Abstract: A method for cross connecting optical signals includes using a common beam steerer to direct a set of optical signals from a set of input ports to a set of output ports. The method further includes adjusting a curvature of the common beam steerer so that paths of the optical signals have substantially the same effective path length.

Abstract: An adapter block constructed to mount to more than one mounting configuration of a telecommunications panel. The adapter block including a housing constructed to slide mount to a panel, and pivot mount to a panel from either a front or a rear of the panel. The housing including flexible levers that provide a snap-fit connection to secure the adapter block relative to the panel in each of the mounting configurations. The adapter block providing access to cable terminations of the block in each of the mounting configurations.

Abstract: Leaf switches and spine switches in a Clos network are interconnected by optical fibers. The network enables large numbers of servers or other apparatus to communicate with each other with minimal delay and minimal power consumption.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wavelength-selective switch having an optical demultiplexer having N optical outputs, a first optical multiplexer having N optical inputs, a second optical multiplexer having N optical inputs, and a plurality of controllable 1×P optical switches. Integer P is greater than or equal to 2. Each of the optical switches is connected to a corresponding one of the optical outputs of the optical demultiplexer and is connected to corresponding ones of the optical inputs of the respective first and second optical multiplexers. The optical AWG demultiplexer has an optical AWG sampling coefficient of one or more for light with a wavelength in the optical telecommunication C-band, L-band, or S-band.

Abstract: An N×M monolithic switch and a method of operating the switch.

Abstract: A method of producing a precursor, active-matrix, fluid-assay micro-structure including the steps of (1) utilizing low-temperature TFT and Si technology, establishing preferably on a glass or plastic substrate a matrix array of non-functionalized pixels, and (2) preparing at least one of these pixels for individual, digitally-addressed (a) functionalization, and (b) reading out, ultimately, of completed assay results.

Abstract: A method for producing an active-matrix, fluid-assay micro-structure including, utilizing low-temperature TFT and Si technology, establishing preferably on a glass or plastic substrate a matrix array of digitally-addressable, assay-material-specific-functionalizable pixels, and employing pixel-specific digital addressing for selected, array-established pixels, individually functionalizing these pixels.

Abstract: A method of performing a fluid-material assay employing a device including at least one active pixel having a sensor with an assay site functionalized for selected fluid-assay material. The method includes exposing the pixel's sensor assay site to such material, and in conjunction with such exposing, and employing the active nature of the pixel, remotely requesting from the pixel's sensor assay site an assay-result output report. The method further includes, in relation to the employing step, creating, relative to the sensor's assay site in the at least one pixel, a predetermined, pixel-specific electromagnetic field environment.

Abstract: An optical waveguide-type wavelength domain switch includes a waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate comprising three or more laminated waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing devices, a lens system positioned on a demultiplex side of the waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate, and a reflective optical phase-modulating cell positioned on an opposite side of the waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate to the lens system.

Abstract: An optical switching system and method that provide fault tolerant optical switching without duplicating the entire system. Two optical switches are provided, each of which receives a portion of a transmitted optical signal. Should one switch fail, the other switch is still able to perform the required optical routing of the optical signal to the desired receiving node. The two switches can be the same type of optical switch that have identical switching functionality, or each switch could have a distinct switching functionality. In one example, one switch could be a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) switch that has fast switching speed but uses more power, and the other switch could be a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switch that has slower switching speed but uses less power, thereby combining the benefits of fast switching and low power switching into a single architecture.

Abstract: A scalable optical switch especially useful for switching multimode beams carried by optical fibers. Light from an input fiber is focused by a lens which is moved in an x-y direction perpendicular to the beam direction in order to switch the beam from one output fiber to a different fiber. In preferred embodiments the beam can be directed to any one of as many as 90 output fibers. Techniques for scaling the switch to produce N×N switches with N being large are described. Embodiments of the present invention can also be utilized to create more elaborate fiber optical switches such as an N×N switch and a N2×N switch.

Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate with first and second arrays of optical couplers located along a planar surface thereof. The optical couplers of the first array are laterally arranged along the surface to end-couple in a one-to-one manner to corresponding optical cores of a first multi-core fiber whose end is facing and adjacent to the first array. The optical couplers of the second array of optical couplers are laterally arranged along the surface to end-couple in a one-to-one manner to corresponding optical fiber cores of one or more optical fiber ends facing and adjacent to the second array. An optical switch network is optically connected to selectively couple some of the optical couplers of the first array to the optical couplers of the second array in a one-to-one manner.

