Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add and drop multiplexer (ROADM) system is provided. The ROADM system may include a switching system which includes at least one first WSS optically coupled to a tapping coupler and configured to receive an input optical signal from a first circulator, transmit a drop optical signal to a demultiplexer to drop one or more first wavelength channels, and output a through optical signal. The switching system may also include at least one second WSS optically coupled to the at least one first WSS and a multiplexer and configured to receive an add optical signal to add one or more second wavelength channels, receive the through optical signal, and output an output optical signal to a second circulator, and at least one OCM configured to monitor the input optical signal and the output optical signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for identifying and monitoring connections in an optical system. A plurality of optical ports is configured to receive a plurality of optical links that couple with one or more remote optical devices. At least one light source generates identification (ID) signals. At least one optical element configured to direct the ID signals into transmission paths from the source optical device to the remote optical device/s over the plurality of optical links. The remote optical device/s include one or more optical elements that direct the ID signals through a set of WDM filters and returns the ID signals. At least one optical element directs returned ID signals to an optical channel monitor. At least one microprocessor configured to execute control instructions to generate the ID signals and process one or more outputs of the optical channel monitor in response to the returned ID signals to identify the plurality of optical links.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for identifying and monitoring connections in an optical system. A plurality of optical ports is configured to receive a plurality of optical links that couple with one or more remote optical devices. At least one light source generates identification (ID) signals. At least one optical element configured to direct the ID signals into transmission paths from the source optical device to the remote optical device/s over the plurality of optical links. The remote optical device/s include one or more optical elements that direct the ID signals through a set of WDM filters and returns the ID signals. At least one optical element directs returned ID signals to an optical channel monitor. At least one microprocessor configured to execute control instructions to generate the ID signals and process one or more outputs of the optical channel monitor in response to the returned ID signals to identify the plurality of optical links.

Abstract: An optical circuit switch device and method for using the device are provided. The device may include a fiber array including a set of optical fibers configured for transmitting optical signals. The device may include a collimator array coupled to the fiber array configured for aligning the optical signals received from the fiber array. The device may include a first mirror array for receiving the optical signals from the collimator array. The device may include a second mirror array for receiving the optical signals from the first mirror array. The device may include a lens located at the fiber array, the lens having a focal point at the second mirror array.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for identifying and monitoring connections in an optical system. A plurality of optical ports is configured to receive a plurality of optical links that couple with one or more remote optical devices. At least one light source generates identification (ID) signals. At least one optical element configured to direct the ID signals into transmission paths from the source optical device to the remote optical device/s over the plurality of optical links. The remote optical device/s include one or more optical elements that direct the ID signals through a set of WDM filters and returns the ID signals. At least one optical element directs returned ID signals to an optical channel monitor. At least one microprocessor configured to execute control instructions to generate the ID signals and process one or more outputs of the optical channel monitor in response to the returned ID signals to identify the plurality of optical links.

Abstract: An amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light source and a method for using the ASE light source are provided. The ASE light source may include a seed stage light source for providing a light beam to be amplified. The apparatus may include a tunable element coupled to the seed stage light source configured for filtering a portion of the light beam from the seed stage light source. The apparatus may include a loopback circuit coupled to the tunable element, the loopback circuit comprising a booster stage element for amplifying light from the tunable element.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission system and method for using the system are provided. The system may include a span of transmission fiber for transmitting light signals through the optical fiber transmission system. The system may include a dispersion compensating module coupled to the span of transmission fiber. The system may include a switchable module including a set of selectable light signal paths, the set of selectable light signal paths including at least one path through a dispersion compensating element. The system may include a processor coupled to the switchable module for selectively monitoring the set of selectable light signal paths, where the processor is further configured to derive a metric based on the set of selectable light signal paths for controlling the dispersion compensating module.

Abstract: An amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light source and a method for using the ASE light source are provided. The ASE light source may include a seed stage light source for providing a light beam to be amplified. The apparatus may include a tunable element coupled to the seed stage light source configured for filtering a portion of the light beam from the seed stage light source. The apparatus may include a loopback circuit coupled to the tunable element, the loopback circuit comprising a booster stage element for amplifying light from the tunable element.

Abstract: An optical signal transmission apparatus and a method are provided. The apparatus may include a set of optical transmitters, each optical transmitter configured for transmission of light signals at one or more wavelengths of light. The apparatus may include an output port configured for transmission of the light signals through a span of optical fiber. The apparatus may use an input port configured to receive other transmissions of light signals through the span of optical fiber. The apparatus may include a set of light detectors, each light detector configured to detect a time delay or phase characteristic associated with the one or more wavelengths of light. The apparatus may include a processor configured to determine a metric based on the detected time delay or phase characteristic.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission system and method for using the system are provided. The system may include a span of transmission fiber for transmitting light signals through the optical fiber transmission system. The system may include a dispersion compensating module coupled to the span of transmission fiber. The system may include a switchable module including a set of selectable light signal paths, the set of selectable light signal paths including at least one path through a dispersion compensating element. The system may include a processor coupled to the switchable module for selectively monitoring the set of selectable light signal paths, where the processor is further configured to derive a metric based on the set of selectable light signal paths for controlling the dispersion compensating module.

