Abstract: An apparatus includes a reconfigurable spatial light modulator, a light source, and a transmission filter. The reconfigurable spatial light modulator is capable of producing spatially varying amplitude and/or phase modulations of an incident light wavefront. The light source is configured to direct an illumination light beam towards the reconfigurable spatial light modulator such that the modulator produces a modulated outgoing light beam there from. The transmission filter is configured to spatially filter a light pattern formed by the outgoing light beam and to selectively transmit light from substantially only one diffractive order of the light pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reconfigurable spatial light modulator, a light source, and a transmission filter. The reconfigurable spatial light modulator is capable of producing spatially varying amplitude and/or phase modulations of an incident light wavefront. The light source is configured to direct an illumination light beam towards the reconfigurable spatial light modulator such that the modulator produces a modulated outgoing light beam there from. The transmission filter is configured to spatially filter a light pattern formed by the outgoing light beam and to selectively transmit light from substantially only one diffractive order of the light pattern.

Abstract: An optical system may be configured as a receiving or as a transmitting system. As a receiving system, it is configured to receive at least one incident laser beam and project the beam into a spot on an array of actuable elements. The position of the spot is determined by the incident angular direction of the beam. The array is configured to track the position of the spot and at each tracked position of the spot to direct the beam onto an actual element. The actuable element tracks the spot so as to direct the beam onto a fixed path toward an optical receiver. As a transmitting system, it includes an actuable element configured to direct the light output from a laser into a spot on an array of actuable elements. The array is configured to track the position of the spot and at each tracked position of the spot to direct the light into a beam-forming system. The beam-forming system is configured to project the light in a transmitted beam having a variable angular direction.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting optically labeled packets using DPSK/ASK modulation. The system comprises a transmitter including at least two modulators adapted to provide DPSK modulation of a payload portion of optically labeled packets and ASK modulation for a label portion of the optically labeled packets. A receiver is also provided which includes a balanced detector for detection of the payload portion of the optically labeled packets.

Abstract: In a system and method of optical communication, optical signals are generated in multiple wavelength channels. Each optical signal is passively transported from an origination node of a network to a destination node. The destination node is determined by the signal wavelength. For at least some signals, the passive transport includes transport through a branch point of the network, such that the signal wavelength determines the output branch through which the signal is routed. In certain embodiments, signals are generated according to a schedule devised to substantially prevent the concurrent arrival, at the same destination node, of signals having the same wavelength but coming from different origination nodes.

Abstract: An optical device for discretionary treatment of channels of an optical beam, the optical device comprising: (a) a port for at least transmitting or receiving a first beam having a plurality of channels; (b) a wavelength discriminating device optically coupled to the port, the wavelength discriminating device adapted for at least one of receiving the first beam and diffracting the beam into a plurality of channel beams or receiving a plurality of channel beams and combining the channel beams into the first beam; and (c) an array of reflective elements, the reflective elements exceeding the number of channels, at least a portion of the reflective elements being optically coupled to the wavelength discriminating device to reflect the channel beams, at least two reflective elements of the portion corresponding to a particular channel beam, the at least two reflective elements being controllable to effect a desired output of the particular channel beam.

Abstract: An optical device for routing a plurality of optical signals between a first port and a second port is disclosed. The optical device includes a mirror array having a plurality of reflective elements. Each optical input signal is directed by a reflective element in a direction designated by a control signal. The optical device further includes a curved mirror for receiving each directed optical signal from the respective reflective element, and for reflecting each directed optical signal to the first or second port.

Abstract: In a system and method of optical communication, optical signals are generated in multiple wavelength channels. Each optical signal is passively transported from an origination node of a network to a destination node. The destination node is determined by the signal wavelength. For at least some signals, the passive transport includes transport through a branch point of the network, such that the signal wavelength determines the output branch through which the signal is routed. In certain embodiments, signals are generated according to a schedule devised to substantially prevent the concurrent arrival, at the same destination node, of signals having the same wavelength but coming from different origination nodes.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting rotational drift of mirror elements in a MEMS tilt mirror array used in an optical crossconnect. The optical crossconnect directs optical signals from an input fiber to an output fiber along an optical path by rotatably positioning mirror elements in desired positions. A monitoring device disposed outside of the optical path is used to obtain images of the MEMS array or to transmit and receive a test signal through the crossconnect for detecting the presence of mirror element drift.

Abstract: An optical device for discretionary treatment of channels of an optical beam, the optical device comprising: (a) a port for at least transmitting or receiving a first beam having a plurality of channels; (b) a wavelength discriminating device optically coupled to the port, the wavelength discriminating device adapted for at least one of receiving the first beam and diffracting the beam into a plurality of channel beams or receiving a plurality of channel beams and combining the channel beams into the first beam; and (c) an array of reflective elements, the reflective elements exceeding the number of channels, at least a portion of the reflective elements being optically coupled to the wavelength discriminating device to reflect the channel beams, at least two reflective elements of the portion corresponding to a particular channel beam, the at least two reflective elements being controllable to effect a desired output of the particular channel beam.

