Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of lasers, an array of electrical drivers, and optical filter. Each laser is configured to produce light in a corresponding wavelength-channel, wherein the wavelength-channels of different ones of the lasers are different. The electrical drivers are connected to directly modulate the lasers. Each driver produces a first driving current or voltage to cause a corresponding one of the lasers to be in a first lasing state and produces a different second driving current or voltage to cause the corresponding one of the lasers to be in a different second lasing state. The optical filter is connected to receive light output by the lasers. The optical filter selectively attenuates light from each of the lasers in the first lasing states thereof and to selectively pass light from each of the lasers in second lasing states thereof.

Abstract: A manner of protecting communications in a PON (passive optical network). A switch array is provided in a CO (central office) and placed in communication with a number of primary OLTs, which each can thereby communicate with a respective feeder fiber when the associated switch of the switch array is in a first state. When the switch is placed in a second state, the feeder fiber instead communicates with a protection OLT. In some embodiments each switch communicates with the OLT more or less directly, while in others the protection OLT is in communication with a first switch of the switch array and the others communicate with the OLT via the first switch and possibly other intervening switches. The switches of the switch array may also be connected to redundant feeder fibers for additional protection. A system controller may be used to detect the need for protection and to control switch states accordingly to provide it.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of lasers, an array of electrical drivers, and optical filter. Each laser is configured to produce light in a corresponding wavelength-channel, wherein the wavelength-channels of different ones of the lasers are different. The electrical drivers are connected to directly modulate the lasers. Each driver produces a first driving current or voltage to cause a corresponding one of the lasers to be in a first lasing state and produces a different second driving current or voltage to cause the corresponding one of the lasers to be in a different second lasing state. The optical filter is connected to receive light output by the lasers. The optical filter selectively attenuates light from each of the lasers in the first lasing states thereof and to selectively pass light from each of the lasers in second lasing states thereof.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a multiplex delay unit comprises an optical all-pass filter (OAPF) adapted to apply continuously tunable group delay to a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal so that all of its WDM components are delayed by substantially the same delay time. The OAPF has a free spectral range (FSR) that matches spectral separation between carrier wavelengths of the WDM signal. Advantageously, an optical multiplex synchronizer suitable for feeding a synchronous optical switch fabric can be implemented as an integrated waveguide circuit using a plurality of such multiplex delay units.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides an optical signal synchronizer having a plurality of optical channel synchronizers. Each optical channel synchronizer receives a respective input wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal and processes it to produce a corresponding output WDM signal, in which optical data packets corresponding to different carrier wavelengths are synchronized to each other regardless of the presence or absence of such synchronization in the input WDM signal. The optical signal synchronizer further has an optical multiplex synchronizer that receives the output WDM signals from the optical channel synchronizers and synchronizes them to each other and to an external reference clock without demultiplexing any of them into individual WDM components.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a multiplex delay unit comprises an optical all-pass filter (OAPF) adapted to apply continuously tunable group delay to a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal so that all of its WDM components are delayed by substantially the same delay time. The OAPF has a free spectral range (FSR) that matches spectral separation between carrier wavelengths of the WDM signal. Advantageously, an optical multiplex synchronizer suitable for feeding a synchronous optical switch fabric can be implemented as an integrated waveguide circuit using a plurality of such multiplex delay units.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides an optical signal synchronizer having a plurality of optical channel synchronizers. Each optical channel synchronizer receives a respective input wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal and processes it to produce a corresponding output WDM signal, in which optical data packets corresponding to different carrier wavelengths are synchronized to each other regardless of the presence or absence of such synchronization in the input WDM signal. The optical signal synchronizer further has an optical multiplex synchronizer that receives the output WDM signals from the optical channel synchronizers and synchronizes them to each other and to an external reference clock without demultiplexing any of them into individual WDM components.

Abstract: An InP on-chip polarization splitter is proposed base on an arrayed waveguide grating that is composed of waveguides having birefringence. The present invention also performs channel filtering and demultiplexing that is useful in WDM/DWDM applications. The required waveguide structure is formed using active-passive monolithic integration platforms, providing the integration of the polarization splitter with active devices as well as passive devices.

Abstract: A fast tunable optical filter with unique selection means, capable of being monolithically integrated on silica or semiconductive wafers, includes a frequency routing device (FRD) for receiving up to P input optical signals and responsively providing up to Q outputs, where P and Q are integers greater than or equal to one, at least one input selecting device for selectively coupling up to P optical signals to the FRD, and at least one output selecting device for selectively inhibiting up to Q outputs of said FRD.

Abstract: A fast tunable optical filter with unique selection means, capable of being monolithically integrated on silica or semiconductive wafers, includes a frequency routing device (FRD) for receiving up to P input optical signals and responsively providing up to Q outputs, where P and Q are integers greater than or equal to one, at least one input selecting device for selectively coupling up to P optical signals to the FRD, and at least one output selecting device for selectively inhibiting up to Q outputs of said FRD.

Abstract: The limitation of N in an N×N Wavelength Grating Router (WGR) is determined to be because of the intrinsic diffraction characteristics of the grating that occurs when N approaches the diffraction order m at which the grating operates. The N in a N×N WGR device is maximized for input signal channels equally spaced either in frequency or in wavelength. For the wavelength case, N is increased by appropriate changes in the spacing of the output ports of the WGR and/or by slightly correcting the by channels wavelengths.

Abstract: The limitation of N in an N×N Wavelength Grating Router (WGR) is determined to be because of the intrinsic diffraction characteristics of the grating that occurs when N approaches the diffraction order m at which the grating operates. The N in a N×N WGR device is maximized for input signal channels equally spaced either in frequency or in wavelength. For the wavelength case, N is increased by appropriate changes in the spacing of the output ports of the WGR and/or by slightly correcting the channels wavelengths.

Abstract: The limitation of N in an N×N Wavelength Grating Router (WGR) is determined to be because of the intrinsic diffraction characteristics of the grating that occurs when N approaches the diffraction order m at which the grating operates. The N in a N×N WGR device is maximized for input signal channels equally spaced either in frequency or in wavelength. For the wavelength case, N is increased by appropriate changes in the spacing of the output ports of the WGR and/or by slightly correcting the channels wavelengths.