Abstract: A laser module can include one or more lasers, an optical I/O interface, an optical receive interface, an optical transmit interface, a first optical device, and a second optical device. The first optical device is disposed between the optical I/O interface and the optical transmit interface, and the second optical device is disposed between the optical I/O interface and the optical receive interface.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including an optical waveguide is described. The optical waveguide includes cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI) filters. The cascaded MZI filters are used for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing. The cascaded MZI filters achieve a desired level of center waveguide accuracy. The center waveguide accuracy may be achieved by any one or more of the following: trimming the MZI filters to a target thickness, interleaving phase sections of the cascaded MZI filters, nonlinear tapers, compact directional couplers, dummification, and/or phase sections with widths selected for phase compensation.

Abstract: A device (e.g., a laser device, a remote laser module, or the like) may comprise a case configured to secure a laser source, an electro-optical connector to connect with an electro-optical (EO) port. The EO connector may comprise an optical connector configured to connect with an optical port of the EO port, where the optical connector provides light from the laser source to the optical port. The EO connector may further comprise an electrical connector configured to connect with an electrical port of the EO port. The laser source may receive at least one of power through the electrical connector or facilitate establishing a communication channel through the electrical connector. The optical connector and the electrical connector may be located on a first side of the case.

Abstract: A coupled optic system configured for collimation of light. The coupled optic system includes an optic system. The optic system includes a shelf. The shelf includes one or more optic alignment surfaces. The optic system includes one or more interface lenses coupled to the shelf. The coupled optic system includes an optical connector. The optical connector includes one or more connector lenses. The optical connector includes one or more connector alignment surfaces.

Abstract: A single chamber system or apparatus configured to measure a volume of a person, animal, and/or object, and methods of manufacturing and using the same, are disclosed. The system/apparatus includes a chamber having a door thereon or affixed thereto, and a fixed volume therein when the door is closed; an oscillating membrane or diaphragm in a wall of the chamber; a pressure sensor and/or a pressure transducer configured to measure pressure fluctuations in the chamber; and an oscillation amplitude detector coupled to the oscillating membrane or diaphragm. The chamber generally has a volume sufficient to enclose the person, animal, or object therein. The volume of the chamber generally does not vary with relatively small pressure changes or fluctuations.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing volume measurement of a person, animal or object, and methods of making and using the same are described. The apparatus includes first and second chambers in gaseous communication, first and second pressure sensors that measure the air pressure inside the first and second chambers, a pump configured to move air from or to the first and/or second chambers, and a control system connected to the first and second pressure sensors and the pump. The first and second chambers have a volume that is substantially constant when the internal pressure changes. The control system stores values from the first and second pressure sensors, controls air movement to and/or from the first and second chambers, blocks air transfer between the first and second chambers, and determines the volume of the person, animal or object from pressure measurements before and after an air transfer between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The multiplexer generally includes a beam splitter and a polarization beam splitter. The beam splitter is generally configured to combine first and second polarized optical signals by reflecting a first polarized optical signal towards a first target and allowing a second polarized optical signal to pass through towards the first target. The polarization beam splitter is generally configured to combine the first and second polarized optical signals with a third polarized optical signal by either (i) reflecting the third polarized optical signal towards a second target and allowing the first and second polarized optical signals to pass through towards the second target, or (ii) reflecting the first and second polarized optical signals towards the second target and allowing the third polarized optical signal to pass through towards the second target.

Abstract: Methods, circuits, architectures, apparatuses, and algorithms for determining a DC level in an AC or AC-coupled signal. The method generally includes disabling the AC or AC-coupled signal; sampling the disabled AC or AC-coupled signal to obtain sampled DC values of the AC or AC-coupled signal; and calculating the DC level using the sampled DC values of the AC or AC-coupled signal. The present transmitter generally includes an electro-absorption modulated laser (EML); a photodetector; a signal source configured to provide an AC or AC-coupled signal to the EML; and a microcontroller or microprocessor configured to (i) control the signal source, (ii) receive information from the photodetector, and (iii) deactivate the signal source for a predetermined length of time. The circuits, architectures, and apparatuses generally include those that embody one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The multiplexer generally includes a beam splitter and a polarization beam splitter. The beam splitter is generally configured to combine first and second polarized optical signals by reflecting a first polarized optical signal towards a first target and allowing a second polarized optical signal to pass through towards the first target. The polarization beam splitter is generally configured to combine the first and second polarized optical signals with a third polarized optical signal by either (i) reflecting the third polarized optical signal towards a second target and allowing the first and second polarized optical signals to pass through towards the second target, or (ii) reflecting the first and second polarized optical signals towards the second target and allowing the third polarized optical signal to pass through towards the second target.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical transmitter generally includes a first light source configured to emit light of a first wavelength, a second light source configured to emit light of a second wavelength, a first modulator configured to modulate the light of the first wavelength, and a second modulator configured to modulate the light of the second wavelength. The first modulator has a first anode and a first cathode, and the second modulator has a second anode and a second cathode electrically isolated from the first anode and the first cathode. The modulators (and optionally the light sources) are on a common substrate. A method of transmitting optical signals generally includes modulating light emitted from a first light source using a first modulator, and modulating light emitted from a second light source using a second modulator, where the first modulator receives a first modulation signal, and the second modulator receives a second modulation signal electrically isolated from the first modulation signal.

