Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical switching element that uses reversible electroplating mirrors includes a trench with transparent sidewalls located at the intersection of two waveguides A and B. The trench has two electrodes; one, which is transparent, is placed on the trench sidewall and the other is placed on the trench floor. The trench is filled with an index-matching electrolytic solution containing ions of a metal that can electro-deposit on these two electrodes. To actuate the switching element, a negative electrical potential is applied to the sidewall electrode. Actuation causes metal deposits to form on the sidewall electrode, creating a mirror that reflects light from waveguide A to waveguide B. To deactivate the switching element, a positive electrical potential is applied to the sidewall electrode. Deactivation causes metal deposits move off the sidewall and form on the trench floor.

Abstract: An all-optical switch with wavelength conversion is disclosed. The optical switch comprises an input waveguide for carrying a multiplexed optical signal comprised of a plurality of wavelength channels. Further included is a demultiplexer for separating the multiplexed optical signal into the plurality of wavelength channels. The wavelength channels are then provided to a wavelength converter operative to convert the wavelength channels into a converted wavelength channel. The converted wavelength channels are input to a switch operative to switch the converted wavelength channels onto output waveguides.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical wavelength-selective switch. The switching function is based on electrostatic bending, or moving, of a part of a waveguide with an integrated Bragg grating to control the light-signal coupling to another waveguide. The electrostatic force is introduced by voltages applied to two electrodes, one embedded in a movable waveguide and the other on another waveguide. When these two waveguides are electro-statically moved close enough, the wavelength that meets the Bragg phase-matching condition is coupled from one waveguide to the waveguide with integrated Bragg gratings. Through the coupling, the selected wavelength is then directed into a desired output waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a drop-before-add optical routing and switching system. The drop-before-add optical routing and switching system includes an input waveguide for carrying a multiplexed optical signal comprising optical signals transmitted over a plurality of wavelength channels represented by &lgr;1, &lgr;2, &lgr;3, . . . , &lgr;N−1 and &lgr;N, where N is a positive integer wherein the input waveguide extending over a first direction. The drop-before-add optical routing and switching system further includes a plurality of second direction waveguides extending over a second direction and intersecting at N intersections with the input waveguide. The drop-before-add optical routing and switching system further includes a plurality of wavelength selective grating switches each disposed on one of the N intersections for selectively transmitting an optical signal of a selected wavelength into an associated one of the second direction waveguide.

Abstract: This invention relates to optical add/drop devices. These optical add/drop devices are all based on waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switches. Four types of optical switches (S-, L-. X-, and O-type) are disclosed and used to build optical add/drop devices. In addition to the universal advantage of requiring no multiplexers and demultiplexers, each type of switches has its own advantages to build add/drop devices. A simple add/drop device can be made by using only two switches. A large-scale add/drop device can also be built upon same switches. Since the switches are integrated and fabricated on a silicon-based substrate, the size and cost of the add/drop devices are also significantly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for constructing optical switch systems, in which any input optical signals can be routed to any output ports. The methods and apparatus provide advantages of configuration flexibility, modular construction, constant signal loss, and minimal numbers of switch units required. The switch systems comprise M×N switch modules. The switch module in turn comprises a two-dimensional waveguide array and a number of waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switches. With the capability of wavelength-selective routing provided by the switch modules, the optical switch systems requires a relatively small amount of switch units to extend into a very-large-scale switch system.

Abstract: A wavelength converter is disclosed. The converter comprises a broadband light source producing light having a plurality of wavelengths. Further, a semiconductor optical amplifier is provided that receives the light from the light source. The semiconductor optical amplifier amplifies the light under the control of a control signal related to an optical signal of a first wavelength. Next, a demultiplexer receives the output of the semiconductor optical amplifier and extracts from the amplified optical signal at least one of the plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention is a “bi-directional” high-density optical switch, which allows for size reduction of the optical switching matrix and the optical switching matrix package. Interlacing input and output channels and plurality of waveguides and 4 types of switching cells enable this high density optical switch to alternate the placement of the fiber guides on either side of the matrix substrate, leading to a significant overall reduction in the dimensions of the optical switching matrix.

Abstract: The present invention is a wavelength-selective optical switching system. The switching system includes an input waveguide designated as waveguide WG(0) for receiving a multiplexed optical signal comprising optical signals transmitted over a plurality of wavelength channels represented by &lgr;1, &lgr;2, &lgr;3, , &lgr;N, where N is a positive integer wherein the input waveguide extending over a first direction. The switching system further includes a two dimensional waveguide array comprising a plurality of first direction waveguides WG(i), i=1, 2, 3, , M extending over the first direction substantially parallel to the input waveguide WG(0) where M is a positive integer and a plurality of second direction waveguides WG′(j), j=1, 2, 3, N, extending over a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting with the input waveguide and each of the first direction waveguide WG(i), i=0, 1, 2, 3, ,M, thus forming (M+1)×N intersections.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching matrix configuration to reduce the optical propagation losses and coupling losses. The switching matrix comprises M horizontal waveguides interested with 2N vertical waveguides, where M and N are positive integers and the optical switching system is configured to receive a multiplexed input optical signal from a horizontal waveguide disposed next to an i-th horizontal waveguide where i is a closest integer to a positive real number M/2.

Abstract: An apparatus for ion implantation using high perveance beams is disclosed. The apparatus includes a dipole magnet apparatus that provides an adjustment to a cross-beam magnetic dipole field in an ion implantation system. Introduction and control of the magnetic dipole field gradient in a low energy implantation system as disclosed herein gives a significant improvement to the magnet's acceptance and beam focusing which largely defines the effective transported beam current. The apparatus involves the use of ferromagnetic yokes of a prescribed shape and a portion of a secondary magnet coil following along the outside radius of a set of primary dipole magnet coils which define and delineate the primary magnetic field area and beam path. The current return path for the secondary magnet coil is via another portion of the secondary magnet coil that follows a path such that the field generated by the return path secondary magnet coil is orthogonal to the primary magnetic field.