Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device which carries multiple optical signals where the optical device has a plurality of distal waveguides some of which may be configured to control insertion loss among the multiple optical signals.

Abstract: Optical integrated circuits are disclosed having a gap traversing the lens or the waveguide grating and an actuator that controllably positions the optical integrated circuit on each side of the gap. As a result, the thermal sensitivity of the optical integrated circuits, for example, arrayed waveguide gratings, is mitigated. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating optical integrated circuits employing the gap and actuator.

Abstract: The invention provides integrated optical matching elements for use in integrated optical devices. The matching elements each comprise one or more lenses. The lenses may have low index contrast with the surrounding medium. Required dioptric power is achieved by using a train of lenses. Optical matching elements according to the invention can be used to enhance the optical coupling between channel waveguides and slab waveguides. The insertion loss of devices such as optical power splitters, optical couplers and arrayed waveguide grating routers can be reduced by incorporating optical matching elements according to the invention.

Abstract: Actuators facilitating mechanical beam steering for optical integrated circuits are disclosed. The mechanical beam steering can mitigate thermal sensitivity of optical circuits, for example, arrayed waveguides. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating optical integrated circuits employing actuators.

Abstract: Optical integrated circuits are disclosed having a gap traversing the lens or the waveguide grating and an actuator that controllably positions the optical integrated circuit on each side of the gap. As a result, the thermal sensitivity of the optical integrated circuits, for example, arrayed waveguide gratings, is mitigated. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating optical integrated circuits employing the gap and actuator.

Abstract: An optical integrated circuit (OIC) or optical apparatus upon which a waveguide-grating router (WGR) device is fashioned is provided, where the circuit is configured to optimize a passband for each channel transmitted on an output waveguide. The WGR has two or more waveguides of varying widths optically coupled to a slab waveguide. The widths can be configured to facilitate producing a substantially uniform frequency-limited bandwidth, a substantially uniform wavelength-limited bandwidth, a substantially uniform isolation value, and/or a substantially uniform value for insertion loss between the output waveguides, which in turn facilitates producing optical data communication devices with more consistent transmission parameters and higher quality. In addition to various widths, the shape of the delivering end of a slab waveguide can be fashioned to further improve the consistency and quality of such parameters.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an optical wavelength router that includes at least one dendritic taper region. The dendritic taper region includes at least one dendritic taper which has a trunk and at least one branch optically coupled to the trunk. In addition to the dendritic taper region, the optical wavelength router includes at least one input waveguide, a input slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide grating, an output slab waveguide, and at least one output waveguide. The improved optical wavelength router provides a wide passband width without a substantial effect on insertion loss.

Abstract: An arrayed waveguide grating router (AWGR) comprises sets of output waveguides for a number of bands. Angular separation of adjacent output waveguides is relatively small for adjacent output waveguides. within a band and significantly larger for adjacent output waveguides belonging to different bands. In specific embodiments the output waveguides are arranged into at least two bands, each band comprising at least two adjacent waveguides. Each band is used in conjunction with an input waveguide specific to the particular band. AWGRs according to the invention may be made so that the passbands from a plurality of output waveguides fall on a wavelength grid or a frequency grid. Dummy waveguides may be included for ease of fabrication.

Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit assembly has an optical layer on a substrate. The substrate is attached to one face of a riser. A layer of a material having properties substantially the same as the substrate is attached to the other face of the riser. The layer of material counteracts the tendency of the assembly to bow as a result of differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the riser and substrate. This reduces stress-induced changes in performance characteristics of lightwave circuits in the optical layer.

Abstract: An optical apparatus and method establishes a value of group velocity dispersion in wavelength division multiplexing applications. The optical apparatus includes at least one input waveguide, a first slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide grating, a second slab waveguide, at least one output waveguide, and at least one transition segment optically connecting the at least one input waveguide to the first slab waveguide. The transition segment features a taper and an extension. The wide end of the taper is optically connected to the first end of the extension and the second end of the extension is optically connected to the slab waveguide and the first and second ends are equal in width. The extension may have a constant or non-constant width and may include a heating element. When a plurality of transition segments are featured, each transition segment may have similar or different properties. The transition segments may be used at the output side of the optical apparatus as well as at the input side.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an optical wavelength router that includes at least one dendritic taper region. The dendritic taper region includes at least one dendritic taper which has a trunk and at least one branch optically coupled to the trunk. In addition to the dendritic taper region, the optical wavelength router includes at least one input waveguide, a input slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide grating, an output slab waveguide, and at least one output waveguide. The improved optical wavelength router provides a wide passband width without a substantial effect on insertion loss.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arrayed waveguide such that each waveguide of the grating has a substantially uniform width, but the width of any single waveguide in the grating is selected based on a predetermined birefringence required for the waveguide. Generally, the narrowest grating waveguide has the longest overall length and the widest grating waveguide has the shortest overall length. The remaining intermediate waveguides have widths that are interpolated between the narrowest and widest waveguide gratings. With an appropriate width for each waveguide, an arrayed waveguide grating is provided that has low polarization dependent wavelength.

Abstract: An optical apparatus and method establishes a value of group velocity dispersion in wavelength division multiplexing applications. The optical apparatus includes at least one input waveguide, a first slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide grating, a second slab waveguide, at least one output waveguide, and at least one transition segment optically connecting the at least one input waveguide to the first slab waveguide. The transition segment features a taper and an extension. The wide end of the taper is optically connected to the first end of the extension and the second end of the extension is optically connected to the slab waveguide and the first and second ends are equal in width. The extension may have a constant or non-constant width and may include a heating element. When a plurality of transition segments are featured, each transition segment may have similar or different properties. The transition segments may be used at the output side of the optical apparatus as well as at the input side.

Abstract: This relates generally to optical waveguide-based devices including dynamically programmable optical attenuators. In particular, this provides an optical attenuator having a Mach Zehnder configuration with reduced polarization dependence. The devices herein facilitate the implementation of continuously-variable optical attenuators, optical shutters, and optical switches in an integrated photonic circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device which carries multiple optical signals where the optical device has a plurality of distal waveguides some of which may be configured to control insertion loss among the multiple optical signals.