Abstract: A coherent planar lightwave circuit (PLC) optical mixer chip is described comprising a matched pair of symmetrical four-coupler interferometers for in-phase and in-quadrature detection of two polarization components of light using a polarization diversity arrangement. The waveguide structure of the chip is symmetrical about two orthogonal central axes of the chip, whereby the effect of temperature gradients on the mixer is reduced. A light traveling from an input to an output of any of the two interferometers is cross-coupled by one of the two couplers it passes through, and is bar-coupled by the other of the two couplers, so as to compensate for polarization, wavelength, and manufacturing process dependence of bar-coupling with that of cross-coupling.

Abstract: A programmable graphical display switch is described herein that provides users with a way of controlling other devices and for customizing how that control is initiated and communicated to a user.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch utilizing aperture-shared optics and functionally distinct planes of operation that enables high fiber port counts, such as 1×41, and multiplicative expansion, such as to 1×83 or 1×145, by utilizing elements optimized for performance in one of the functionally distinct planes of operation without affecting the other plane.

Abstract: In an optical network design apparatus, a constraint setter sets a first constraint that one of alternative values given beforehand is selected as the dispersion compensation amount of each node, sets a first margin value that assumes a nonnegative value, sets a second constraint that the first margin value is equal to or greater than the difference between the residual dispersion and the lower bound of an allowable range, sets a second margin value that assumes a nonnegative value, and sets a third constraint that the second margin value is equal to or greater than the difference between the upper bound of the allowable range and the residual dispersion. A calculation controller generates an objective function including the first, second and third constraints and including a summation of the first and second margin values for all paths, and derives a solution that minimizes the objective function.

Abstract: An optical node includes a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) core configured to transmit optical signals of multiple wavelengths to and receive optical signals of multiple wavelengths from another optical node. The ROADM core is also configured to add optical signals thereto and to drop optical signals therefrom. The node also includes two different types of add-on devices, each connected to the ROADM core device and configured to process optical signals of multiple wavelengths. As a result, a multifunctional and reconfigurable optical node can be provided.

Abstract: A circuit switched optical device includes a first array of intersecting hollow waveguides formed in a first plane of a substrate. A second array of intersecting hollow waveguides is formed in a second plane of the substrate, and the second plane is positioned parallel to the first plane. An optical element within the first array selectively redirects an optical signal from the first array to the second array.

Abstract: An optical routing device is described that comprises a semiconductor substrate (52) having at least one optical input (4), a plurality of optical outputs (6,8) and an array of MEMS moveable reflective elements (58;102). The array of moveable reflective elements (58;102) are configurable such that light can be selectively routed from any one optical input (4) to any one of two or more of said plurality of optical outputs (6,8). Light selectively routed from any one optical input to any one of two or more of said plurality of optical outputs (6,8) is guided within a hollow core waveguide (54). In one embodiment, a cross-connect optical matrix switch is described.

Abstract: An optical node may include a plurality of optical input components operable to receive a plurality of signals communicated in an optical network and a plurality of optical output components operable to transmit a plurality of signals to be communicated in the optical network.

Abstract: A conventional technology does not show that the number of middle stage switches is minimized on a non-blocking condition of a multisource and possible multicast Clos type network, and it becomes a high cost system. Further, no addition or deletion of a connection can be done without a data loss. It is an object to provide, as a means for solving the problems, a multisource and multicast possible Clos type network based on such a technology that the number of middle stage switches is minimized on a non-blocking condition and that addition/deletion of a connection to a existing multicast tree can be carried out without a data loss, so that the network can be operated at low cost without a data loss.

Abstract: An optical crossbar switch for optically coupling optic fibers comprising: at least one first fiber and a plurality of second fibers; a moveable fiber-end carriage coupled to an end of the at least one first fiber and having at least one latching hook and being constrained to move along a predetermined trajectory; at least one moveable slack-control carriage coupled to the body of the at least one first fiber and constrained to move along a predetermined trajectory; an array of sockets defined by walls, at least one of which walls of each sockets formed having a latch hole for receiving the latching hook; and at least one moving device controllable to move the carriages; wherein to optically couple a first fiber to a second fiber, the at least one moving device moves the fiber-end carriage of at least one of the first and second fibers to a socket and inserts the fiber's fiber end into the socket so that the at least one latching hook latches into the latch hole and secures the carriage to the socket array.

