Abstract: The present invention is a solar concentrator system incorporating a square primary mirror, a square secondary mirror, and an optical receiver. The square secondary mirror provides highly efficient throughput of light in combination with the square primary mirror, with minimal shading. Manufacturing features may be incorporated into the square secondary mirror to assist in simplifying fabrication issues and assembly steps related to its non-circular shape. An optional heat shield around the optical receiver may be included, further enhancing performance of the solar concentrator system.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes an optical waveguide; and an optical transmitter coupled to the optical waveguide. The transmitter includes a optical relay to condition a launch of an optical beam into the optical waveguide to minimize a number of optical modes launched into the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A laser apparatus in a hermetically sealed container and methods for hermetically sealing the laser. The laser apparatus comprising an external cavity laser and a modulator in a single hermetically sealed enclosure.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a thermally controlled optical filter comprises a frame coupled to an etalon where the frame includes a resistive thermal device disposed on the frame to obtain thermal measurements of the etalon during operation. The frame may be generally L-shaped or generally square-shaped. The frame may include a fillet that is generally planar, generally beveled or trapezoidal, or generally circular in shape. A heater may be additionally disposed on the frame. The etalon and frame subassembly may be bonded to a micro hot plate that is capable of heating the etalon to an operational temperature.

Abstract: Thermally tunable optical dispersion compensation (ODC) devices are disclosed. In one aspect, an ODC device may include multiple Gires-Tournois (G-T) etalons. The etalons may be optically coupled together. The etalons may compensate for optical dispersion by collectively delaying light. At least one of the G-T etalons may have a temperature dependent partial reflector. The ODC device may also include at least one thermal device to change the temperature of the G-T etalon having the temperature dependent partial reflector. Methods of making and using the ODC devices are also disclosed, as well as various systems including the ODC devices.

Abstract: Thermally tunable optical dispersion compensation (ODC) devices are disclosed. In one aspect, an ODC device may include multiple Gires-Tournois (G-T) etalons. The etalons may be optically coupled together. The etalons may compensate for optical dispersion by collectively delaying light. At least one of the G-T etalons may have a temperature dependent partial reflector. The ODC device may also include at least one thermal device to change the temperature of the G-T etalon having the temperature dependent partial reflector. Methods of making and using the ODC devices are also disclosed, as well as various systems including the ODC devices.

Abstract: A quasi-monochromatic light beam carrier for a particular telecommunication channel is likely to experience drift because of age, temperature, or other factors, and may cause the centroid wavelength of the carrier to shift. Temperature adjustments by wavelength lockers to compensate for drift on one channel may affect the performance of other channels. Embodiments of the present invention couple a quasi-monochromatic light beam through a substrate-based grating, diffract the light beam from the edge of the substrate to free space, and detect the light beam from free space at a position detector to determine the centroid wavelength based on a position of the light beam incident on the detector. The diffracted light beam may be reflected within the substrate a number of times prior to exiting the substrate towards the detector.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes an optical waveguide; and an optical transmitter coupled to the optical waveguide. The transmitter includes a optical relay to condition a launch of an optical beam into the optical waveguide to minimize a number of optical modes launched into the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Thermally tunable optical dispersion compensation (ODC) devices are disclosed. In one aspect, an ODC device may include multiple Gires-Toumois (G-T) etalons. The etalons may be optically coupled together. The etalons may compensate for optical dispersion by collectively delaying light. At least one of the G-T etalons may have a temperature dependent partial reflector. The ODC device may also include at least one thermal device to change the temperature of the G-T etalon having the temperature dependent partial reflector. Methods of making and using the ODC devices are also disclosed, as well as various systems including the ODC devices.

Abstract: A quasi-monochromatic light beam carrier for a particular telecommunication channel is likely to experience drift because of age, temperature, or other factors, and may cause the centroid wavelength of the carrier to shift. Temperature adjustments by wavelength lockers to compensate for drift on one channel may affect the performance of other channels. Embodiments of the present invention couple a quasi-monochromatic light beam through a substrate-based grating, diffract the light beam from the edge of the substrate to free space, and detect the light beam from free space at a position detector to determine the centroid wavelength based on a position of the light beam incident on the detector. The diffracted light beam may be reflected within the substrate a number of times prior to exiting the substrate towards the detector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a foldable wheelbarrow and a foldable hand cart. Both comprise a wheel mounting assembly, a leg assembly rotatably connected to the wheel mounting assembly, one or more wheels rotatably connected to the wheel mounting assembly, a collapsible container connected to the wheel mounting and leg assemblies, and at least one support member rotatably connected to both the wheel mounting and leg assemblies and serving to maintain the wheelbarrow in an erected position. The handle members have a pair of handles and a kicker, the kicker has a pair of interconnected longitudinally-extending portions that are each rotatably connected to an associated rear handle segment thereby enabling the handle members to rotate between erected and folded position.

