Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for providing a dual-facet distributed feedback (DFB) laser in a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) structure. An example system includes an MZM structure that includes a DFB laser, a first waveguide interferometer arm structure, and a second waveguide interferometer arm structure. The DFB laser is configured to generate an optical input signal where the DFB laser includes a first output facet and a second output facet. The first waveguide interferometer arm structure is coupled to the first output facet of the DFB laser, and the first output facet of the DFB laser emits the optical input signal to the first waveguide interferometer arm structure. The second waveguide interferometer arm structure is coupled to the second output facet of the DFB laser, and the second output facet of the DFB laser emits the optical input signal to the second waveguide interferometer arm structure.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a support structure and one or more first optical components on the support structure that communicatively couple with a first endpoint. The one or more first optical components are configured to output and receive optical signals that travel over a free space medium to establish a secure link between the first endpoint and a second endpoint.

Abstract: An active, transparency-controlled window comprises at least one layer of a material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light; at least one layer of photochromic material having a transparency, to the at least selected wavelengths of light, that can be controllably altered by an activating light; and a controllable source of light that activates the photochromic material to controllably alter the transparency of the photochromic material to the at least selected wavelengths of light. The material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light may be a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.

Abstract: An active, transparency-controlled window comprises at least one layer of a material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light; at least one layer of photochromic material having a transparency, to the at least selected wavelengths of light, that can be controllably altered by an activating light; and a controllable source of light that activates the photochromic material to controllably alter the transparency of the photochromic material to the at least selected wavelengths of light. The material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light may be a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical power-limiting devices, and more particularly, to an optical power-limiting passive (self-adaptive) device and to a method for limiting solar power transmission in devices such as windows, using scattering level changes in a novel thermotropic composition that contains salt nano or microparticles embedded in a solid transparent host layer, where temperature change induces change in the refraction index of the matrix as well as of the embedded particles, creating a scattering layer, substantially reflecting the incident light thus limiting the amount of light passing through the window, green house covers, car sun roofs, solar panel windows and protection layers on housing roofs and walls, as a function of ambient temperature.

Abstract: An active, transparency-controlled window comprises at least one layer of a material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light; at least one layer of photochromic material having a transparency, to the at least selected wavelengths of light, that can be controllably altered by an activating light; and a controllable source of light that activates the photochromic material to controllably alter the transparency of the photochromic material to the at least selected wavelengths of light. The material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light may be a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical power-limiting devices, and more particularly, to an optical power-limiting passive (self-adaptive) device and to a method for limiting solar power transmission in devices such as windows, using scattering level changes in a novel thermotropic composition that contains salt nano or microparticles embedded in a solid transparent host layer, where temperature change induces change in the refraction index of the matrix as well as of the embedded particles, creating a scattering layer, substantially reflecting the incident light thus limiting the amount of light passing through the window, green house covers, car sun roofs, solar panel windows and protection layers on housing roofs and walls, as a function of ambient temperature.

Abstract: An energy efficient optical window has different optical properties when irradiated by solar light from front or back side of the window. The window is used to reflect most of the infrared light at summer times, leaving the interior cooler and to absorb most of the infrared light at winter times, making the interior hotter by heat transfer from the hot window pane. Mechanical reversal of the window, inside out, is used to apply the needed version for winter and summer. The window is coated with alternating thin metallic and dielectric layers that transmit most of the visible light while reflecting most of the infrared part of the spectrum when impinged by solar light on one side and transmit most of the visible light while absorbing most of the infrared part of the spectrum when impinged by solar light on the other side.

Abstract: A system for facilitating a consumer's selection of customized color-changing lenses for eyewear, or windows, captures a digital color image of at least the face of the consumer and displays that color image to the consumer on a video display while superimposing a pair of lenses over the eyes. The display simulates the color of the superimposed lenses when made of a selected photochromic or thermochromic material. The color of the superimposed lenses is changeable, in response to consumer-controlled inputs, over a range between (a) an initial color for the lenses when subjected to at least one of (i) a first predetermined temperature and (ii) a first predetermined light condition, and (b) a final color for said lenses when subjected to at least one of (i) a second predetermined temperature higher than said first predetermined temperature and (ii) a second predetermined light condition brighter than said first predetermined light condition.

Abstract: A method for directing a laser pulsed beam towards a selected area/surface of an object, comprising transmitting from a laser assembly that includes an optical transmitter module a pulsed laser beam having a first pulse duration and illuminating therewith an area/surface of the object, thereby obtaining a reflected pulsed laser beam, the reflected pulsed laser beam including a leading portion reflected from a first reflecting area/surface of the object which is the area of the object that defines the shortest optical path between the optical transmitter module, the object and an optical receiver module; receiving, in a second laser assembly that includes the optical receiver module, the reflected pulsed laser beam and converting it into an amplified phase conjugated pulsed beam of a second pulse duration, and transmitting from the second laser assembly the amplified phase conjugated pulsed beam and illuminating therewith on selected area/surface of the object.

Abstract: An active, transparency-controlled window comprises at least one layer of a material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light; at least one layer of photochromic material having a transparency, to the at least selected wavelengths of light, that can be controllably altered by an activating light; and a controllable source of light that activates the photochromic material to controllably alter the transparency of the photochromic material to the at least selected wavelengths of light. The material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light may be a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.