Abstract: An optical device for routing a plurality of optical signals between a first port and a second port is disclosed. The optical device includes a mirror array having a plurality of reflective elements. Each optical input signal is directed by a reflective element in a direction designated by a control signal. The optical device further includes a curved mirror for receiving each directed optical signal from the respective reflective element, and for reflecting each directed optical signal to the first or second port.

Abstract: In an all optical switch an imaging system is interposed between the micro lens array and the moveable micro mirrors of a MEMS device to which, or from which, the light beams are directed. This causes an image of the micro lens array to be formed at the MEMS device, or vice-versa, thus effectively eliminating the distance between the micro lens array and the MEMS device. The imaging system may be a telecentric system. The size of the arrangement may be reduced by compacting the optical path, e.g., using appropriate conventional mirrors, and/or employing folded arrangements, i.e., arrangements in which there is only one MEMS device stage that does double duty for both input and output through the use of at least one conventional mirror. The overall system is arranged to account for any inversions introduced.

Abstract: An optical crossconnect constructed of micro -electromechanical systems (MEMS) tilt mirror arrays for selectively routing optical signals to optic fibers. The crossconnect includes a lens array for directing optical signals from a fiber array to the MEMS mirror array. Individual mirror elements in the mirror array reflect the optic signals to additional optic elements such as a planar mirror, a transmissive/reflective optical element or a second MEMS mirror array for routing the optical signals to output optic fibers.

Abstract: Using an imaging system, an optical MEMS devices is imaged so that in combination with an actual one or more other optical MEMS devices, or images thereof, a single virtual optical MEMS device is formed that has the size of each of the optical MEMS devices combined. The physical size of the arrangement may be reduced by compacting the optical path, e.g., using appropriate conventional mirrors, and/or employing folded arrangements, i.e., arrangements in which there is only one MEMS device stage that does double duty for both input and output through the use of at least one conventional mirror. The imaging system may reproduce the angle of reflection of the light from the micro mirror, e.g., using a telecentric system. A prism may be employed to align the various optical MEMS devices, or images thereof.

Abstract: A channelized Wavelength Division Multiplex (WDM) equalizer enables the gain of each WDM channel to be individually controlled, enabling power adjustments of each channel over the equalizer's entire dynamic range. The gain equalizer includes a demultiplexer with each of its outputs interfaced to a different microelectromechanical system (MEMS) reflective device which adjusts optical power in response to a received control signal. The equalizer can be implemented to operate in a reflective mode or in a transmission mode.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for providing optical wavelength adding/dropping. The arrangement includes two duplicated-port waveguide grating routers (WGR) and a plurality of attenuator-switches. The first WGR is configured as a 1×2N demultiplexer and the other as a 2N×1 multiplexer. Each WGR includes a duplicated plurality of input or output waveguides, wherein respective pairs of each plurality have substantially identical spectral characteristics. The first plurality of output waveguides of the first WGR is coupled to the first plurality of input waveguides of the second WGR. Attenuator-switches are inserted between these two pluralities of waveguides that can be used to block incident optical wavelengths corresponding to channels to be terminated at the node where the arrangement is provided. The second plurality of output waveguides in the first WGR are drop waveguides where dropped channels exist.

Abstract: An optical crossconnect (OXC) fabric including an array of tiltable mirrors, a reflector and a plurality of optical fibers controls the position of the mirrors to optimize the transfer of a signal between an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber by monitoring the optical signal at an optical translation unit in each of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber. The optical translation units are operable for regenerating the optical signals transmitted through the fibers.

Abstract: In an all optical switch an imaging system is interposed between the micro lens array and the moveable micro mirrors of a MEMS device to which, or from which, the light beams are directed. This causes an image of the micro lens array to be formed at the MEMS device, or vice-versa, thus effectively eliminating the distance between the micro lens array and the MEMS device. The imaging system may be a telecentric system. The size of the arrangement may be reduced by compacting the optical path, e.g., using appropriate conventional mirrors, and/or employing folded arrangements, i.e., arrangements in which there is only one MEMS device stage that does double duty for both input and output through the use of at least one conventional mirror. The overall system is arranged to account for any inversions introduced.

Abstract: Using an imaging system, an optical MEMS devices is imaged so that in combination with an actual one or more other optical MEMS devices, or images thereof, a single virtual optical MEMS device is formed that has the size of each of the optical MEMS devices combined. The physical size of the arrangement may be reduced by compacting the optical path, e.g., using appropriate conventional mirrors, and/or employing folded arrangements, i.e., arrangements in which there is only one MEMS device stage that does double duty for both input and output through the use of at least one conventional mirror. The imaging system may reproduce the angle of reflection of the light from the micro mirror, e.g., using a telecentric system. A prism may be employed to align the various optical MEMS devices, or images thereof.

Abstract: An opto-isolator incorporating a MEMS device includes an optical signal source and an optical signal detector defining therebeween an optical path for communication of optical signals. A MEMS device having an actuator for controlling a moveable element is disposed between the source and detector for manipulating the optical signals. In one embodiment, the moveable element is a shutter which is operable to selectively allow optical signals to be received by the detector and prevent signals from being detected. In another embodiment, the moveable member is a MEMS tilt mirror for selectively directing optical signals to the detector.