Abstract: A tunable filter structure, and an optical method and device utilizing the same are presented for processing a multi-frequency light signal to separate therefrom a desired frequency range. The filter structure has an input for receiving the multi-frequency input light signal, a first output for outputting a first light component of the input light signal including light of said predetermined frequency range, a second output for outputting a second light component including a remaining portion of the input light signal, and an intermediate input. The first output and the intermediate input of the filter structure may be connected to, respectively, input and output of a tunable frequency-selective optical unit, which may be a second filter structure, amplifier, attenuator. By using the second filter structure with a different tuning range as compared to that of the first filter structure such that these tuning ranges define overlapping spectra of the filter structures, a two-stage filter device is provided.

Abstract: A resonator structure is presented comprising a closed loop resonator waveguide having a width varying over the circumferential region of the resonator waveguide. The resonator structure can be used in various applications, such as optical filters, lasers, modulators, spectrum analyzers, wavelockers, interleave filters, and optical add drop multiplexers.

Abstract: An optical monitor device and method are presented aimed at providing low-loss monitoring of an optical signal confined in an optical guiding structure. An optical resonator structure is placed spatially adjacent to the guiding structure and is optically coupled to the guiding structure, and an optical detector is optically coupled to the resonator structure. The coupling between these elements is such that the coupling of light from the guiding structure to the optical resonator is smaller then the coupling of light from the resonator to the optical detector.

Abstract: Method and device are presented for controlling continuous propagation of input multi-frequency light through a tunable frequency selective optical filter so as to selectively direct a selected frequency band of the input light to a dropping/adding output channel of the device. Selective frequency coupling is applied to the input light to split it into first and second light components propagating through first and second spatially separating optical paths, respectively, such that the first light component comprises at least a portion of power of the selected frequency band of the input light, and the second light component comprises the remaining portion of the input light. A phase delay between the first and second optical paths is selectively created by adjusting the phase of the first light component.

Abstract: An optical device for use in data communication technique is presented. The device comprises a combination of two spaced-apart waveguides and at least two spaced-apart resonator-cavity loops. The resonator-cavity loops are accommodated between the two waveguides and connected to each other through sections of the waveguides in such a manner that the resonator-cavity loops and the waveguide sections create a closed loop compound resonator for storing optical energy of a predetermined frequency range. A control means is used for controlling physical characteristics of the compound resonator to adjust its optical storage characteristics.

Abstract: A tunable semiconductor laser device is presented. The device comprises a laser structure formed by at least two waveguides and an active region located within at least a segment of one of the waveguides; and comprises a tunable spectral filter optically coupled to the laser structure. The tunable spectral filter includes at least two filtering elements, at least one of them being a microring cavity.

Abstract: Method and device are presented for controlling continuous propagation of input multi-frequency light through a tunable frequency selective optical filter so as to selectively direct a selected frequency band of the input light to a dropping/adding output channel of the device. Selective frequency coupling is applied to the input light to split it into first and second light components propagating through first and second spatially separating optical paths, respectively, such that the first light component comprises at least a portion of power of the selected frequency band of the input light, and the second light component comprises the remaining portion of the input light. A phase delay between the first and second optical paths is selectively created by adjusting the phase of the first light component.

Abstract: An optical device and method are presented for use in monitoring at least one optical channel of an input multi-channel light signal.

Abstract: A method is presented for controlling continuous propagation of input light through an optical device having an optical functional element of a controllably adjustable operation to affect light passing therethrough. The input light energy is distributed in a predetermined manner between first and second spatially separated paths, wherein the optical functional element is accommodated in the first path. The first and second paths are recombined downstream of the optical functional element with respect to a direction of light propagation through the device, to produce a light output of the optical device. This allows for directing substailly the entire energy of the input light through the second path, during adjustment of the operation of the functional optical element, and redirecting at least a predetermined portion of the input light to the first path to pass through the functional element, upon completion of the adjustment.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated optical device and such a device, comprising a structure including at least one waveguiding element are presented. A basic structure is formed containing a substrate material carrying a buffer material layer coated with a core material layer of a higher refraction index as compared to that of the buffer layer. The at least one waveguiding element is defined in a guiding layer on top of the basic structure. The guiding layer is made of a material with a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the buffer layer and the core layer, and is chosen so as to minimize a height of the at least one waveguiding element and to provide effective guiding of light in the core layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated optical device and such a device, comprising a structure including at least one waveguiding element are presented. A basic structure is formed containing a substrate material carrying a buffer material layer coated with a core material layer of a higher refraction index as compared to that of the buffer layer. The at least one waveguiding element is defined in a guiding layer on top of the basic structure. The guiding layer is made of a material with a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the buffer layer and the core layer, and is chosen so as to minimize a height of the at least one waveguiding element and to provide effective guiding of light in the core layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated optical device and such a device, comprising a structure including at least one waveguiding element are presented. A basic structure is formed containing a substrate material carrying a buffer material layer coated with a core material layer of a higher refraction index as compared to that of the buffer layer. The at least one waveguiding element is defined in a guiding layer on top of the basic structure. The guiding layer is made of a material with a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the buffer layer and the core layer, and is chosen so as to minimize a height of the at least one waveguiding element and to provide effective guiding of light in the core layer.

Abstract: A multisegment laser diode structure is presented in the form of two spaced-apart linear waveguide segments and two spaced-apart ring-like waveguide segments, arranged such that each of the ring-like segments is optically coupled to each of the linear waveguide segments. At least one of the waveguide segments includes an active lasing material. The waveguide segments are thus arranged such that four separate electrical contacts can be provided to four waveguide segments, respectively, thereby enabling separate driving of each of the waveguide segments.