Abstract: An optical receiver for use in free space communication from a transmitter to the optical receiver is configured for receiving optical signals from the transmitter. The optical receiver includes optics for collecting the optical signals, a demodulator for converting the optical signals so collected into a data stream, a signal processing unit for processing the data stream into an analog signal, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal into a digital output. The demodulator includes a plurality of apertures and at least one Fabry-Perot etalon, through which at least a portion of the optical signals is transmitted. The demodulator also includes at least one phase detection region for detecting at least the portion of the optical signals transmitted through the at least one Fabry-Perot etalon to form a phase signal.

Abstract: A path-switchable dual polarization controller includes an input polarization beam splitter (PBS) switchably connected to either one of two optical controllers configured to tunably remix polarization components received from the PBS to obtain two target polarization components of input light. When one of the optical controllers requires a reset, PBS outputs are switched to the other optical controller, and the first optical controller is reset offline. The circuit may be used for polarization demultiplexing.

Abstract: An optical receiver for use in free space communication from a transmitter to the optical receiver is configured for receiving optical signals from the transmitter. The optical receiver includes optics for collecting the optical signals, a demodulator for converting the optical signals so collected into a data stream, a signal processing unit for processing the data stream into an analog signal, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal into a digital output. The demodulator includes a plurality of apertures, each one of the plurality of apertures being optically connected with an etalon of an optical path length that is different from the optical path length of another etalon optically connected with another one of the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to the transmission of data based on a polarization of a light signal. In some embodiments, data may include 3D video data for viewing by a user. Systems for transmitting data may include a display device and a device for switching the polarization of a video source. Systems for receiving data may include eyewear configured to present images with orthogonal polarization to each eye. In some embodiments, the rate of switching of the polarization switcher may introduce a distortion to the optical data. A Pi-cell device may be used in some embodiments to reduce distortion based on switching speed. In some embodiments, polarization switchers may introduce a distortion based on the frequency of transmitted light. In some embodiments, optical elements including in the transmitting or receiving devices may be configured to reduce distortions based on frequency.

Abstract: A polarized light source configured for use in display device and backlight unit is described. The polarized light source comprising: at least one optically active structure comprising a plurality of nanorods configured to emit light of one or more wavelengths in response to exciting pumping field, said plurality of nanorods comprising nanorods aligned with a predetermined alignment axis so as to produce a desired polarization direction of the emitted light; and a light directing assembly comprising one or more optical elements in optical path of light emitted from the light emitting structure, said light directing assembly being configured to enhance output of the emitted light from the emitting structure while substantially maintaining the polarization of the emitted light passing therethrough. Preferably, layers associated with the polarized light source are aligned with parallel principal axes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for investigating a sample, the sample being impinged upon by illuminating light, and detected light emerging from the sample being directed to a detector, and the illuminating light being directed through an acousto-optic component with which the impingement upon the sample by illuminating light can be temporarily interrupted.

Abstract: A multipass fiber amplifier comprises a micro-optic-module polarization separating device including a first ASE blocking device, a micro-optic-module 90° polarization rotating reflector including a second ASE blocking device, a pump source for providing pump light; a micro-optic-module wavelength-division multiplexer (WDM) for combining the pump light and the laser beam; and a gain fiber having a first end and a second end for amplifying the laser beam using the pump light, where the first ASE blocking device is coupled to the first end of the gain fiber and the second ASE blocking device is coupled to the second end of the gain fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for multipass fiber amplifier comprises: (a) first passing a laser beam having a first linear polarization in the fiber amplifier in a first direction, (b) rotating the first linear polarization of the laser beam to a second linear polarization, the second linear polarization is perpendicular to the first linear polarization, (c) second passing the laser beam having the second linear polarization in the fiber amplifier in a second direction, the second direction is opposite to the first direction, (d) third passing the laser beam having the second linear polarization in the fiber amplifier in the first direction, the laser beam having the second linear polarization is reflected by a polarization separating device and a mirror, (e) rotating the second linear polarization of the laser beam to the first linear polarization, and (f) fourth passing the laser beam having the first linear polarization in the fiber amplifier in the second direction.

