Abstract: According to the present invention modular optical amplifier assembly, comprises at least one first module and at least one second module. The first and second modules are optically connected to one another. The first module is an Optical Power Supply module. The first module comprises an optical circuit including: (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) at least a one light source having a first wavelength known to cause amplification in rare earth doped optical fiber located between the optical ports; (iii) at least one bidirectional light combiner/separator optically coupled to the light source, and (iv) at least one position for a directional optical attenuator, located between the two optical ports. The second module is an amplification module. The second module comprises an optical circuit including (i) at least two optical ports, and (ii) at least one amplification medium.

Abstract: A device for removing heat from a fiber-optic package having at least one optical element includes a terminated fiber for diverting excess optical power away from the optical element and an energy dissipating element having a capability to absorb the optical power from the terminated fiber and a high thermal conductivity sufficient to distribute heat generated from absorption of the optical power.

Abstract: An optical device comprises an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals, optical pumps coupled to and providing optical pump power to least one amplifying stage of the optical amplifier, so as to produce gain in the said optical amplifier and, a tunable optical filter coupled to the optical amplifier. The optical filter changes the gain slope of the optical amplifier in response to a change in a single parameter of the optical filter. The optical amplifier also includes at least one controller adjusting said single parameter of the optical filter and controlling the optical pumps.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical amplifier comprises the steps of: (i) selecting a plurality of modules required in the optical amplifier; the plurality of modules being selected from at least types: Optical power supply module, Amplification module and at least one additional module; and (ii) assembling the modules into the optical amplifier.

Abstract: According to the present invention an optical processing module includes an optical circuit. This optical circuit includes: (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) at least one light filter situated between said two ports, and (iii) at least one position for at least one additional optical component, which when placed in said position, would be connected to said at least one light filter.

Abstract: An optical amplifier assembly comprises a Customer Interface module and a plurality of other amplifier modules. The Customer Interface module includes: (i) a customer interface configured to interact with other devices and (ii) optical and electrical connectors, connecting at least one of the other optical amplifier modules to the customer interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention an amplification module comprises a housing containing a plurality of optical ports. This housing: (i) at least partially encloses at least one amplification medium, (ii) provides at least one position for at least one optical filter, and (iii) includes a first optical port configured to provide both signal and pump light to the amplification module. According to an embodiment of the present invention the amplification module does not include a WDM for multiplexing pump light and signal light.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an optical monitoring and access module comprises an optical circuit including: (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) a first optical tap, (iii) at least one optical sensor optically coupled to said first optical tap; and (iv) at least one position for at least one additional optical component, which when placed in said position, would be connected to said first optical tap.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter coupled to the optical amplifier. The optical filter changes the gain slope of the optical amplifier in response to a change in a single parameter of the optical filter. The single parameter may be a change in a central wavelength of the optical filter function. The optical filter preferably has a parabolic spectral function. The single parameter may be varied as a function of temperature such that the variable optical attenuator compensates for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter coupled to the optical amplifier. The optical filter changes the gain slope of the optical amplifier in response to a change in a single parameter of the optical filter. The single parameter may be a change in a central wavelength of the optical filter function. The optical filter preferably has a parabolic spectral function. The single parameter may be varied as a function of temperature such that the variable optical attenuator compensates for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of modifying the spectral distribution of an optical signal includes the steps of splitting the signal among a plurality of optical paths, delaying the propagation of the signal through one or more of the optical paths by a time duration which results in the desired spectral distribution when the signals at the output ends of each optical path are recombined, and then recombining those outputs. An apparatus for changing the spectral profile of an optical signal includes an input waveguide and a plurality of tapped delay lines. Each of the tapped delay lines has a delay element configurable to impart a predetermined delay to the signal propagating down the delay line. Couplers split an optical signal, propagating on the input waveguide, among the tapped delay lines. The delays imparted to the signals on each line are chosen so as to effect the desired change to the spectral profile.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter component to compensate for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of wavelength and operating temperature. The optical filter component includes a first optical filter having an athermalized transmission spectrum and a second optical filter having a transmission (or insertion loss) spectrum that varies as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: Optical fiber structures having at least two cores, whether unitary or separable, may be fabricated by controlling the placement of the cores prior to final processing to make the multi-core fiber structure. When the fiber is to be separable, at least two performs are attached, and the attachment height between adjacent canes is controlled to allow separation to be realized (or attachment to be maintained there between) anywhere along the separable multi-core fiber. These canes are then drawn together to form a desired composite fiber, either or both ends of which may be separated to allow for individual manipulation of fiber ends.