Abstract: Provided are an optical switch device having a simple light path and capable of achieving high speed switching, and a method of manufacturing the optical switch device. The optical switch device comprises one or more first optical waveguides extending in a first direction, one or more second optical waveguides connected to the first optical waveguides in a second direction crossing the first direction, and one or more switching parts configured to control light transmitted in the first direction within the first optical waveguide connected with the second waveguide, to selectively reflect the light to the second waveguide extending in the second direction.

Abstract: Leaf switches and spine switches in a Clos network are interconnected by optical fibers. The network enables large numbers of servers or other apparatus to communicate with each other with minimal delay and minimal power consumption.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for group optical channel shared protection. In the invention, when a failure occurs, operations are performed on an optical wavelength group, and four actions are accomplished at the time of switching: switching the affected optical wavelength group on the working fiber to a backup fiber (Steer); switching the optical wavelength group whose destination node is the current node on the backup fiber to the working fiber (Copy); making the optical wavelength group whose destination node is not the current node on the backup fiber transparently pass through the current node (Pass Through); and blocking or stripping the backup wavelength group transferred on the backup fiber (Strip). In addition, the invention further discloses a plurality of node structures for realizing the above operations.

Abstract: An optical switch, comprising a plurality of light inputs and a plurality of light outputs. The switch additionally includes a polarization beam splitter, configured to split light beams received through the input carriers into separate first and second polarization components and a plurality of semi-transparent mirrors and polarization rotators arranged to allow controllable deflection of the first and second polarization components from the beam splitter to a selected one of the light outputs, wherein the one or more different planes defined for at least 15% of the semi-transparent mirrors by the possible paths of the first polarization component passing through the semi-transparent mirror in the arrangement do not coincide with planes defined by the possible paths of the second polarization component passing through any of the semi-transparent mirrors in the arrangement.

Abstract: A M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS) module capable of independently routing any wavelength channel from any input port to any output port is provided. The M×N WSS includes a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, each of which is disposed such that light transmitted to or from a first plurality of ports passes through a common point. The M×N WSS also includes a wavelength dispersive element, a first switching array having M rows including K switching elements, a second beam relayer, and a second switching array including N switching elements. The second switching array includes an optical by-pass disposed at the common point, which provides means for separating the input and output beams of light, and which allows both the input and output optical beams to traverse similar paths throughout the optical train.

Abstract: A polarization-tracking device having a waveguide grating that serves as a polarization splitter and an optical fiber-to-waveguide coupler. The polarization-tracking device also has an optical mixing circuit configured to receive light from the waveguide grating and a control circuit for tuning the optical mixing circuit. Based on an optical feedback signal received from the optical mixing circuit, the control circuit can configure the latter to produce two optical output signals that represent, e.g., two independently modulated polarization components of a polarization-multiplexed optical input signal or two principal states of polarization of an optical input signal that has been subjected to polarization-mode dispersion. Certain embodiments of the polarization-tracking device lend themselves to convenient implementation in a photonic integrated circuit and are configurable to provide endless polarization control.

Abstract: A signal routing assembly accepts a first transmission signal at an input and outputs a substantial portion of the signal at a common port of the signal routing assembly. A second transmission signal is received at the common port and is routed through the signal routing assembly delivered to output of the signal routing assembly. Leakage signals from routing devices leaking the first transmission signal are terminated inside the signal routing assembly. Leakage signal from a divider/combiner are cancelled by reflect signal from at least one reflector device. A transmitter produces the first transmission signal and the signal routing assembly delivers this signal to the common port of the signal routing assembly. In full duplex operation, second transmission signals received at the common port are routed to the output to be applied to a receiver.

Abstract: This invention discloses highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch devices which exhibit low loss and scalability to high port counts. In particular, a device for the programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100's-1000's) is provided, whereby a two-dimensional array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule-based fashion into a one-dimensional array with tensioned fiber optic circuit elements tracing substantially straight lines there between. Fiber optic elements are terminated in a stacked arrangement of flexible fiber optic circuit elements with a capacity to retain excess fiber lengths while maintaining an adequate bend radius. The combination of these elements partitions the switch volume into multiple independent, non-interfering zones, which retain their independence for arbitrary and unlimited numbers of reconfigurations.