Abstract: A method to align an optical device optically with an interference device is disclosed. The method includes steps of: selecting one of arm waveguides, biasing rest of arm waveguides to cause optical absorption thereat, and aligning the optical device optically with the selected arm waveguide.

Abstract: A thermally stabilized, high speed, micrometer-scale silicon electro-optic modulator is provided. Methods for maintaining desired temperatures in electro-optic modulators are also provided. The methods can be used to maintain high quality modulation in the presence of thermal variations from the surroundings. Direct current injection into the thermally stabilized electro-optic modulator is used to maintain the modulation performance of the modulator. The direct injected current changes the local temperature of the thermally stabilized electro-optic modulator to maintain its operation over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A polarization controller includes a first polarization controller, a demultiplexer, a second polarization controller, and a multiplexer. The first polarization controller controls the state of polarization of input light such that a part of the wavelength components of the input light is in a first state of polarization. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the light output from the first polarization controller into a plurality of wavelength components. The second polarization controller controls the plurality of wavelength components in a second state of polarization by using liquid crystal modulation devices. The multiplexer multiplexes the plurality of wavelength components output from the second polarization controller.

Abstract: An optical communication network includes a plurality of optical transmission devices, a communication path, an optical repeater, and a supervisory controller that includes a supervisory control information sender which is installed on at least one of one of the optical transmission devices and the optical repeater and controls a drive signal supplied to a semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies and outputs input signal light onto the communication path on the basis of the supervisory control information, and a supervisory control information receiver that receives the light which has been output from a semiconductor optical amplifier and transmitted through the communication path, converts the received light to an electric signal and identifies the supervisory control information on the basis of an intensity-modulated component of the total power of the electric signal in at least the other of one of the optical transmission devices and the optical repeater.

Abstract: An optical amplifier module includes a first optical amplifier to amplify main signal light to be supplied to a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF), a second optical amplifier to amplify the main signal light supplied from the DCF, a generating part to generate monitoring light having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of the main signal light, a multiplexing part to multiplex the monitoring light generated by the generating part and the main signal light to be supplied to the DCF, a demultiplexing part to demultiplex the monitoring light from the main signal light supplied from the DCF, and a detection part to detect a light intensity of the monitoring light demultiplexed by the demultiplexing part.

Abstract: Provided is an image capturing apparatus, including: an optical system causing a light receiving section to receive, in substantially the same spread, light from positions within a predetermined range of positional relation, and has different optical transfer functions for light from different positions lying within the predetermined range; a storage storing each process parameter for correcting the effect of an optical transfer function on the captured image, in association with a condition regarding a positional relation between a subject and the optical system to be satisfied in performing correction using the process parameter; an obtaining section obtaining positional information indicating a positional relation between a subject and the optical system; and a selecting section selecting a process parameter stored in the process parameter storage in association with a condition that the positional relation indicated by the positional information obtained by the positional information obtaining section sat

Abstract: A light modulator is disclosed for representing complex-valued data, comprising an encoding area that has an arrangement of pixels, the phase of which can be controlled. This largely avoids an interfering optical path difference between adjacent pixels or pixel groups when a complex value is encoded in several adjacent phase pixels of the encoding area, the optical path difference varying according to the angle. One respective specific structured delaying layer, which causes the optical path of an incident linearly polarized beam to change according to the angle, is associated with at least one predefined pixel of a group of adjacent pixels of the encoding area. The thickness of the delaying layer is designed such that the modification of the optical path caused by the delaying layer runs in the opposite direction from the angle-related modification of the optical path difference between individual pixels of the pixel group.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, the illumination optical system for illuminating an illumination target surface with light from a light source is provided with a polarization converting member which converts a polarization state of incident light so as to form a pupil intensity distribution in a predetermined polarization state on an illumination pupil of the illumination optical system; and a phase modulating member which is arranged in the optical path on the illumination target surface side with respect to the polarization converting member and which transmits light from the pupil intensity distribution so as to convert linearly polarized light thereof polarized in a first direction, into required elliptically polarized light and maintain a polarization state of linearly polarized light polarized in a second direction (X-direction or Y-direction) obliquely intersecting with the first direction, in order to reduce influence of retardation caused by a subsequent optical system between the polarization converting

