Abstract: A wavelength selective switch (WSS) apparatus. The WSS apparatus includes: a plurality of input/output port groups; a plurality of switching lens parts; a plurality of wedge prism parts; a beam expansion part; a wavelength dispersion part; a path combining part configured to combine the groups of the plurality of light beams transmitted from the switching lens parts on the dispersion axis; an imaging optic part; and a switching unit including a plurality of surface areas corresponding to the plurality of input/output port groups, the switching unit being configured to angular displace an angle of a selected wavelength on the switching axis such that the wavelength selected from multiple wavelength channels of an input port selected independently for each of the plurality of input/output port groups is transmitted to an output port of the plurality of input/output port groups selected independently.

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength selective switch (WSS) type optical switching device (1) configured for switching input optical beams from input optical fiber ports (3, 5 and 7) to an output optical fiber port (9). Device (1) includes a wavelength dispersive grism element (13) for spatially dispersing the individual wavelength channels from an input optical beam in the direction of a second axis (y-axis). The optical beams propagate from input ports (3, 5 and 7) in a forward direction and are reflected from a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device (11) in a return direction to output port (9). The input optical beams are transmitted through a port selecting module (21), which provides polarization diversity to device (1) and provides capability to restrict optical beams returning from LCOS device (11) from being coupled back into input ports (3, 5 and 7).

Abstract: Provided is a polarization-combining module in which it is possible to suppress deviation of an optical axis in a polarization-combining optical system and to perform efficient polarization combination with a less optical loss.

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength selective switch (WSS) type optical switching device (1) configured for switching input optical beams from input optical fiber ports (3, 5 and 7) to an output optical fiber port (9). Device (1) includes a wavelength dispersive grism element (13) for spatially dispersing the individual wavelength channels from an input optical beam in the direction of a second axis (y-axis). The optical beams propagate from input ports (3, 5 and 7) in a forward direction and are reflected from a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device (11) in a return direction to output port (9). The input optical beams are transmitted through a port selecting module (21), which provides polarization diversity to device (1) and provides capability to restrict optical beams returning from LCOS device (11) from being coupled back into input ports (3, 5 and 7).

Abstract: A light modulator element includes a liquid crystal element which has a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules aligned along a first direction, and two transparent electrodes disposed in opposition to each other with the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, and which controls the phase of linear polarization light and passing through said liquid crystal layer by applying an electric voltage between said two transparent electrodes; a polarizer plate which is disposed between a light source and said liquid crystal element and which has the transmission axis along the first direction or along a direction orthogonal to said first direction; and a rotation mechanism which supports the liquid crystal element and the polarizer plate and which rotates the liquid crystal element and the polarizer plate integrally in one unit with the optical axis of the liquid crystal element as the rotation axis.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for optical switching. In some implementations, a magneto-optic switch includes multiple optical components positioned in order along a light path including: a single fiber optical collimator, a first birefringent optic crystal, a first half wave plate assembly, a polarization rotation assembly, a second half wave plate assembly, a second birefringent optic crystal, and a dual fiber optic collimator, wherein a first side of the polarization rotation assembly near the first half wave plate assembly includes a first Faraday rotator element, a second side of the polarization rotation assembly near the second half wave plate assembly includes an optic rotation component, the polarization rotation assembly having a magnetic field generating component outside the first Faraday rotator element.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for optical switching. In some implementations, a magneto-optic switch includes multiple optical components positioned in order along a light path including: a single optical fiber collimator, a first pair of refraction crystals, a first half wave plate assembly, refraction components, a second half wave plate assembly, a second pair of refraction crystals, and a dual fiber optic collimator, wherein a first side of the refraction components near the first half wave plate assembly includes a first Faraday effect element, a second side of the refraction components near the second half wave plate assembly includes an optic rotation assembly, the optic rotation assembly having a magnetic field generating component outside the first Faraday effect element.

Abstract: An optical switch for performing high extinction ratio switching of an optical signal includes a beam polarizing element and one or more optical elements. The optical elements are configured to direct an optical signal along a first or second optical path based on the polarization state of the optical signal as it passes through the optical elements. The optical switch performs high extinction ratio switching of the optical signal by preventing unwanted optical energy from entering an output port by using an absorptive or reflective optical element or by directing the unwanted optical energy along a different optical path.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a polarization controller to control a polarization controller configured to control a polarization plane of a first optical signal as wavelength-multiplexed light input through a first input port, and control a polarization plane of a second optical signal as wavelength-multiplexed light input through a second input port such that the polarization plane of the second optical signal is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the polarization plane of the first optical signal, a demultiplexer to demultiplex optical signals multiplexed in the first and the second optical signals, a polarization separator to separate, an optical collector to collect the optical signals separated by the polarization separator, an optical signal reflector to reflect each of the optical signals collected by the optical collector; and a reflection controller to control the optical signal reflector in accordance with an incident position of the optical signal.

Abstract: The optical switch is capable of supervising the performance of optical switching in standby channels, and includes: a collimator unit; an optical splitter; a light-gathering unit; and a rotatable mirror. The optical switch further includes: a mirror angle controlling unit which controls a reflection face angle of the rotatable mirror for each wavelength to switch ON/OFF of the light beam coupling to the optical output port for each wavelength reflected, and determines an optical output port position outputting light beams of the reflected wavelengths; and a monitor unit, installed on a return path of a light beam, which monitors a light beam whose optical coupling is made OFF.

Abstract: An optical switch for performing high extinction ratio switching of an optical signal includes a beam polarizing element and one or more optical elements. The optical elements are configured to direct an optical signal along a first or second optical path based on the polarization state of the optical signal as it passes through the optical elements. The optical switch performs high extinction ratio switching of the optical signal by preventing unwanted optical energy from entering an output port by using an absorptive or reflective optical element or by directing the unwanted optical energy along a different optical path.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical amplifier including a first reversible optical circulator and an optical gain device is provided. The first reversible optical circulator has four I/O ports which are respectively referred to as a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The four I/O ports sequentially transmit an optical signal in a transmission direction of a forward circulation or a backward circulation according to a control signal. The first terminal is isolated from the adjacent fourth terminal. The optical gain device is connected between the first terminal and the adjacent fourth terminal. The second terminal and the third terminal are respectively connected to a first communication node and a second communication node.

Abstract: An improved optical switch utilizes one polarization modulator, with the beam components traversing it twice. Because of the twice traverse, the extinction ratio of the switch is doubled without the addition of another polarization modulator, thus avoiding the costs of additional optical components. With no additional components, the switch is more compact than conventional switches with the same extinction ratio. Fewer components also result in more thermal and long-term stability and less crosstalk.