Abstract: A multi-chassis network device includes a plurality of nodes that operate as a single device within the network and a switch fabric that forwards data plane packets between the plurality of nodes. The switch fabric includes a set of multiplexed optical interconnects coupling the nodes. For example, a multi-chassis router includes a plurality of routing nodes that operate as a single router within a network and a switch fabric that forwards packets between the plurality of routing nodes. The switch fabric includes at least one multiplexed optical interconnect coupling the routing nodes. The nodes of the multi-chassis router may direct portions of the optical signal over the multiplexed optical interconnect to different each other using wave-division multiplexing.

Abstract: A M×N wavelength selective optical switch (WSS) for switching K wavelength channels is disclosed. The WSS has two MEMS micromirror arrays, a M×K array and a 1×N array, for switching any wavelength channel from any input port to any output port, provided that any output port receives optical signals from only one input port. The WSS can be used to build fully reconfigurable, colorless and directionless node of an agile optical network.

Abstract: Fully monolithic gimbal-less micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) devices with large static optical beam deflection and fabrications methods are disclosed. The devices can achieve high speed of operation for both axes. Actuators are connected to a device, or device mount by linkages that allow static two-axis rotation in addition to pistoning without the need for gimbals, or specialized isolation technologies. The device may be actuated by vertical comb-drive actuators, which are coupled by bi-axial flexures to a central micromirror or device mount. Devices may be fabricated by etching an upper layer both from the top side and from the bottom side to form beams at different levels. The beams include a plurality of lower beams, a plurality of full-thickness beams, and a plurality of upper beams, the lower, full-thickness and upper beams That form vertical combdrive actuators, suspension beams, flexures, and a device mount.

Abstract: An optical bench in a wavelength selective switch (WSS) is mounted using a combination of fixed mounts and stress-free mounts. The WSS is packaged in an enclosure including a base, a sidewall, and a lid. The optical switching engine is attached directly to the base. The optical bench is attached to the base and the optical components supported thereon are aligned with the array of switching elements of the switching engine. The optical bench is attached to the base with at plurality of mounts, which include at least one movable mount supporting movement of the optical bench in a plane parallel to the optical bench and at least one fixed mount maintaining optical alignment between the dispersive element and the array of switching elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiplexer/demultiplexer with a connection for inputting and/or outputting an optical signal which has signal components of different wavelengths, a carrier plate (8) with at least one wavelength-sensitive element (11), a focussing member (13) with at least two focussing elements (14, 14?) as well as a detector or signal-generator plate (1), on which at least two detectors (4) or signal generators are arranged. To achieve this, it is proposed according to the invention that the focussing member (13) has at least one fibre stop, preferably formed integrally with the focussing member for adjusting a waveguide, and is connected to the detector or signal-generator plate (1) or to the carrier plate (8) via an elastic connecting element (23).

Abstract: A matrix switch is provided with a plurality of input-terminals, a plurality of output-terminals, a plurality of connector switch elements connecting the plurality of input-terminals with the plurality of output-terminals, a plurality of input-terminal shunts associated with the plurality of input-terminals, and a plurality of output-terminal shunts associated with the plurality of output-terminals. Each input-terminal is connected to at least any one of the plurality of input-terminal shunts, and the input-terminal shunt connects the associated input-terminal to a predetermined impedance load as necessary. Each output-terminal is connected to at least any one of the plurality of output-terminal shunts, and the output-terminal shunt terminates the associated output-terminal in a predetermined impedance as necessary.

Abstract: A network element for a transport network contains a multistage lower order switching matrix with at least an input matrix stage and an output matrix stage designed to switch lower order multiplex units and with a center stage capable of switching higher order multiplex units, only, thereby connecting the input and output stages.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic switches and switch fabrics employing the photonic switches. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic switch comprises a first waveguide disposed on a surface of a substrate in proximity to an opening in the substrate, and a second waveguide crossing the first waveguide and positioned in proximity to the opening in the substrate. The photonic switch includes a tunable microring resonator disposed on the surface of the substrate adjacent to the first waveguide and the second waveguide and configured with an opening aligned with the opening in the substrate. The photonic switch also includes a wire having a first end and a second end and configured to pass through the opening in the microring and the opening in the substrate.