Abstract: An optical subsystem (e.g., a lens assembly) provides descriptors of the image quality produced by the optics. The descriptors can be communicated to the electrical back-end (e.g., detector plus image processing), which can then automatically adjust the image processing accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical transmission device 100 capable of solving the problem of an unnecessary residual sideband components to thereby obtain a high-quality optical intensity-modulated signal in a case where an SSB optical modulation section 20 has wavelength dependence and a manufacturing error. In the optical transmission device 100, where the SSB optical modulation section 20 cannot evenly branch the intensity of the optical carrier into two routes of optical waveguide, the amplitude adjusting section 62 adjusts the amplitude of an electric signal that changes the refractive index of the SSB optical modulation section 20 so that the unnecessary sideband component of the optical intensity-modulated signal outputted from the SSB optical modulation section 20 disappears.

Abstract: A photoelastic modulator excited by a plurality of piezoelectric transducers affixed to the surface of a photoelastic bar for generating elastic waves in a plurality of cells each bounded by piezoelectric node drivers between which an antinode driver is disposed, is described. The standing elastic wave in each cell can be made independent of those in the neighboring cells by controlling the phase and amplitude of the drivers. The resulting elastic waves generate birefringence along the optical axis of the bar such that a linearly polarized optical wave propagating along the axis and having an initial phase, experiences a retardation of the phase as it passes through each cell. The cells may be controlled such that the phase of each standing wave does not change between cells and the phase retardation of the optical wave increases monotonically as the optical wave propagates through the bar, thereby, in theory, permitting an arbitrarily large retardation to be generated.

Abstract: An optical correlator includes an image production device and an image capture device disposed in a common plane. An optical device such as a lens or mirror provides a Fourier transform of image information from the image production device onto the image capture device. An advantage of embodiments of the invention is its small size.

Abstract: A light modulator is disclosed for representing complex-valued data, comprising an encoding area that has an arrangement of pixels, the phase of which can be controlled. This largely avoids an interfering optical path difference between adjacent pixels or pixel groups when a complex value is encoded in several adjacent phase pixels of the encoding area, the optical path difference varying according to the angle. One respective specific structured delaying layer, which causes the optical path of an incident linearly polarized beam to change according to the angle, is associated with at least one predefined pixel of a group of adjacent pixels of the encoding area. The thickness of the delaying layer is designed such that the modification of the optical path caused by the delaying layer runs in the opposite direction from the angle-related modification of the optical path difference between individual pixels of the pixel group.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for chirp control of a dual arm Z-modulator to minimize dispersion in the fiber plant. The chirp control is based upon a real-time control loop based upon performance monitoring data between a transmitter and a receiver. Advantageously, the present invention enables improved performance in high-speed optical systems, and in some cases can eliminate or minimize the need for external dispersion compensation fiber (DCF).

Abstract: A bias-control circuit that provides operating point control for a Mach-Zehnder modulator experiencing optical absorption at their interferometric arms. The bias control circuit generates compensation signals that are used to counter the thermally induced index shifts as a result of absorption. In addition, an operating point with desirable transmitter characteristics can also be arbitrarily chosen by over-compensating or under-compensating thermal effects.

Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for pixel distortion while reproducing hologram data includes an extraction unit, a determination and calculation unit, a table, and a compensation unit. The extraction unit extracts a reproduced data image from a reproduced image frame including the reproduced data image and borders. The determination and calculation unit determines position values of edges of the extracted reproduced data image, and calculates average magnification error values of pixels within line data from position values of start and end point pixels thereof, which are based on the determined position values of the edges. The table stores misalignment compensation values for the pixels within the line data, wherein the misalignment compensation values correspond to predetermined references for average magnification error values.

Abstract: An photonic device, comprising one section of a material which is different from the material of another section such that the two sections present different optical birefringent index values. This causes a first set of polarization modes to move in a spectral space with a different velocity than a second set of polarization modes. A bias current, or voltage, is used for controlling the overall birefringence effect in the device. The biasing for controlling the birefringence effect is performed such the TE modes and the TM modes of the device are made to coincide in their respective spectral position. Thus the device is made insensitive, or presents substantially reduced sensitivity, to the polarization of any incoming optical signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to converting a first light signal (L1) into a second light signal (L2) polarized according to a set of different states of polarization, whereby the set of different polarization states is represented by a corresponding set, of Stokes vectors in a Stokes space representation, and wherein the end points of the set of Stokes vectors span a geometric shape, wherein, in response to a desired geometric shape with an arbitrary orientation in the Stokes space, a setting (C1, C2) of at least two adjustable optical elements (22, 23) arranged in an optical path between an optical input (201) and an optical output (202) is determined such that, while varying the wavelength of the input signal (L1) within a certain range, corresponding variations of the geometric shape are below a desired value.

Abstract: An adjustable aperture construction for a camera comprises at least two electrodes, and an electrical circuit for applying a voltage to the electrodes in order to create an electric field between the electrodes. In addition the construction comprises a center unit with a hole in the middle as an aperture, where the center unit is made of an electroactive material and placed essentially between the electrodes. The center unit is then deformed, expanded or retracted by applying the electric field between the electrodes using the electrical circuit thereby adjusting the aperture in the center unit.

Abstract: A switchable apochromatic polarization rotator is provided. A first fixed waveplate has a first principal axis fixed in a first orientation. A second fixed waveplate has a second principal axis fixed in a second orientation. First and second switchable waveplates have principal axes oriented such that broad spectral range electromagnetic radiation transmitted through all of the waveplates has a first rotated polarization, wherein, in response to one or more control signals applied to the switchable waveplates, the principal axes of the switchable waveplates rotate such that the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through all of the waveplates has a second rotated polarization. The switchable waveplates utilize ferroelectric liquid crystal material, nematic liquid crystal material, or be mechanically rotated to adjust for orientation of their principal axes. Utilizing waveplates as described may be used to tune for a desired spectral range and/or compensate for temperature dependencies.

Abstract: A method of operating a semiconductor device, a semiconductor device and a digital micromirror system are presented. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a grounded substrate, a memory array, and a reset driver. The memory array may be isolated from the grounded substrate with a buried layer. The set of voltages of the memory array may be shifted with respect to a reset voltage. The reset driver may drive the reset voltage and the reset driver may have at least one extended drain transistor in the grounded substrate.

Abstract: A projection system includes an image-forming device and a polarizing beamsplitter. Illumination light illuminates the image-forming device via the first polarizing beamsplitter. A retardation element is disposed between the image-forming device and the polarizing beamsplitter. A bias controller applies a bias to pixels of the image-forming device in the dark state so as to substantially maximize contrast in image light reflected from image-forming device. In some arrangements, the volume between the polarizing beamsplitter and the image-forming device is sealed, with the retarding element being disposed within the sealed volume and being attached to either the polarizing beamsplitter or the image-forming device.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for chirp control of a dual arm Z-modulator to minimize dispersion in the fiber plant. The chirp control is based upon a real-time control loop based upon performance monitoring data between a transmitter and a receiver. Advantageously, the present invention enables improved performance in high-speed optical systems, and in some cases can eliminate or minimize the need for external dispersion compensation fiber (DCF).

