Abstract: A solid-state optical amplifier chip is described, with improved pumping, in which pump light from one or more solid-state light sources is coupled efficiently into the doped areas of the chip, resulting in amplification of an optical signal. The optical signal is carried in the core of an optical waveguide. Rare-earth elements are used as dopants, primarily in the cladding of the optical signal's waveguide core, in order to provide amplification of the optical signal through stimulated emission. A variety of waveguide structures are described for routing and distributing the pump light to the doped areas of the chip.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator can rotate other, discrete optical elements that may be dimensionally large (especially in terms of thickness), may be of relatively large mass, and may be made of dissimilar materials (i.e., some material other than silicon). The rotating optical element may be reflective or transmissive. The MEMS actuator is used in multiple additional embodiments, allowing the integration of multiple optical functions into a single optical component, for a variety of applications. These optical functions include optical switching, optical attenuation, tunable optical filtering, the adjustment of the phase angle of an optical signal, and the detection or receiving of an optical signal or optical power level.

Abstract: A solid-state optical amplifier chip is described, with improved pumping, in which pump light from one or more solid-state light sources is coupled efficiently into the doped areas of the chip, resulting in amplification of an optical signal. The optical signal is carried in the core of an optical waveguide. Rare-earth elements are used as dopants, primarily in the cladding of the optical signal's waveguide core, in order to provide amplification of the optical signal through stimulated emission. A variety of waveguide structures are described for routing and distributing the pump light to the doped areas of the chip.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator can rotate other, discrete optical elements that may be dimensionally large (especially in terms of thickness), may be of relatively large mass, and may be made of dissimilar materials (i.e., some material other than silicon). The rotating optical element may be reflective or transmissive. The MEMS actuator is used in multiple additional embodiments, allowing the integration of multiple optical functions into a single optical component, for a variety of applications. These optical functions include optical switching, optical attenuation, tunable optical filtering, the adjustment of the phase angle of an optical signal, and the detection or receiving of an optical signal or optical power level.

Abstract: In one embodiment, each of the output/input ports of each one of a plurality of optical splitters is connected to one of a plurality of optical switches by means of optical fibers without any fusion splicing in a majority of the optical fibers, and each of the input/output ports of each one of the switches is connected to one of the optical splitters by means of the optical fibers without any fusion splicing in a majority of the optical fibers. Each of the output/input ports of each one of the optical splitters may be directly connected to the ferrule and one of the input/output ports of one of the switches by the optical fibers. The optical splitters may be implemented in at least one planar lightwave circuit (PLC) chip. Optionally, at least one fiber holder defining a plurality of channels therein may be used to hold the optical fibers each of which is aligned with a corresponding output/input port of one of the optical splitters.

Abstract: A solid-state optical amplifier is described, having an active core and doped cladding in a single chip. An active optical core runs through a doped cladding in a structure formed on a substrate. A light emitting structure, such as an LED, is formed within and/or adjacent to the optical core. The cladding is doped, for example, with erbium or other rare-earth elements or metals. Several exemplary devices and methods of their formation are given.

Abstract: A tunable optical device uses a diffraction grating to angularly disperse a collimated beam carrying multiple wavelengths into multiple individually collimated wavelength beams, and then refocuses each of the individual collimated beams to its own focusing point on a moving plate that is located in the region of the focus plane. One or more reflective dots on the moving plate then selectively reflect particular wavelength(s) back to a first output port. The unselected wavelengths are transmitted through the moving plate, where they are then recombined and sent to a second output port. In a typical optical network architecture, the selected wavelength(s) could be viewed as the dropped traffic at a node of the optical network, while the unselected wavelengths could be viewed as the express traffic that is being passed to another node of the network. The device can also be used as a wavelength or beam combiner as well as a splitter.

Abstract: A pin hole or aperture is located or formed adjacent to the end surface of one or more of the input ports or fibers, or adjacent to one or more of the output ports or fibers, of a fiberoptic component. The aperture allows light to enter (or exit) the core of the associated fiber, and the non-transparent layer that surrounds the aperture blocks light from entering or exiting the cladding layer of the associated fiber. This blocking of the evanescent field in the cladding layer serves to reduce the polarization, wavelength, and temperature dependencies of the light coupling to the output port(s) or fiber(s) of the optical component. It can also reduce the passband width of the selected wavelength in tunable optical filter applications. The non-transparent layer surrounding the aperture can be made reflective, and light that is reflected by the non-transparent layer can be used for optical power monitoring.

Abstract: An LED array includes three or more strings of bare LEDs mounted in close proximity to each other on a substrate. The strings of LEDs emit light of one or more wavelengths of blue, indigo and/or violet light, with peak wavelengths that are less than 490 nm. Luminescent materials deposited on each of the LED chips in the array emit light of different wavelength ranges that are of longer wavelengths than and in response to light emissions from the LED chips. A control circuit applies currents to the strings of LEDs, causing the LEDs in the strings to emit light, which causes the luminescent materials to emit light. A user interface enables users to control the currents applied by the control circuit to the strings of LEDs to achieve a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) value and hue that are desired by users, with CIE chromaticity coordinates that lie on, or near to the black body radiation curve.

Abstract: A light source for providing light comprises a light emitting layer and a lens comprising a periodic structure therein that is periodic along at least one direction in a plane. The structure includes or is formed from at least two optically transparent materials of different optical indices. The lens is separated from the light emitting layer, and the radiation propagating from the light emitting layer within an angle to a line normal to the plane will be transmitted by the lens to a far field in an index-guided mode. The separation between the light emitting layer and the lens is such that near field radiation propagating from the light emitting layer towards the lens not within said angle to the line will be scattered and redirected by the first lens to the far field to thereby collimate the radiation propagating from the light emitting layer to the far field.