Abstract: A modulated laser system generally includes a light emission region, a modulation region having a plurality of semiconductive layers, at least one of which includes a quantum well layer having a variable energy bandgap, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region. The laser may be an electro-absorption modulated laser, the light emission region may include a distributed feedback laser, and the modulation region may include an electro-absorption modulator. The laser may be manufactured by forming a lower semiconductive buffer layer on a substrate, an active layer including one or more quantum well layers having the variable energy bandgap on or above the lower semiconductive buffer layer, an upper semiconductive buffer layer on or above the active layer, a contact layer on or above the upper semiconductive buffer layer, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region.

Abstract: A light-emitting device, multi-channel light-emitting device, and method(s) of making the same are disclosed. The light-emitting device can include a substrate; a lower contact layer on or over the substrate comprising a first lower contact in a first region and a plurality of second lower contacts in a second region; a plurality of light-emitting thin film devices on or over the first lower contact in the first region; a plurality of light-modulating thin film devices on or over the plurality of second lower contacts in the second region; a plurality of first upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-emitting thin film devices; a plurality of second upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-modulating thin film devices; and an isolation region between the first and second regions, electrically separating the plurality of first upper contacts and the plurality of second upper contacts.

Abstract: Methods for receiving a signal and a detection circuit are disclosed. The detection circuit and related methods may be useful for the fast and accurate receiving of data signals. The detection circuit generally comprises a first circuit having a first time constant, a second circuit having (i) a common input with the first circuit and (ii) a second time constant, the second time constant being less than the first time constant, and a switch configured to (i) charge the first circuit with an input signal when the switch is in a first state, and (ii) charge or discharge the second circuit with the input signal when the switch is in a second state, the switch having the second state when the input signal is no longer received at the common input.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical transmitter generally includes a first light source configured to emit light of a first wavelength, a second light source configured to emit light of a second wavelength, a first modulator configured to modulate the light of the first wavelength, and a second modulator configured to modulate the light of the second wavelength. The first modulator has a first anode and a first cathode, and the second modulator has a second anode and a second cathode electrically isolated from the first anode and the first cathode. The modulators (and optionally the light sources) are on a common substrate. A method of transmitting optical signals generally includes modulating light emitted from a first light source using a first modulator, and modulating light emitted from a second light source using a second modulator, where the first modulator receives a first modulation signal, and the second modulator receives a second modulation signal electrically isolated from the first modulation signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing volume measurement of a person, animal or object, and methods of making and using the same are described. The apparatus includes first and second chambers in gaseous communication, first and second pressure sensors that measure the air pressure inside the first and second chambers, a pump configured to move air from or to the first and/or second chambers, and a control system connected to the first and second pressure sensors and the pump. The first and second chambers have a volume that is substantially constant when the internal pressure changes. The control system stores values from the first and second pressure sensors, controls air movement to and/or from the first and second chambers, blocks air transfer between the first and second chambers, and determines the volume of the person, animal or object from pressure measurements before and after an air transfer between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A modulated laser system generally includes a light emission region, a modulation region having a plurality of semiconductive layers, at least one of which includes a quantum well layer having a variable energy bandgap, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region. The laser may be an electro-absorption modulated laser, the light emission region may include a distributed feedback laser, and the modulation region may include an electro-absorption modulator. The laser may be manufactured by forming a lower semiconductive buffer layer on a substrate, an active layer including one or more quantum well layers having the variable energy bandgap on or above the lower semiconductive buffer layer, an upper semiconductive buffer layer on or above the active layer, a contact layer on or above the upper semiconductive buffer layer, and an isolation region separating the light emission region and the modulation region.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and/or indicating the presence of valid data and threshold setting and data detection circuitry are disclosed. The threshold setting and data detection circuitry and related methods may be useful for fast and accurate reception of optical signals. The detection circuit generally comprises (i) a first circuit configured to regulate or control a DC offset of a differential input signal, and (ii) a second circuit coupled to the first circuit, the second circuit configured to indicate the presence of a data signal at the differential input signal when a voltage difference between true and complementary nodes of the differential input signal is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A light-emitting device, multi-channel light-emitting device, and method(s) of making the same are disclosed. The light-emitting device can include a substrate; a lower contact layer on or over the substrate comprising a first lower contact in a first region and a plurality of second lower contacts in a second region; a plurality of light-emitting thin film devices on or over the first lower contact in the first region; a plurality of light-modulating thin film devices on or over the plurality of second lower contacts in the second region; a plurality of first upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-emitting thin film devices; a plurality of second upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-modulating thin film devices; and an isolation region between the first and second regions, electrically separating the plurality of first upper contacts and the plurality of second upper contacts.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer includes an optical block having a plurality of protrusions positioned at a first side, wherein at least one of the protrusions has a first inclined plane configured to reflect a light propagating in the optical block to a second inclined plane of the protrusion. Another wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer includes an optical block having a first side, a plurality of depressions indented from the first side, wherein at least one of the depressions has a first inclined plane configured to reflect a light to a second side and a second inclined plane configured to reflect the light from the second side.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical fiber free space isolator. The optical fiber free space isolator can be used with various laser devices, and includes a magnetic support and an optical subassembly. The magnetic support is mounted at the output port of a laser device, and the optical subassembly is fixed to the magnetic support. The optical subassembly may be housed in a U-shaped slot formed in the magnetic support. The present invention further includes an assembly method for the optical fiber free space isolator.