Abstract: [Problems to be solved] To provide an optical switching device which can switch between input/output optical paths of input/output ports while suppressing the influence on optical signals passing through other input/output ports. [Means to solve problems] An optical switching device comprises an optical switch array 6 for switching between input/output paths of a plurality of input/output optical fibers. The optical switch array 6 comprises a substrate 8, on which a cantilever 11 is supported. A part of the cantilever 11 on the leading end side is provided with an annular support 12, which supports a movable mirror 7 inclinably. The movable mirror 7 reflects an optical signal from any of the input/output optical fibers toward another input/output optical fiber. The leading end of the cantilever 11 is provided with a comb part 14.

Abstract: An optical device has first and second non-parallel optical paths, and a light reflecting surface. The reflecting surface may have a first and second planar portion. The first planar portion receives light from the first path to reflect the light toward the second path. The second planar portion may form an angle ?1 with the first planar portion. Angle ?1 satisfies a condition of 175°??<180° in either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation from the first planar portion.

Abstract: An optical signal processor comprises fiber collimators, a first diffraction grating device, a second diffraction grating device, a first half-wave plate, and a second half-wave plate. Each of the diffraction grating devices is of reflection type having a diffracting surface parallel to a yz plane and a grating direction parallel to a z axis. The diffraction grating device diffracts the light outputted from the fiber collimator after collimation. The diffraction grating device diffracts the light diffracted by the diffraction grating device. The half-wave plates having respective optic axes in directions different from each other by 45 degrees are bonded together and are disposed on an optical path between the diffraction grating devices.

Abstract: In an incoming path, light fed to an input port is demultiplexed by a wavelength demultiplexer in terms of wavelength, converged by a first light-converging optical system, reflected by a first reflecting mirror, turned into parallel light by the first light-converging optical system, and multiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer, so as to be fed to a reflecting surface of a rectangular reflecting mirror. In an outgoing path, the light reflected by the rectangular reflecting mirror is demultiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer in terms of wavelengths, converged by the first light-converging optical system, reflected by the first reflecting mirror, turned into parallel light by the first light-converging optical system, and multiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer, so as to be fed to an output port. An image of each wavelength light component reflected by the first reflecting mirror is inverted between the incoming and outgoing paths.

Abstract: An optical signal processor, capable of eliminating design change of lens optical systems, it is fabricating by selecting one or more optical waveguides, each having a mode field diameter such that a desired band width of the transmission characteristics of the whole optical signal processor with respect to the light beam are selected as the input and output optical waveguides. When one optical waveguide is selected, the selected optical waveguide is applied as a common optical waveguide corresponding to both input and output optical waveguides. When two optical waveguides are selected, one is applied to the input optical waveguide and the other is applied to the output optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates a variable optical multiplexer/demultiplexer which can be made smaller and can restrain characteristics from deteriorating. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprises a first optical system, a wavelength branching device, a second optical system, and an optical path changing part. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer has a plurality of input/output ports, and the first optical system, the wavelength branching device, and the second optical system are disposed between the ports and the optical path changing part. When light is fed into any of the ports, individual wavelength components included in the light are outputted from any of the ports. The optical path changing part inputs the wavelength components condensed by the second optical system, and output the wavelength components to an output optical path which is parallel to but not on the same line as the input optical paths of the wavelength components.

Abstract: A first optical system (11) has a first beam splitter (211). The first beam splitter (211) splits light arriving through a first optical path (P1) into two light beams, and outputs one light beam to a second optical path (P2) and the other light beam to a third optical path (P3). A second optical system (21) outputs the light output from the first beam splitter (221) to the second optical path (P2) and arriving at the second optical system (21) upon giving the light an intensity change with wavelength dependence and a phase change, and has a second beam splitter (221), first reflecting mirror (223), and second reflecting mirror (222). This makes it possible to provide an optical filter (200) which can realize a characteristic excellent in isolation with a very simple arrangement.

Abstract: To provide an optical signal processor which can perform favorable optical signal processing even when there are environmental changes and the like. An optical signal processor 1 inputs light emitted from an end face of an optical fiber 11, subjects the inputted light to processing according to its wavelength, and outputs the processed light so as to make it incident on the end face of the optical fiber 11; and comprises optical systems 111 to 113, a diffraction grating device 120, reflecting mirrors 131 to 133, an optical path turning part 140, and a monitor part 150. The optical path turning part 140 transmits therethrough a part of the incident light and reflects at least a part of the remnant. The optical system 113 monitors the light transmitted through the optical path turning part 140.

Abstract: An optical system 111 collimates wavelength components of wavelengths ?1-?3 emerging from an end face of optical fiber 11, a diffraction grating 121 separates them by wavelength, and an optical system 112 condenses them. The component of the wavelength ?1 is focused at a focus position by the optical system 112 and diverges after the focus position. Then the component of the wavelength ?1 is collimated by an optical system 113, travels via a diffraction grating 122, and is condensed by an optical system 114 to enter an end face of optical fiber 22. The component of the wavelengths ?2, ?3 condensed by the optical system 112 are reflected by reflecting portions 132, 133 set at their respective focus positions, are collimated by the optical system 112, travel via the diffraction grating 121, and are condensed by the optical system 111 to enter an end face of optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical signal processing apparatus has a diffraction grating element, first condenser lens, Faraday rotation elements, polarization beam splitter, ?/2 plate, second condenser lens, third condenser lens, and diffraction grating element. The magnitude of a magnetic field of each of the Faraday rotation elements is controlled on the basis of an externally input control signal. The rotation angle of the plane of polarization of signal light is set to 0 or ?/2 in accordance with the magnitude of the magnetic field. Each Faraday rotation element receives signal light having wavelengths ?1 to ?4, which has arrived from the first condenser lens, and outputs the signal light as a polarized light component in the first azimuth (parallel to the z-axis direction) or second azimuth (parallel to the y-axis direction).

