Abstract: Semiconductor optical amplifier with polarization independent gain. A polarization adjusting layer is formed on a semiconductor optical amplifier. The semiconductor optical amplifier has an active region that includes both compressively strained and tensile strained quantum wells. The polarization adjusting layer is formed and then etched to a thickness that repositions an optical signal within the active region such that the gain of the optical signal is independent of the polarization of the optical signal.

Abstract: Coupler packages for providing protection against the elements for fused fiber couplings. The coupler package has an inner and outer cylinder for providing additional buffering against vibration, temperature expansion, corrosion, and water penetration. The double tube structure increases the penetration length for water, while the seals decrease the cross section for water penetration.

Abstract: A gain flattening and tap device. A gain flattening filter for use in fiber-optic communications includes a substrate. A GFF film is formed on a first surface of the substrate. An HR film is formed on a second surface of the substrate. The HR film is arranged to receive light from the GFF film and to reflect at least some of the light back through the GFF film. By passing the light through the GFF film multiple times, the effectiveness of the GFF film is multiplied. Further, by constructing the HR film to allow portions of the light to pass through, a tap may be implemented with the GFF.

Abstract: An interleaver device and associated methods of manufacturing and calibration that use a laser bending technique to adjust the relative position of interferometers of the interleaver. The interleaver device includes a laterally divided housing with two lateral portions separated by supports. The supports are web like structures, the length of which can be adjusted in a predictable or measurable manner in response to a laser beam. The laser bending calibration and manufacturing technique uses a laser and a feedback and control system to adjust the spacing and angular relation between the lateral portions by partially melting one or more of the supports. The feedback and control system includes an optical detector, a computer, and a positioning system. This combination of components allows the interleaver device to be calibrated to precisely adjust the separation between channels within a WDM optical signal.

Abstract: An optical add/drop patch cord. The optical add/drop patch cord has an optical add/drop component enclosed by a casing. An input fiber is optically coupled to the optical add/drop component and permanently or detachably connected to the casing. A drop fiber is optically coupled to the optical add/drop component and permanently or detachably connected to the casing. An add fiber is optically coupled to the optical add/drop component and permanently connected to the casing. An output fiber is optically coupled to the optical add/drop component and permanently connected to the casing.

Abstract: A batched process for producing optical components for use in fiber-optic networks. The process involves creating optical substrate blocks with thin-film filters on at least one surface of the of the substrate blocks. Other surfaces on the blocks are finely polished such the several blocks may be fused together at the polished surfaces. By placing the blocks such that the thin-film filters on adjacent blocks are diagonally opposed and then fusing together adjacent blocks, the blocks connected in this manner can perform various optical functions. Some of the optical components that can be formed using this process include power taps, optical add/drop modules, multiplexers, and demultiplexers.

Abstract: A WDM add/drop module. The drop portion of the add/drop module is accomplished by using thin film filters or thin film interleavers. The add portion of the add/drop module uses fused fiber interleavers for the less critical stages of the multiplexing process. In a final stage, fused fiber interleavers can be placed in series. A thin film intervleaver having a flattop frequency response may also be used for the critical stage where the multiplexed channels are more closely spaced. The frequency response of the thin film interleaver is relatively constant across a bandwith of a channel while having a drop off at the channel edge to reduce cross talk.

Abstract: An optical waveguide for use in amplifying light signals with an integrated gain equalization filter. The optical waveguide includes a gain section for amplifying light signals. The optical waveguide further includes an equalization filter to improve the uniformity of optical gain over a wavelength range for which the gain section is intended to provide amplification.

Abstract: A low-cost circulator used in fiber optic networks to accomplish bi-directional communication along a single fiber optic cable. The circulator has three ports, namely an input port, an output port and a bi-directional network port. The circulator core is constructed such that when light with a specific polarization is input into the input port, it is bent into the bi-directional network port where it can be propagated to the fiber optic network. Light input from the bi-directional network port can be any state of polarization, and it passes through the circulator core to the output port.

Abstract: An optical fiber for reducing modal dispersion and increasing both travel distance and transmission speed. A core center is formed in the core of the optical fiber. The core center is doped with impurities, is hollow, or is pulled at a lower temperature to increase diffraction of the core center. The core center discriminates the low order modes such that only the high order modes are present in the optical fiber. Because the low order modes are absorbed or otherwise discriminated against, the range of propagation constants is reduced and modal dispersion is likewise reduced. High order modes can be launched in the optical fiber using a lens whose center portion is obscured or by using a diffractive lens to couple a source to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A redundant optical signal transmission and reception system is disclosed to enable information exchange via an optical communications network without data loss in the event of optical transmitter or receiver failure. In one embodiment, the redundant optical signal system includes a primary transmission link comprising a plurality of optical transmitters and a multiplexor for modulating and combining electrical signals into a primary multiplexed optical signal. In the event of failure of an optical transmitter, a backup transmission link is activated to compensate for the malfunctioning transmitter. The backup transmission link utilizes a backup optical transmitter to modulate the electric signal formerly received by the malfunctioning optical transmitter. The backup transmission link combines the backup optical signal with the primary multiplexed optical signal to form a complete optical signal for transmission over the optical network.

Abstract: Semiconductor optical amplifier with flattened or balanced gain across a spectrum of wavelengths. A gain balancing layer is formed on a semiconductor optical amplifier. The optical amplifier has an active region that includes one or more quantum wells of varying thickness and the gain balancing layer changes the optical confinement of some of the quantum wells to varying degrees. The gain balancing layer is etched or formed to a thickness that causes the semiconductor optical amplifier to have a flattened or balanced gain across a broad spectrum of wavelengths.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplifier for eliminating cross talk. The semiconductor optical amplifier includes a waveguide ridge that is formed on a broad area semiconductor laser. The ridge has angled facets and guides incident optical signals through the active region. When lasing, the broad area semiconductor laser locks the carrier density and photon density such that an incident optical signal does not affect the carrier density or the photon density. Thus, the broad area laser and the semiconductor optical amplifier share the same active region or gain medium and cross talk is eliminated when multiple optical signals are incident on the semiconductor optical amplifier.

Abstract: In order to develop a production type of ring laser gyroscope (RLG), the determination of a laser plane for the assembly of the optical mirrors in a RLG block is needed. The new methods for measuring RLG cavities and for calculating the accuracy of the laser plane are developed. The optimum reflecting points and the error tolerances of the laser beams are obtained by using these methods. The advantages of these new methods are that both the design accuracy and the production time of the RLG block can be reduced as well as the yield rate of RLG could increase.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently updating container objects on remote systems. The method and system involve a server extension which determines whether the files within the container object have changed since the last time they were sent to the client. If they have changed, the server extension sends only the changed files with instructions on how to reconstruct the container object to a client extension. The client extension receives the changes and the instructions and reconstitutes the container object and transmits the container object to the client browser.