Abstract: Optical fiber structures having at least two cores, whether unitary or separable, may be fabricated by controlling the placement of the cores prior to final processing to make the multi-core fiber structure. When the fiber is to be separable, at least two performs are attached, and the attachment height between adjacent canes is controlled to allow separation to be realized (or attachment to be maintained there between) anywhere along the separable multi-core fiber. These canes are then drawn together to form a desired composite fiber, either or both ends of which may be separated to allow for individual manipulation of fiber ends.

Abstract: A device for dissipating optical power from an optical component having a functional element includes a terminated fiber adapted to be coupled to the functional element so as to receive a light beam from the functional element and a dissipating element which absorbs the light beam from the terminated fiber, converts the absorbed light beam into thermal energy, and dissipates the thermal energy.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter component to compensate for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of wavelength and operating temperature. The optical filter component includes a first optical filter having an athermalized transmission spectrum and a second optical filter having a transmission (of insertion loss) spectrum that varies as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical system includes the steps of: (i) selecting, from a plurality of optical fibers characterized by a common nominal cut-off wavelength &lgr;cn and an actual cut-off wavelength &lgr;c such that the cut-off wavelength &lgr;c of each one of this plurality of fibers is the same as the nominal cut-off wavelength &lgr;cn or differs slightly from the nominal cut-off wavelength due to manufacturing tolerances, only fibers with &lgr;c>&lgr;min, where &lgr;min is a predetermined minimum acceptable cut-off wavelength of the selected fibers; and (ii) bending at least one section of at least one of these selected fibers such that this bent section has a bend radius R, where 12 mm<R<18 mm.

Abstract: An optical device comprises an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals, optical pumps coupled to and providing optical pump power to least one amplifying stage of the optical amplifier, so as to produce gain in the said optical amplifier and, a tunable optical filter coupled to the optical amplifier. The optical filter changes the gain slope of the optical amplifier in response to a change in a single parameter of the optical filter. The optical amplifier also includes at least one controller adjusting said single parameter of the optical filter and controlling the optical pumps.

Abstract: A method of modifying the spectral distribution of an optical signal includes the steps of splitting the signal among a plurality of optical paths, delaying the propagation of the signal through one or more of the optical paths by a time duration which results in the desired spectral distribution when the signals at the output ends of each optical path are recombined, and then recombining those outputs. An apparatus for changing the spectral profile of an optical signal includes an input waveguide and a plurality of tapped delay lines. Each of the tapped delay lines has a delay element configurable to impart a predetermined delay to the signal propagating down the delay line. Couplers split an optical signal, propagating on the input waveguide, among the tapped delay lines. The delays imparted to the signals on each line are chosen so as to effect the desired change to the spectral profile.

Abstract: A temperature compensated optical filter assembly including a plurality of thin films having temperature dependent indices of refraction which are deposited on a glass substrate so as to form a conventional interference filter thereon. The glass substrate is adhesively coupled to a metal holder such that the deposited thin film interference filter is interposed between the glass substrate and an adhesive layer distributed along a mounting surface of the holder. Thus, a first thermal mismatch stress is applied by the glass substrate onto an inner layer of the interference filter and a second mismatch stress is applied by the holder onto an outer layer of the interference filter, wherein the first and second mismatch stresses depend on the temperature of the filter assembly.