Abstract: A thermally stabilized optical filter device includes a multilayer optical bandpass filter on a transparent substrate, with the transparent substrate being composed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. An encasement surrounds the transparent substrate such that the bandpass filter is exposed for transmission of predetermined optical wavelengths there through. The encasement is composed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The encasement provides thermal stability to the optical properties of the bandpass filter by compensating for changes in the filter that occur with temperature variations. In another embodiment, a collet assembly provides means for selectively compressing a filter chip to tune the filter response.

Abstract: A thermally stabilized optical filter device includes a multilayer optical bandpass filter on a transparent substrate, with the transparent substrate being composed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. An encasement surrounds the transparent substrate such that the bandpass filter is exposed for transmission of predetermined optical wavelengths there through. The encasement is composed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The encasement provides thermal stability to the optical properties of the bandpass filter by compensating for changes in the filter that occur with temperature variations. In another embodiment, a collet assembly provides means for selectively compressing a filter chip to tune the filter response.

Abstract: An optical switch for use in optical telecommunication applications is configured to tolerate vibration and shock loading, preserving optical alignment at a plurality of switching positions and during the switching operation, and to effectively perform precise and accurate switching operations in a variety of environmental conditions. Switching operations are performed when an actuator that responds to a switching stimulus acts upon a flexure pivot device that in turn accurately and reproducibly displaces an optical element that operates upon a light signal.

Abstract: A rotary cylindrical sputtering system incorporates separate, separately-controlled linear magnetron sputter deposition and reaction zones for sputter depositing materials such as refractory metals and forming oxides and other compounds and alloys of such materials. In one aspect, the associated process involves rotating or translating workpieces past the differentially pumped, atmospherically separated, sequentially or simultaneously operated deposition and reaction zones and is characterized by the ability to form a wide range of materials, by high throughput, and by the ability to form durable optical quality thin films of nominal refractive indices and controlled coating thickness, including both constant and selectively varied thickness profiles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sputtering method for preparing optical coatings having low light scattering characteristics by controlling the angle of incidence of the material being sputtered without significantly reducing the coating efficiency of the sputtering process. The angle of incidence is controlled by reducing the collision scattering of the material being sputtered and by intercepting the sputtered material that would without interception arrive at the surface to be coated at high angles of incidence. The collision scattering is reduced by utilizing a sputtering gas that has a mass less than the mass of the material being sputtered.