Abstract: A system for, and method of resolving reset conflicts in a phased-reset SLM system and a projection visual display system incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes a reset conflict arbiter configured to receive reset instructions containing conflicts from a sequence generator and resolve the conflicts by shifting an execution time of a selected one of the reset instructions according to a conflict resolution method.

Abstract: A compensation element adjustment mechanism used with a light modulation device and a polarization plate includes: an optical compensation element disposed between the light modulation device and a polarization plate; a frame for supporting the optical compensation element, and having a pair of shaft members disposed at positions opposed to each other on a periphery of the optical compensation element; a support holder to be fixed with respect to the light modulation device, and for rotatably supporting the pair of shaft members; and a fixing section for restricting a displacement of the frame to the support holder by an elastic contact.

Abstract: A polarization duobinary optical transmitter is disclosed. The transmitter includes a precoder for coding an electric signal and a light source for generating continuous light. The transmitter also includes a chirped-free modulator for generating an NRZ signal including first and second polarization light beams orthogonal to each other by modulating the light with the electric signal and a band-pass filter for limiting neighbor frequency bands between the first and second polarization light beams.

Abstract: A system is used to perform fast and slow applications, for example fast application can be pulse trimming. The system includes a radiation source, an electro-optical modulator, and a beam splitter. The radiation source is configured to generate a polarized beam of radiation. The electro-optical modulator, formed of crystalline quartz, is configured to modulate the beam of radiation. The beam splitter is configured to direct a first portion of the beam to a beam dump and to form an output beam from a second portion of the beam.

Abstract: A method for the adaptive adjustment of a PMD compensator in optical fiber communication systems with the compensator comprising a cascade of adjustable optical devices through which passes an optical signal to be compensated and comprising the steps of computing the Stokes parameters S0, S1, S2, S3 in a number Q of different frequencies of the signal output from the compensator, producing control signals for parameters of at least some of said adjustable optical devices so as to make virtually constant said Stokes parameters computed at different frequencies.

Abstract: An acoustic damping material for electro-optic material has an adhesive material combined with a ceramic crystalline material such that the acoustic impedance of the combined adhesive material and the ceramic crystalline material is substantially the same as the acoustic impedance of the electro-optic material.

Abstract: Major surface of a substrate having an optical waveguide and a modulation electrode is pasted to a base substrate through a thermosetting resin, and then the rear surface of the substrate is machined thus making thin the entirety. Subsequently, the rear surface of the substrate thus rendered thin is subjected to machining or laser machining to form a thin part, which is further subjected to machining or laser machining to form a first thin part at a part, including the optical waveguide, of the thin part and a second thin part thinner than the first thin part contiguously thereto. Thereafter, the rear surface of the substrate is pasted to the major surface of a supporting substrate through a thermosetting resin and the base substrate is stripped thus obtaining an optical modulator.

Abstract: An electro-optical modulator is disclosed that has a microwave input, chip with a thin film resistor or a lumped resistor located between an input RF connector and an RF electrode on a Lithium Niobate chip. The accessory connection chip has a broadband attenuator like a thin film resistor which is placed in a microstrip line for effecting the electrical transmission to Lithium Niobate chip. The insertion of the thin film resistor before the RF electrode lowers the electrical return loss value as a function of frequency, allowing a lower driving voltage design or a reduced chip length without degrading the performances.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for selectively canceling a specified frequency band in the payload of an optical communication system. This selected frequency band is to be used for launching pilot tones for power measurement and identification. The method controls the intensity of the optical payload signal through an intensity modulator that is included in the optical communication system. The frequency band in payload to be cancelled is removed where as the other frequency components of the payload are passed without attenuation. An embodiment that uses a feed-forward unit, a feedback unit and a control unit for generating a cancellation signal for the intensity modulator is described. An advantage of the method is that it removes a continuum of payload tones in the specified frequency band to be cancelled.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a drive circuit may be coupled to a spatial light modulator, wherein the drive circuit provides a non-linear analog ramp signal to the spatial light modulator. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: The influences on transmission quality caused by chirp and self-phase modulation are at least largely corrected by way of an optimally set operating point of the modulator (2). Suitable criteria are obtained in control loops in order to maintain the optimal setting.