Abstract: A wavelength reference filter for receiving an input signal and producing a filtered output signal is provided. The operation of the filter is independent of the angle of incidence of the input signal. As a result, the output signal from the filter will maintain its wavelength, even under changes in the direction of propagation of the input signal to the filter. Without such incidence angle independence, a change to the input signal would change the output signal and result in inaccurate device operation. Example incidence angle independent filters may include a single etalon or multiple etalons. In the former example, a signal may traverse a single etalon twice, along paths that have different angular sensitivities relative to the etalon. In the latter example, each etalon may have an equal and opposite angular sensitivity, such that two the etalons have canceling angular sensitivities.

Abstract: A low-power system for use with Wireless Display Tags (WDTs) includes, in one or more exemplary arrangements, various power management techniques, including receiver wake-up, RF logic sharing, RF repeaters and a frequency doubling power amplifier which operates on the absolute value of the input signal.

Abstract: An improved external cavity laser apparatus is disclosed whereby instead of a collimated beam being aligned with a flat mirror, the collimated beam is directed at a retro-reflecting lens. The front of the lens includes a focusing lens function and a rear of the lens is coated with reflective material. The collimated beam is then focused at the rear of the lens where it is reflected back towards the tuning elements, collimating lens and gain medium of the external cavity laser. Alignment tolerances for the retro-reflecting lens are greatly relaxed as compared to a flat mirror device. As a result, manufacturing external cavity lasers is facilitated, tooling costs are reduced and throughput is increased and reliability of the resulting device is increased as misalignment during the useful life of the resulting device is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An integrated structure includes front and rear facets optically coupled by a waveguide passing through the integrated structure. The integrated structure includes a gain section and a reflector optically coupled to the gain section by the waveguide, the reflector to emit an optical output. A modulator is optically coupled to the reflector by the waveguide, the modulator to modulate the optical output. And a control section disposed along the waveguide.

Abstract: Thermo-optic tuning apparatuses and techniques that may be used in external cavity lasers are provided. A wavelength selection device may be placed in the external cavity and may include a thermally responsive substrate and tunable optical elements extending therefrom. Heating and heat monitoring actuators may be formed in the substrate itself, with the tunable optical elements being mechanically positioned in the recesses of the substrate for thermo-optic tuning. In some examples, a separate optical path length adjustment element is also placed in the thermally responsive substrate, or elsewhere, for separate frequency tuning. This adjustment element may be part of a control that is detangled from the normal servo controls used in laser tuning.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods usable for wavelength references and measurement of wavelength of a light beam. The apparatus comprise at least two wavelength reference or filter elements positioned in a light beam, each wavelength reference element having a different free spectral range and operable to define a joint free spectral range, and a detector positioned in the beam after the wavelength reference elements. The joint free spectral range provided by the multiple wavelength reference elements results in a joint transmission peak that is centered at a unique wavelength, and maximum optical power detectable from the beam by the detector occurs at the center wavelength of the joint transmission peak.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a wavelength-selective device is doped with n-type or p-type material to make the single-crystal silicon in the active region of the device electrically conductive. An electrically conductive and thermally conductive active region allows an external heater such as a platinum heater strip to be eliminated and current to be applied directly to the single-crystal silicon to thermally tune the laser.

Abstract: Integrated structures including a waveguide that passes through each of the sections, with the waveguide further including an in-waveguide mirror, a beam splitter or an anti-reflective element. The in-waveguide mirror, beam splitter or anti-reflective element are formed by using one or more focused ion beam (FIB) cuts or slits through the waveguide. The cuts or slits used for the mirrors, beam splitters and anti-reflective elements all have high aspect ratios. The mirrors include one slit extending through the core, perpendicular to an axis of the core; the beam splitters include a single slit extending through the core at an angle with respect to an axis of the core; and the anti-reflective elements include a pair of spaced apart slits extending through the core, perpendicular to an axis of the core.

Abstract: Semi-integrated external cavity diode laser (ECDL) designs including integrated structures comprising a gain section, modulator section, and optional phase control section. Each integrated structure includes a waveguide that passes through each of the sections, with the waveguide further including an in-waveguide mirror. The in-waveguide mirror defines one end of an “effective” laser cavity, with the other end defined by a reflective element disposed generally opposite a rear facet of the integrated structure, forming an external cavity therebetween. The in-waveguide mirror is formed by using a focused ion beam (FIB) cut through the waveguide, or by etching one or more trenches through the waveguide and backfilling the trenches using a re-grown crystal or amorphous material deposition process. A tunable filter is disposed in the external cavity to effectuate tuning of the laser.