Abstract: A number of fiber optic networks, nodes, and methods are disclosed. One fiber optic network embodiment includes a network module including a star coupler for receiving a signal from a number of nodes and outputting a combined signal, including the received signals, to the number of nodes, and the number of nodes optically connected to the network module, the number of nodes including a transmit module including a first adjustable optical amplifier and a number of optical emitters, a receive module including a second adjustable optical amplifier and a number of receivers, and a controller coupled to the transmit and receive modules for adjusting the first and second optical amplifiers in response to the combined signal.

Abstract: An optical processor that incorporates optical computing in a monolithic, i.e. single unit, structure that can take the place of, or operate as a coprocessor with, traditional processor devices such as vector processors, digital signal processors, RISCs, CISCs, ASICs, FPGAs among others. The optical processor incorporates photonic devices that perform algorithmic functions on optical signals. The optical processor takes one or more incoming digital signals, converts the digital signal into an optical signal, performs the algorithmic function(s) in the optical domain, and then converts the result back into a digital signal, all in a monolithic or single unit structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatus, system, and method embodiments that provide micro electro mechanical system optical switching and methods of manufacturing switches. For example, one optical switch embodiment includes at least one micro electro mechanical system type pivot mirror structure disposed along a path of an optical signal, the structure having a mirror and an actuator, and the mirror having a pivot axis along a first edge and having a second edge rotatable with respect to the pivot axis, the mirror being capable of and arranged to be actuated to pivot between a position parallel to a plane of an optical signal and a position substantially normal to the plane of the optical signal.

Abstract: An encryption technique that creates a unique encryption key or fingerprint based on unique physical and electrical characteristics of a target electronic assembly to be protected. The encryption key can be constructed by exploiting the manufacturing variances present in all electronic elements including active elements and passive elements. Active elements include, for example: oscillators/clocks, internal I/O controllers, external I/O controllers, memory, processors, and digital power converters. Passive elements include, for example: internal I/O interconnects, external I/O interconnects, memory buses, and power buses. The encryption key can also include one or more environmental condition thresholds.

Abstract: An analog optical adder system that achieves high precision results. The system uses an analog optical carry function to provide a result having a precision higher than the precision of the individual elements of the system. The optical carry function is created by optical carry determinators that are configured to add an optical carry, if any, to an optical signal associated with a next adjacent byte of the digital signals being added. The use of optical carry enables greater overall addition precision.

Abstract: A number of fiber optic networks, nodes, and methods are disclosed. One fiber optic network embodiment includes a network module including a star coupler for receiving a signal from a number of nodes and outputting a combined signal, including the received signals, to the number of nodes, and the number of nodes optically connected to the network module, the number of nodes including a transmit module including a first adjustable optical amplifier and a number of optical emitters, a receive module including a second adjustable optical amplifier and a number of receivers, and a controller coupled to the transmit and receive modules for adjusting the first and second optical amplifiers in response to the combined signal.

Abstract: An optical processor that incorporates optical computing in a monolithic, i.e. single unit, structure that can take the place of, or operate as a coprocessor with, traditional processor devices such as vector processors, digital signal processors, RISCs, CISCs, ASICs, FPGAs among others. The optical processor incorporates photonic devices that perform algorithmic functions on optical signals. The optical processor takes one or more incoming digital signals, converts the digital signal into an optical signal, performs the algorithmic function(s) in the optical domain, and then converts the result back into a digital signal, all in a monolithic or single unit structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing the efficiency of simultaneous data transfers throughout a data network are provided. In the system, a time division system clock includes a network time division clock policy having a plurality of time slots. The network time division clock policy identifies a unique clock code for each of the time slots. Also, a source node and a destination node each include a portion of the network time division clock policy. The time division system clock continuously transmits the unique clock code identified for a particular time slot to the source node and the destination node during the duration of the time slot. Based on the clock code, the source nodes determines if it is assigned a communication channel to transmit collision-free data to the destination node during the duration of the particular time slot.

Abstract: An optical switching system and method that provide fault tolerant optical switching without duplicating the entire system. Two optical switches are provided, each of which receives a portion of a transmitted optical signal. Should one switch fail, the other switch is still able to perform the required optical routing of the optical signal to the desired receiving node. The two switches can be the same type of optical switch that have identical switching functionality, or each switch could have a distinct switching functionality. In one example, one switch could be a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) switch that has fast switching speed but uses more power, and the other switch could be a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switch that has slower switching speed but uses less power, thereby combining the benefits of fast switching and low power switching into a single architecture.

Abstract: An encryption technique that creates a unique encryption key or fingerprint based on unique physical and electrical characteristics of a target electronic assembly to be protected. The encryption key can be constructed by exploiting the manufacturing variances present in all electronic elements including active elements and passive elements. Active elements include, for example: oscillators/clocks, internal I/O controllers, external I/O controllers, memory, processors, and digital power converters. Passive elements include, for example: internal I/O interconnects, external I/O interconnects, memory buses, and power buses. The encryption key can also include one or more environmental condition thresholds.