Abstract: A projection device includes on a chassis a liquid crystal panel for irradiation with light from a light source, a polarizing plate opposing the liquid crystal panel, and an optical compensation sheet provided between the liquid crystal panel and the polarizing plate, for compensating a twist angle of polarized light. The optical compensation sheet is attached to a rotational adjusting mechanism provided on the chassis so that it can be rotatively adjusted within a plane perpendicular to an optical axis L.

Abstract: A controller, particularly for setting a desired or randomized polarization state of an output light beam derived from an input, has more than the minimum number of controllable optical elements needed to determine the state of the output. The controller applies control input values to obtain a desired output state. The controller also selects among plural alternative sets of control values that could obtain the desired output state, so as to minimize other error conditions. The concurrent error conditions can be associated finite control range limits, for example to keep the input values near a middle of their ranges. Additional error conditions can include minimizing the incremental change in the values from one set to the next. The control is particularly useful to avoid problems associated with using finite range control elements such as liquid crystals for differential retardation or orthogonal light components, when controlling an endless or periodic parameter such as polarization.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical compensation element comprising a first transparent surface on which a transparent electrode is arranged; a second transparent surface on which a plurality of transparent main electrodes are arranged, several of which being respectively connected to control electrodes via a transverse electrode; and a material having a refractive index which changes according to the voltage applied, said material being arranged between the first and second transparent surfaces. The aim of the invention is to improve said compensation element. To this end, each main electrode is connected to a transverse electrode at a precise location.

Abstract: The device includes an oscillator (1) to generate an electrical signal of a predetermined frequency and a signal divider (2) to split the electrical signal into first and second signals. The frequency of the second signal is tripled by tripler (3) and the tripled second signal is recombined with the first signal at signal adder (9) to produce a combined electrical signal. This combined electrical signal drives a Mach-Zehnder modulator (10).

Abstract: A display system includes a light source 110 and a spatial light modulator 122 located to receive light from the light source. The spatial light modulator (e.g., a DMD) includes a number of independently controllable elements that are activated for a period of time to display light of a desired brightness. A light sensor 136 is located to determine a characteristic of light from the light source 110. A control circuit 126 is coupled to the spatial light modulator 122 and controls the period of time that the independently controllable elements are activated. This period of time is based at least in part by an input received from the light sensor 136.

Abstract: A projector apparatus includes a color separation optical system which separates illumination light into color light components, image forming panels illuminated with the color light components, respectively, a color synthesis optical system which synthesizes the light components from the illuminated image forming panels, and a projecting optical system which projects light from the color synthesis optical system. Transparent substrates are arranged on at least one of incident and exit surface side of the image forming panels. Each of the transparent substrates holds a polarizer. A surface area of at least one of the transparent substrates is larger than those of the remaining transparent substrates.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for controlling attenuation for a variable optical attenuator (VOA) inserted in an optical path of an optical signal propagating in an optical network, comprising the steps of measuring power of the optical signal at the VOA; comparing the measured power with a target power; and if the measured power differs from the target power, changing the attenuation of the VOA in one or more variable size intervals (VSI) so that the power of the optical signal substantially equals to the target power, wherein the VSI being a function of the measured power and target power.

Abstract: An exposure system (5) for fabricating optical film (40) such as for photoalignment, where the optical film (40) has a photosensitive layer (20) and a substrate (10). The exposure system (5) directs an exposure beam from a light source (1) through the optical film (40), then uses a reflective surface (58) to reflect the exposure energy back through the optical film (40) to enhance or otherwise further condition the photoreaction of the photosensitive layer (20).