Abstract: An optical device has first and second non-parallel optical paths, and a light reflecting surface. The reflecting surface may have a first and second planar portion. The first planar portion receives light from the first path to reflect the light toward the second path. The second planar portion may form an angle ?1 with the first planar portion. Angle ?1 satisfies a condition of 175°??<180° in either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation from the first planar portion.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of fabricating an optical signal processor capable of eliminating design change of lens optical systems and so on. The optical signal processor includes input and output optical waveguides, and further includes a first lens optical system, a spatial wavelength-dividing element, a second lens optical system, and a spatial optical modulator, respectively arranged on an optical path between the input and output optical waveguides. For fabricating the optical signal processor, one or more optical waveguides each having a mode field diameter such that a desired band width of the transmission characteristics of the whole optical signal processor with respect to the light beam are selected as the input and output optical waveguides. When one optical waveguide is selected, the selected optical waveguide is applied as a common optical waveguide corresponding to both input and output optical waveguides.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for an optical element, which structure enables easy adjustment of a direction of the optical element when the optical element is fixed to a substrate. In order to achieve this object, a fixing member 31 made of metal is fixed to a substrate such that the fixing member holds an optical element therein and the bottom surface of the fixing member is spherical so that the spherical bottom surface touches the edge of the opening of a fixing portion on the substrate. The fixing member holds the optical element. A part of the surface of the fixing member is spherical such that the spherical part of the surface touches the edge of the opening of a fixing portion on the substrate. An optical device in which an optical element is fixed to a substrate with the fixing member mentioned above is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device and the like which can facilitate a fine adjustment for an optical waveguide type diffraction grating device. The optical device includes a flexible member in which the optical waveguide type diffraction grating device is secured to a predetermined position, and bending means for applying a stress to said optical waveguide type diffraction grating device by bending said flexible member. The optical device changes the optical characteristics of the optical waveguide type diffraction grating device by adjusting the stress applied thereto by the bending means, to thereby perform easily various functions such as optical multiplexing, optical demultiplexing, path changing, and adjustment of dispersion characteristics.

Abstract: An optical signal, which is to become the subject of dispersion compensation, is split by optical combining/splitting unit 2, and each frequency component of the optical signal that is split is reflected by the corresponding reflective mirror 30 included in reflective mirror group 3 to apply a predetermined phase shift to the respective frequency components Each reflected frequency component is then combined using optical combining/splitting unit 2, to give dispersion compensated optical signal Furthermore, in regards to reflective mirror group 3, which is used to apply phase shift to each frequency component of an optical signal, each of the respective plurality of reflective mirrors 30 is made a movable mirror having a movable reflection position that reflects the frequency components. Through this, dispersion that develops in an optical signal may be compensated with favorable controllability and high accuracy.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical fiber fusion splicing method in which splice loss can be reduced, and also to provide an arc-heating unit used for heating the fusion spliced part of an optical fiber. The method comprises a process of fusion-splicing together the end faces of two optical fibers and a process of continuously heating the fusion spliced part by arc while moving one pair of electrodes provided opposite to each other across the fusion spliced part. The arc heating process is performed with the operation for decreasing arc temperature.

Abstract: In an incoming path, light fed to an input port is demultiplexed by a wavelength demultiplexer in terms of wavelength, converged by a first light-converging optical system, reflected by a first reflecting mirror, turned into parallel light by the first light-converging optical system, and multiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer, so as to be fed to a reflecting surface of a rectangular reflecting mirror. In an outgoing path, the light reflected by the rectangular reflecting mirror is demlutiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer in terms of wavelengths, converged by the first light-converging optical system, reflected by the first reflecting mirror, turned into parallel light by the first light-converging optical system, and multiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer, so as to be fed to an output port. An image of each wavelength light component reflected by the first reflecting mirror is inverted between the incoming and outgoing paths.

Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate, an optical element provided on the substrate, a metal portion provided on a surface of the substrate, and a metal housing retaining the optical element. The metal housing is fixed to the metal portion with solder. An optical-device-assembling apparatus includes a holding portion for holding a metal housing which retains an optical element, a movable portion for moving the holding portion, and a beam generator for emitting a beam for melting solder with which the metal housing is fixed to a substrate. A method of fixing an optical element on a substrate includes attaching an optical element to a metal housing, forming a metal portion on a surface of the substrate, applying solder on the metal portion, melting the solder and aligning the optical element while the solder is melting, and fixing the metal housing to the metal portion.

Abstract: A method of fusion-splicing optical fibers having different mode field diameters or small mode field diameters is provided, which method is advantageous in that the splicing loss is smaller. The method comprises a fusion splicing process in which fusion splicing is performed by butting end faces of two optical fibers together and a heat treatment process in which the fusion spliced part of the optical fibers and the vicinity thereof are heated. The heat treatment process is performed by moving an arc heating unit in a direction other than the Y-axis direction (a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis direction and the opposing direction of arc electrodes) and Z-axis direction (the axial direction of the optical fiber), via the fusion spliced part in a Y-Z plane formed by the Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction.

Abstract: The optical switch comprises a platform, and an optical fiber is held in a V groove for securing optical fiber of this platform. A switch element is placed on the platform. The switch element has a frame, and a plurality of alignment pins which are supplied together with the platform are disposed on the bottom face of the frame. A cantilever is secured to the frame, and a mirror is installed at the tip section of the cantilever. A pair of electrodes are secured on the platform. And by supplying voltage between the electrode and cantilever and generating an electrostatic force between them, the mirror is vertically moved.