in opposite directions.

Abstract: Apparatus providing a plurality of fixed wavelength reflective optical filters and a method for forming the apparatus is described.

Abstract: A switched optical wavelength selective reflector includes a 1×n bi-directional optical switch coupled to a plurality of wavelength selective reflective filters.

Abstract: A variable optical reflector/attenuator includes an optical coupler having first, second, third and fourth ports, the first port receives input optical signals, the fourth port provides output signals. A loop of optical fiber is coupled between the third and fourth ports. A non-reciprocal phase shifter is disposed in the loop. The non-reciprocal phase shifter is operable to provide a non-reciprocal phase shift variable from a first predetermined phase shift to a second predetermined phase shift, to control the amount of light received at thed first port that is coupled to the output port and the amount of light reflected to the first port.

Abstract: Optical switching apparatus is provided for selectively switching first wavelength components of wavelength division multiplexed optical signals from an input port to an output port and one or more corresponding add wavelength components of wavelength division multiplexed add optical signals from an add port to the output port. A Sagnac provides the selective switching. The Sagnac interferometer includes a plurality of phase modulators coupled into the Sagnac loop. Each phase modulator operates on wavelength components and add wavelength components at a predetermined one wavelength of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths to determine whether an output wavelength component is coupled from the input port or the add port to the output port.

Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes an optical signal port receiving optical signals in the form of multiplexed wavelength components. A coupler splits the wavelength components into wavelength component first portions coupled to a first optical path and into wavelength component second portions coupled to a second optical path. A plurality of phase modulators is provided in the first path. Each phase modulator operates on wavelength component first portions at a predetermined one wavelength, whereby predetermined interference results are obtained on a wavelength component by wavelength component.

Abstract: An optical interferometer includes a first optical path and a second optical path. A plurality of optical phase modulators is disposed in the first optical path. Each phase modulator receives one wavelength component of optical signals. Each optical phase modulator is selectively operable to provide a phase shift to its corresponding one wavelength component.