Abstract: An optical power-limiting passive (self-adaptive) device and method for limiting optical power transmission in lenses and windows, using layers of different photochromic compositions that exploit the full solar ultraviolet (UV) and short visible light spectrum. While a typical single photochromic material is activated by a UV band of wavelengths, e.g. 340 to 380 nm, adding a layer of photochromic material that is activated by an additional band of wavelengths, e.g., 380 to 420 nm, allows the efficient use of a wider band of solar UV and short visible light, e.g., 340 to 420 nm, thus enhancing the photochromic response to solar light.

Abstract: An optical window-filter includes a thermochromic material and a light absorbing material that can be bonded chemically. Absorption of light by the light absorbing material generates heat that causes phase transformation of the thermochromic material. A filter for an infrared imaging system has detectors sensitive to radiation in an infrared transmission spectrum. The filter includes a thermochromic material and a light-absorbing material. Absorption of high-power radiation in the infrared transmission spectrum by the light-absorbing material generates heat that causes phase transformation of the thermochromic material to attenuate the high-power radiation while transmitting substantially unaffected low-power radiation in the infrared transmission spectrum.

Abstract: An optical limiter comprises a glass backing, a glass cover, and a layer of a phase changing material placed between said glass backing and said glass cover, the phase changing material comprising a transparent matrix having embedded particles of material that changes its optical properties due to temperature induced phase change of said material. The optical properties may change from transparent to reflective, from transparent to refractive or from transparent to scattering. The phase changing material is preferably at least one material selected from the group consisting of the elements Antimony, Bismuth, Cadmium, Lead, Tin and Indium and low-melting-point alloys of two or more of these elements. Two or more layers of phase changing materials may be used in a stack configuration, with each of the phase changing materials having a unique melting temperature.

Abstract: A method for directing a laser pulsed beam towards a selected area/surface of an object, comprising transmitting from a laser assembly that includes an optical transmitter module a pulsed laser beam having a first pulse duration and illuminating therewith an area/surface of the object, thereby obtaining a reflected pulsed laser beam, the reflected pulsed laser beam including a leading portion reflected from a first reflecting area/surface of the object which is the area of the object that defines the shortest optical path between the optical transmitter module, the object and an optical receiver module; receiving, in a second laser assembly that includes the optical receiver module, the reflected pulsed laser beam and converting it into an amplified phase conjugated pulsed beam of a second pulse duration, and transmitting from the second laser assembly the amplified phase conjugated pulsed beam and illuminating therewith on selected area/surface of the object.

Abstract: A dermatological laser apparatus for irradiating human tissue with optical pulses includes a laser source (2) producing an optical output, a pulse shaper (4) coupled to the laser source for converting the optical output into optical pulses having desired shapes, and an optical delivery tool (8) coupled to the pulse shaper for applying the optical pulses sequentially to a multiplicity of sites on the human tissue with consecutively irradiated sites being non-adjacent.

Abstract: A system for facilitating a consumer's selection of customized color-changing lenses for eyewear, or windows, captures a digital color image of at least the face of the consumer and displays that color image to the consumer on a video display while superimposing a pair of lenses over the eyes. The display simulates the color of the superimposed lenses when made of a selected photochromic or thermochromic material. The color of the superimposed lenses is changeable, in response to consumer-controlled inputs, over a range between (a) an initial color for the lenses when subjected to at least one of (i) a first predetermined temperature and (ii) a first predetermined light condition, and (b) a final color for said lenses when subjected to at least one of (i) a second predetermined temperature higher than said first predetermined temperature and (ii) a second predetermined light condition brighter than said first predetermined light condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical window-filter including a thermochromic material and a light absorbing material. An absorption of light by the light absorbing material generates heat that causes phase transformation of the thermochromic material. The present invention further relates to a filter for an infrared imaging system having detectors sensitive to radiation in an infrared transmission spectrum. The filter includes a thermochromic material and a light-absorbing material. An absorption of high-power radiation in the infrared transmission spectrum by the light-absorbing material generates heat that causes phase transformation of the thermochromic material to attenuate the high-power radiation while transmitting substantially unaffected low-power radiation in the infrared transmission spectrum.

Abstract: An optical power-limiting passive (self-adaptive) device and method for limiting optical power transmission in lenses and windows, using layers of different photochromic compositions that exploit the full solar ultraviolet (UV) and short visible light spectrum. While a typical single photochromic material is activated by a UV band of wavelengths, e.g. 340 to 380 nm, adding a layer of photochromic material that is activated by an additional band of wavelengths, e.g., 380 to 420 nm, allows the efficient use of a wider band of solar UV and short visible light, e.g., 340 to 420 nm, thus enhancing the photochromic response to solar light.

Abstract: An active, transparency-controlled window comprises at least one layer of a material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light; at least one layer of photochromic material having a transparency, to the at least selected wavelengths of light, that can be controllably altered by an activating light; and a controllable source of light that activates the photochromic material to controllably alter the transparency of the photochromic material to the at least selected wavelengths of light. The material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light may be a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.