Abstract: An optical circuit switch device and method for using the device are provided. The device may include a fiber array including a set of optical fibers configured for transmitting optical signals. The device may include a collimator array coupled to the fiber array configured for aligning the optical signals received from the fiber array. The device may include a first mirror array for receiving the optical signals from the collimator array. The device may include a second mirror array for receiving the optical signals from the first mirror array. The device may include a lens located at the fiber array, the lens having a focal point at the second mirror array.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optical communications. In one aspect, an optical amplifier includes an input port, a wavelength division multiplexing fiber coupled to a pump source and to a bar-cross switch, a first gain stage optically coupled between a first port of the bar-cross switch and to an output port, the first gain stage including a first gain flattening filter, and a secondary gain stage optically coupled between a second port and a third port of the bar-cross switch, the secondary gain stage including a second gain flattening filter. When in a bar-state of the bar-cross switch, the secondary gain stage is bypassed. And when in a cross-state of the bar-cross switch, the secondary gain stage and the first gain stage are applied to an input light beam.

Abstract: A dynamic gain equalizer (DGE) for an optical communication device and related method which are capable of reducing power variations among wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signals. The DGE and method use an optical attenuation device configured such that the ratio of pixel gap distance to the channel beam diameter at the point of incident to the optical attenuation device is less than or equal to 0.06. The DGE can produce output signal sets that have ripple increases of less than 0.1 db over the input signal sets.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a plurality of optical ports, a polarization conditioning system, a dispersion system, and a switching system. The switching system includes at least one transmissive stage and a reflective polarization modulator. Each transmissive stage has a transmissional polarization modulator and a symmetrical beam polarization separator. The transmissional polarization modulator includes transmissive first cells each being configured to change a polarization orientation of an optical beam passing through the cell. The symmetrical beam polarization separator is configured to redirect the optical beam passing therethrough based upon its polarization. The reflective polarization modulator includes a birefringence section and a reflective section.

Abstract: An optical communication device and related method are provided for reducing power variations among wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signals. The device includes a dynamic gain equalizer (DGE) coupled to an optical communication path carrying WDM optical signals. The DGE is controlled in response to signals generated by an optical channel monitor (OCM). The OCM monitors signals coming into the DGE and monitors the signals leaving the DGE to thus monitor the WDM spectrum for optical signal power variations and adjust the DGE to reduce the signal power variations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of ingress ports, a wavelength blocker array, a plurality of egress ports, a plurality of degree drop ports, a plurality of degree add ports, and a wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array. The wavelength blocker array has plurality of wavelength blocking units, each wavelength blocking unit is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of ingress ports. The wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array includes a plurality of 2×2 independently switched 2×2 wavelength selective cross-connect switches, where the WSX array is coupled to the wavelength blocker array, the plurality of egress ports, the plurality of degree drop ports, and the plurality of degree add ports.

Abstract: An apparatus includes N 1×2 ingress tap couplers, a wavelength blocker array, N 2×1 egress tap couplers, and a wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array. A tapped branch of each ingress tap coupler is coupled to a degree drop and where N>1. The wavelength blocker array has N wavelength blocking units, each wavelength blocking unit coupled to a corresponding one of the N 1×2 ingress tap couplers. A tapped branch of each egress tap coupler is coupled to a degree add. The wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array is coupled between the wavelength blocker array and the N 2×1 egress tap couplers, where the WSX array includes a plurality of independently switched 2×2 WSX switches.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical wavelength selective switching. One 2×2 wavelength selective switch array includes a plurality of optical input ports configured to receive one or more optical input beams, and a plurality of optical output ports configured to receive one or more one or more optical output beams wherein the plurality of optical input ports and optical output ports form an array of 2×2 optical port pairs; one or more optical conditioning and wavelength dispersion elements; a polarization modulator array having a plurality of polarizing modulation cells, each cell configured to independently change a polarization orientation of an optical beam passing through the cell and associated with a particular wavelength channel; and a polarization-selective beam-routing optical element configured to route each particular input beam to either a first output port or a second output port according to polarization orientation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optical communications. In one aspect, an optical circulator array includes a plurality of stacked three port circulators each having a respective first port of a first port array, a respective second port of a second port array, and a respective third port of a third port array. Each of the plurality of staked three port circulators share optical components including a first micro lens array optically coupled to the first port array and the third port array, a first walk off crystal, a first half wave plate, a first faraday rotator, a first birefringence wedge pair, a second birefringence wedge pair, a second Faraday rotator, a second half wave plate, a second birefringence walk off crystal, and a second micro lens array optically coupled to the second port array.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optical communications. In one aspect, an optical amplifier includes an input port, a wavelength division multiplexing fiber coupled to a pump source and to a bar-cross switch, a first gain stage optically coupled between a first port of the bar-cross switch and to an output port, the first gain stage including a first gain flattening filter, and a secondary gain stage optically coupled between a second port and a third port of the bar-cross switch, the secondary gain stage including a second gain flattening filter. When in a bar-state of the bar-cross switch, the secondary gain stage is bypassed. And when in a cross-state of the bar-cross switch, the secondary gain stage and the first gain stage are applied to an input light beam.