Abstract: A scalable optical switch especially useful for switching multimode beams carried by optical fibers. Light from an input fiber is focused by a lens which is moved in an x-y direction perpendicular to the beam direction in order to switch the beam from one output fiber to a different fiber. In preferred embodiments the beam can be directed to any one of as many as 90 output fibers. Techniques for scaling the switch to produce N×N switches with N being large are described. Embodiments of the present invention can also be utilized to create more elaborate fiber optical switches such as an N×N switch and a N2×N switch.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an array of semiconductor optical amplifiers, within a photonic integrated circuit (hereinafter, “PIC”), that apply a gain to one or more optical bands within a WDM signal. According to various embodiments of the invention this array of SOAs can function as both an amplifier and a ROADM by adjusting the gain characteristics of one or more of the SOAs within the array. A band within the WDM signal may be blocked by adjusting the SOA, corresponding to the particular band, to attenuate the band below a threshold.

Abstract: Three-dimensional holographic elements are disclosed. Three-dimensional Bragg gratings recorded on bulks of optical material are included in the disclosure. Such elements may be manufactured by placing a three-dimensional bulk of optical material directly behind a recorded master hologram, directing a reference beam onto a master hologram such that a replica of the master hologram is recorded in the optical material. The replica may form the three-dimensional holographic element. The master hologram may be Bragg grating formed on a surface of a transparent substrate.

Abstract: Provided is an optical communication device including optical switches. The optical communication device a first multi-mode core disposed on a substrate, the first multi-mode core extending in a first direction and second multi-mode cores disposed on a substrate, the second multi-mode cores parallelly extending in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction to intersect the first multi-mode core. The heaters respectively intersect intersectional regions between the first and second multi-mode cores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid optical switch, which is composed of a silicon micro-mirror-array and a mini-actuator array mainly. The invention which combines microelectromechanical systems technology and traditional precision machining technology, possesses the advantages of low cost, high accuracy, high fabrication yield, low actuation voltage, low power consumption, self-aligned micro-mirrors, and easy fiber alignment.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an optical network including multiple optical network devices, or nodes, is provided. At each node, an optical performance monitor analyzes dispersion while a dispersion compensation module reduces the amount of dispersion in the signals. Information about the dispersion and the amount of compensation performed by the dispersion compensation module is generated by the optical performance monitor and stored in a memory. If the bit error rate of a particular path between nodes becomes too high, a new path is used. A monitoring computer then accesses the information about the dispersion stored in at least one node of the old path. The information allows a user to determine where along the path the greatest amount of dispersion is occurring.

Abstract: An interconnect element incorporates a plurality of smaller, substantially identical, interconnect modules. Multiple identical elements can in turn be combined to form larger interconnect networks. Signal paths in the elements can be implemented with optical fibers or electrical conductors.

Abstract: A method and system provide capacity-efficient restoration within an optical fiber communication system. The system includes a plurality of nodes each interconnected by optical fibers. Each optical fiber connection between nodes includes at least three channel groups with different priority levels for restoration switching in response to a connection failure. The system maintains and restores full-capacity communication services by switching at least a portion of the channel groups from a first optical fiber connection to a second optical fiber connection system based on the priority levels assigned to the channel groups. Service reliability is effectively maintained without to incurring additional costs for dedicated spare optical fiber equipment by improving idle capacity utilization.

Abstract: A micro electro mechanical system device includes a fixed electrode that includes a first electrode group, and a movable electrode that moves with respect to the fixed electrode as voltage is applied and includes a second electrode group that opposes the first electrode group, wherein electrodes of at least one among the first electrode group and the second electrode group are connected via a resistor.

Abstract: A system and method of asymmetrical fiber or waveguide spacing comprising, in general, an asymmetrical fiber concentrator array (FCA), wherein an offset in the front face spacing of the output waveguides relative to the input waveguides functions to reduce or eliminate the introduction of static back reflection, and static in-to-in crosstalk into a fiber by an optical switch, but does not impose the cost, complexity, and insertion loss penalties brought about by additional components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing three-dimensional Bragg grating elements. The method for manufacturing three-dimensional Bragg gratings may include forming a first Bragg grating element using a pair of recording beams. The method may also include using a single recording beam to replicate the first Bragg grating element to form a second Bragg grating element.

Abstract: An optical time delay apparatus comprises: a multi-wavelength optical source; a diffractive element set imparting a wavelength-dependent delay on signals routed from the source to a 1×N optical switch; and N diffractive element sets routing signals from the 1×N switch to an output port. The optical propagation delay between the source and the output port varies according to the operational state of the source and the 1×N switch. A photodetector may receive the time-delayed signal at the output port.