Abstract: Integrated optical component combine the functions of a Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA), a tap coupler, and a photo-detector, reducing the size, cost, and complexity of these functions. In other embodiments, the integrated optical component combines the functions of an optical switch, a tap coupler, and a photo-detector. A rotatable mirror is used to adjust the coupling of light from an input port or ports to one or more output ports. A pin hole with a surrounding reflective surface is used at the core end face of one or more output fibers, such that a portion of the output optical signal is reflected to a photodiode chip. The photo-detector provides an indication of the optical power that is being coupled to the output fiber. With appropriate electronic control circuitry, the integrated optical component can be used to set the output optical power at a desired or required level.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter is described, utilizing a diffraction grating and a rotating mirror. By incorporating a phase screen, or the combination of a phase screen and a transmission amplitude-modulated mask, located in front of the rotating mirror, or possibly at other locations in the optical path, the selected wavelength's passband spectrum can be shaped in a variety of ways. In particular, the output spectrum of the tunable optical filter can be made flatter within the passband, while maintaining good isolation of adjacent channels or wavelengths.

Abstract: A solid-state optical amplifier is described, having an active core and doped cladding in a single chip. An active optical core runs through a doped cladding in a structure formed on a substrate. A light emitting structure, such as an LED, is formed within and/or adjacent to the optical core. The cladding is doped, for example, with erbium or other rare-earth elements or metals. Several exemplary devices and methods of their formation are given.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter integrates the functions of wavelength tuning and power isolation of back reflection. The optical signal enters a Faraday rotator twice, and isolation is provided by two birefringent crystals, having their optical axes oriented at 45 degrees with respect to each other. The two birefringent crystals are on the same side of the Faraday rotator. The integration of an optical tunable filter and an isolator function into a single packaged component helps to reduce the size and complexity of optical amplifier systems, such as EDFAs and PDFAs, operating in the 1550 nm and 1310 nm transmission bands, respectively.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter integrates the functions of wavelength tuning and power isolation of back reflection. The optical signal enters a Faraday rotator twice, and isolation is provided by two birefringent crystals, having their optical axes oriented at 45 degrees with respect to each other. The two birefringent crystals are on the same side of the Faraday rotator. The integration of an optical tunable filter and an isolator function into a single packaged component helps to reduce the size and complexity of optical amplifier systems, such as EDFAs and PDFAs, operating in the 1550 nm and 1310 nm transmission bands, respectively.

Abstract: A tunable optical device uses a diffraction grating to angularly disperse a collimated beam carrying multiple wavelengths into multiple individually collimated wavelength beams, and then refocuses each of the individual collimated beams to its own focusing point on a moving plate that is located in the region of the focus plane. One or more reflective dots on the moving plate then selectively reflect particular wavelength(s) back to a first output port. The unselected wavelengths are transmitted through the moving plate, where they are then recombined and sent to a second output port. In a typical optical network architecture, the selected wavelength(s) could be viewed as the dropped traffic at a node of the optical network, while the unselected wavelengths could be viewed as the express traffic that is being passed to another node of the network. The device can also be used as a wavelength or beam combiner as well as a splitter.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter utilizes a pair of diffraction gratings and a rotating mirror to achieve a broad filter passband or wavelength bandwidth. By adjusting a small angle between the two diffraction gratings, such as less than approximately 15 degrees, the wavelength bandwidth of the tunable optical filter's passband may be arbitrarily adjusted or set. The two-grating system results in a narrower angular dispersion coefficient than could be achieved through the use of a single grating with similar properties. The narrower angular dispersion in turn results in a broader filter passband or wavelength bandwidth.

Abstract: Light of at least two wavelengths is collimated in a forward path towards a reflector and light of at least one of the wavelengths is focused and detected in a return path, using in both paths a lens unit including a first convex surface and a second surface. A diffraction element diffracts the collimated light of the at least two wavelengths into different wavelength components. The reflector is moved so that one or more of the different wavelength components will be focused by the lens unit in the return path and detected. The second surface reflects the light of the at least two wavelengths from an input port towards the first convex surface and the first convex surface collimates the reflected light of the at least two wavelengths in the forward path, or the first convex surface focuses the one or more wavelength components towards the second surface that reflects the one or more wavelength components to an output port in the return path.

Abstract: Light of at least two wavelengths is collimated in a forward path towards a reflector and light of at least one of the wavelengths is focused and detected in a return path, using in both paths a lens unit including a first convex surface and a second surface. A diffraction element diffracts the collimated light of the at least two wavelengths into different wavelength components. The reflector is moved so that one or more of the different wavelength components will be focused by the lens unit in the return path and detected. The second surface reflects the light of the at least two wavelengths from an input port towards the first convex surface and the first convex surface collimates the reflected light of the at least two wavelengths in the forward path, or the first convex surface focuses the one or more wavelength components towards the second surface that reflects the one or more wavelength components to an output port in the return path.

Abstract: A light source for providing light comprises a light emitting layer and a lens comprising a periodic structure therein that is periodic along at least one direction in a plane. The structure includes or is formed from at least two optically transparent materials of different optical indices. The lens is separated from the light emitting layer, and the radiation propagating from the light emitting layer within an angle to a line normal to the plane will be transmitted by the lens to a far field in an index-guided mode. The separation between the light emitting layer and the lens is such that near field radiation propagating from the light emitting layer towards the lens not within said angle to the line will be scattered and redirected by the first lens to the far field to thereby collimate the radiation propagating from the light emitting layer to the far field.