Abstract: An encryption technique that creates a unique encryption key or fingerprint based on unique physical and electrical characteristics of a target electronic assembly to be protected. The encryption key can be constructed by exploiting the manufacturing variances present in all electronic elements including active elements and passive elements. Active elements include, for example: oscillators/clocks, internal I/O controllers, external I/O controllers, memory, processors, and digital power converters. Passive elements include, for example: internal I/O interconnects, external I/O interconnects, memory buses, and power buses. The encryption key can also include one or more environmental condition thresholds.

Abstract: An optical communication system and method for use in communicating data between nodes using wavelength division multiplexing includes an optical backbone to provide an optical pathway between the nodes. Arbitration information on a dedicated arbitration wavelength transmitted during an arbitration cycle is used by the plurality of nodes to select one of a plurality of wavelengths at which to transmit data during a subsequent data cycle.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an electro-optical imaging system that includes an image selection assembly that receives images along a movable optical axis and provides the images to a sensor disposed on a fixed optical axis. The movable axis is movable with respect to the fixed axis. The disclosure is also directed to a method for use with the imaging system. The method includes: positioning the movable optical axis at a selected first position to obtain a first image; sampling the first image with the sensor; repeatedly positioning the movable optical axis at another selected position to obtain another image, and sampling the another image until a number of at least two or more images are sampled; and assembling the sampled images into a final image.

Abstract: A number of fiber optic networks, nodes, and methods are disclosed. One fiber optic network embodiment includes a network module including a star coupler for receiving a signal from a number of nodes and outputting a combined signal, including the received signals, to the number of nodes, and the number of nodes optically connected to the network module, the number of nodes including a transmit module including a first adjustable optical amplifier and a number of optical emitters, a receive module including a second adjustable optical amplifier and a number of receivers, and a controller coupled to the transmit and receive modules for adjusting the first and second optical amplifiers in response to the combined signal.

Abstract: A number of fiber optic interconnection systems and apparatuses, optical network nodes, and methods are disclosed. One fiber optic interconnection system embodiment includes a first interconnectivity component for receiving and sending one or more signals between at least a first optical network node and a second optical network node, a second interconnectivity component for receiving and sending one or more signals between at least the first optical network node and the second optical network node, a distribution component that encodes an information signal onto a number of optical signals having different wavelength ranges, and a directional component for directing the number of optical signals having different wavelength ranges through one of the first or second interconnectivity components.

Abstract: To achieve secure optical communications, a messaging encoding scheme is utilized in which optical communication signals are encoded based upon a known unique code. This encoding methodology allows for the broad transmission across an optical network which will include intended destination. Only the intended destination or destinations will include the necessary unique codes to allow recognition and decoding of the optically encoded message. By providing security in this optical encoding manner, the need for additional message overhead and/or additional systems is thus avoided, thereby providing efficient communication in a secure manner.

Abstract: Free space optical communication systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided. A system embodiment includes a photodetector for receiving a beacon signal transmitted from a ground communication apparatus, a light source for emitting a light beam toward a source of the beacon signal, where the light beam includes a signal to be transmitted, and a high speed tracking actuator coupled to the light source for moving the light source to maintain the light beam in a direction toward the source of the beacon signal transmitted from the ground communication apparatus.

Abstract: An I/O connector that includes an optical communication component, for example an optical transceiver, mounted to a ferrule body of the I/O connector. The connector can be installed on a circuit card assembly and is configured to allow blind-mate connectivity. Mounting the optical communication component to the ferrule body of the connector frees up the surface of the circuit card that could be eliminated or used for mounting other components, facilitates installation of and access to the optical communication component for repair and maintenance thereof, and eliminates the need for a fiber optic pigtail extending from the connector to the circuit card.

Abstract: A number of optical calibration systems and methods are disclosed. One optical communication system embodiment includes a number of light sources for providing a number of light beams, a number of optical paths, where each of the optical paths is positioned to receive one of the light beams, a number of optical modulators, where each modulator receives a radio frequency signal and receives one of the light beams from one of the optical paths, where each modulator modulates the light beam it receives based upon the radio frequency signal it receives to form an optical signal, and a number of optical biasing components, where each optical signal can be adjusted by at least one of the optical biasing components to calibrate the optical signals.

Abstract: A process for performing non-destructive monitoring of a semiconductor device that permits detection of additional circuitry that is not part of the original, intended design. This permits verification that additional circuitry, for example malicious circuitry, has not been added to the semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the monitoring is performed at the die level before the die is packaged into a complete semiconductor device. The monitoring is non-destructive so that the semiconductor die is not destroyed during the monitoring process.