Abstract: The invention teaches a family of flat concentrator PV panels wherein an array of enhanced light beam splitters coupling with a plurality of optical grooves efficiently collects light and transmits collected light substantially to the active surface(s) of an array of size-reduced PV cells with low aspect ratio.

Abstract: The invention teaches a family of flat concentrator PV panels wherein an array of enhanced light beam splitters coupling with a plurality of optical grooves efficiently collects light and transmits collected light substantially to the active surface(s) of an array of size-reduced PV cells with low aspect ratio.

Abstract: A low aspect ratio concentrator photovoltaic module has blazed grating surfaces on the light incident and/or reflective light planes that direct optimal wavelengths of light energy to a photo receptor enabling a total internal reflection condition to be achieved with a significantly smaller apex angle. Apex angles can be achieved that are 10° or less depending on the blazed grating angle and groove density, thereby providing a low aspect ratio prism that achieves a dramatic savings in silicon; using only 15 to 20 per cent of the silicon used in a conventional solar module without loss of photovoltaic efficiency. This achieves a significant reduction in the overall material and weight of the prism, making possible a low cost, lightweight, and highly efficient PV module suitable for widespread implementation.

Abstract: A solar cell array is directly affixed onto an optical concentrator having wide view-angle. The optical concentrator allows more light to concentrate onto the solar cell array, and as a result the size of the solar cell array is greatly reduced, which leads to a great reduction in material cost.

Abstract: Disclosed are fiber optic devices. The fiber optic devices disclosed include integrated fiber optic coupler-isolator combinations. These combinations are especially applicable to fiber optic tapping and pumping arrangements. By integrating such devices into a housed subassembly, enhanced size and design characteristics are achieved.

Abstract: A miniature dense wavelength division multiplexer (DWDM) is disclosed. A plurality of multi-window wavelength multiplexers (MWDM) are cascaded and optically coupled to form a tree, and each of the MWMDMs forming the tree comprises a microbend coupler. The forming of the MWDM tree is characterized by the absence of the bending of optical fibers external to the microbend couplers. A finished DWDM assembly measures less than 50 mm in width.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating an optical filter is disclosed. The device substantially maintains the selected center wavelength in the optical filter across a range of operating temperatures. In an embodiment of the invention an optical filter is disclosed for filtering a selected channel among a plurality of multiplexed channels of an optical communication. The optical filter includes an optical fiber and an elongate housing. The optical fiber has a first side and a second side and a filter portion intermediate the first side and the second side, and the optical fiber for transmitting the multiplexed optical communication and the filter portion for filtering the selected channel. The elongate housing includes exposed end portions through which the optical fiber extends. The optical fiber is affixed at each exposed end portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of making a Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexer (DWDM) using a Fused-Biconical Taper ("FBT") technique. The DWDM according to the present invention comprises a multiple of Multi-window Wavelength-Division Multiplexers ("MWDMs") which cascade together in several stages, each stage has several MWDMs having an identical window spacing. For a N-channel DWDM, there are 2.sup.m-1 MWDMs cascaded in m-th stage, and the window spacing of the m-th stage MWDMs is 2.sup.m-1 .DELTA..lambda., where m is from 1 to (logN/log2), for example, the first stage(m=1) having 1 MWDM and the window spacing is .DELTA..lambda., the second stage(m=2) having 2 MWDMs and the window spacing is 2.DELTA..lambda., the third stage(m=3) having 4 MWDMs and the window spacing is 4.DELTA..lambda., etc., and the (logN/log2)-th stage has (N/2) MWDMs with a window spacing (N/2).DELTA..lambda.. The number N could be 2, 4, 8, 16 or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of making a Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexer (DWDM) using a Fused-Biconical Taper ("FBT") technique. The DWDM according to the present invention comprises a multiple of Multi-window Wavelength-Division Multiplexers ("MWDMs") which cascade together in several stages, each stage has several MWDMs having an identical window spacing. For a N-channel DWDM, there are 2.sup.m-1 MWDMs cascaded in m-th stage, and the window spacing of the m-th stage MWDMs is 2.sup.m-1 .DELTA..lambda., where m is from 1 to (logN/log2), for example, the first stage(m=1) having 1 MWDM and the window spacing is .DELTA..lambda., the second stage(m=2) having 2 MWDMs and the window spacing is 2.DELTA..lambda., the third stage(m=3) having 4 MWDMs and the window spacing is 4.DELTA..lambda., etc., and the (logN/log2)-th stage has (N/2) MWDMs with a window spacing (N/2).DELTA..lambda.. The number N could be 2, 4, 8, 16 or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of making a Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexer (DWDM) using a Fused-Biconical Taper ("FBT") technique. The DWDM according to the present invention comprises a multiple of Multi-window Wavelength-Division Multiplexers ("MWDMs") which cascade together in several stages, each stage has several MWDMs having an identical window spacing. For a N-channel DWDM, there are 2.sup.m-1 MWDMs cascaded in m-th stage, and the window spacing of the m-th stage MWDMs is 2.sup.m-1 .DELTA..lambda., where m is from 1 to (logN/log2), for example, the first stage (m=1) having 1 MWDM and the window spacing is .DELTA..lambda., the second stage (m=2) having 2 MWDMs and the window spacing is 2 .DELTA..lambda., the third stage(m=3) having 4 MWDMs and the window spacing is 4.DELTA..lambda., etc., and the (logN/log2)-th stage has (N/2) MWDMs with a window spacing (N/2).DELTA..lambda.. The number N could be 2, 4, 8, 16 or more.