Abstract: An aspect of the embodiment, a MEMS device includes a rotating unit, a first hinge, a first frame and an actuator. The actuator has a plurality of electrodes for rotating the rotating unit. The first frame has one of the electrodes. A portion of silicon layer by the electrode of the frame is chamfered.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operates as an optical gate switch and selects an optical signal indicated by a gate control signal from an optical gate switch control unit. A plurality of photodetectors monitor the power of an optical signal input through a corresponding input port. A VOA control unit calculates an amount of attenuation corresponding to each input port based on the power of each optical signal. A variable optical attenuator attenuates the selected optical signal according to the calculated amount of attenuation in synchronization with the gate control signal.

Abstract: A MEMS-based display device is described, wherein an array of interferometric modulators are configured to reflect light through a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sealed to a backplate and the backplate may contain electronic circuitry fabricated on the backplane. The electronic circuitry is placed in electrical communication with the array of interferometric modulators and is configured to control the state of the array of interferometric modulators.

Abstract: A low cost, multimode optical fiber switch in which a MEMS mirror is used to serially reflect input light from a plurality of input optical fibers into a single output fiber or from a single optical fiber into a plurality of output fibers. In a planned demonstration prototype the output fiber is located in the center of four input fibers. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention an array of MEMS mirrors are utilized with a large bundle of fibers containing both input and output fibers. Each MEMS mirror is adapted to reflect light from a number of input fibers one-at-a-time into a single output fiber or to reflect light from a single input fiber into a number of output fibers one-at-a-time.

Abstract: An optical switch provides the ability to broadcast one input signal to multiple output channels and to combine multiple input signals into single output channel. The signal broadcast pattern is reconfigurable. One or more diffractive optical elements are used in the switch.

Abstract: An all-optical cross-connect switching system provides optical switching that may reduce processing requirements by three orders of magnitude over conventional techniques by associating at least one optical detector with an optical beam steering element. In one embodiment, a first beam steering element, having a reflective surface in optical association with a first optical fiber array, and a second beam steering element, having a reflective surface in optical association with a second optical fiber array, are optically arranged to direct an optical beam from a first optical fiber in the first optical fiber array to a second optical fiber in the second optical fiber array. The optical detector provides information about a first position of the optical beam on the second beam steering element. Based on this information, the angle of the first beam steering element may be adjusted to cause the optical beam to change to a second position on the second beam steering element.

Abstract: An optical apparatus including input ports receiving WDM light, an output port, a first wavelength dividing unit that divides the lights input from the input ports into divided lights with different wavelengths, an optical signal processing unit that reflects the divided lights respectively to the first wavelength dividing unit, thereby light from one of the input ports is directed to the output port, for respective wavelength of the divided lights, a light source outputting a monitor light, a first coupler branching the monitor light to the monitor lights to the input ports, a second coupler branching the monitor lights output from the output port and outputs branched output monitor light, a second wavelength dividing unit that divides the branched monitoring lights into divided lights with different wavelengths, and a monitoring unit monitoring the divided lights from the second wavelength dividing unit.

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 optical communication device for detecting a defect in a standby optical fiber. An active optical output unit converts an electrical signal to an optical signal, and a standby optical output unit is provided as a substitute for the active optical output unit. An optical router is connected to the active optical output unit by an active optical fiber, and is also connected to the standby optical output unit by a standby optical fiber. The optical router outputs the optical signal received from the active optical output unit to the subsequent stage, and also outputs part of the optical signal to the standby optical output unit. A defect detector detects a defect in the standby optical fiber on the basis of the light level of the optical signal output from the optical router to the standby optical output unit through the standby optical fiber.

Abstract: The optical switch includes: a spectroscopic device which separates wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light into its component wavelengths; and a plurality of movable reflectors, arranged in a spectral direction at different intervals, for reflecting light of an individual component wavelength separated by said spectroscopic device. With this optical switch, deterioration of the characteristic of the pass band is avoided, so that the pass band characteristic is increased.

Abstract: An optical element, especially a normal-incidence collector mirror, for radiation in the EUV and/or soft X-ray region of wavelengths is described. The element has a substrate, a multilayer coating with an optically active region, and a capacitor, having a first and a second capacitor electrode. At least one layer of the multilayer coating serves as the first capacitor electrode. At least one dielectric layer is provided between the two capacitor electrodes. Also described is an optical system with at least one optical element, having a first electrode arranged in the vicinity of the optical element.

Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.

Abstract: An optical module is configured with a combination of a single-mode oscillating light source and an optical filter. In this optical module, the single-mode oscillating light source outputs a single-mode, frequency-modulated signal. Further, the optical filter converts the frequency modulation to an amplitude modulation. And, the single-mode oscillating light source and the optical filter are packaged without active alignment on the same substrate. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an optical module in a simple and low-cost configuration by packaging the single-mode oscillating light source and the optical filter by passive alignment, without active alignment, on the same substrate, and by using a simple optical filter such as a waveguide ring resonator, which converts a frequency modulation to an amplitude modulation.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch of the present invention angularly disperses lights output from a plurality of input ports of an input and output optical system, to an X-direction, according to wavelength, by a diffraction grating to supply the dispersed lights to a condenser lens. The condenser lens is arranged so that a center axis thereof is shifted to the X-direction relative to an axis passing through the center of spreading angle to the X-direction of output beams from the diffraction grating, and accordingly, at a non-operating time, the light of each wavelength passed through the condenser lens is incident on each movable mirror being tilted by an offset angle corresponding to a shift amount of the condenser lens. As a result, it becomes possible to block the connection between an input side and an output side at the non-operating time without degrading the performance at an operating time.

Abstract: A light source supplies optical signal to an optical switch and a detector detects light receiving level. A control unit changes a deflection control amount for changing an angle of a tilt mirror, and outputs the deflection control amount to a driving unit. When an input and an output ports are same, optical offset of the tilt mirror is calculated based on optimal angle at which the light detector detects an optimal point of the light receiving level. Whenever the input and the output port are different, a structure parameter of the tilt mirror is calculated based on the optical offset and the optimal angle. The optical offset and the structure parameter are stored in a memory as a test result.

Abstract: The invention relates to fiber-optic wavelength dispersive devices incorporating a wavelength dispersive reflector that provides auto-compensation of variations of output spectral characteristic with temperature and includes a transmissive dispersion that is followed by a beam-folding reflecting surface in a double-pass configuration grating and is coupled to a wedged shaped prism.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect for shifting the location of one or more light beams in and array of light beams is provided. An exemplary embodiment of an optical cross connect includes an input array for inputting an array of light beams; at least a portion of a spherical lens; a plurality of microelectrical mechanical devices; and a plurality of mirrors. The microelectrical mechanical devices are located at a distance away from the spherical lens that is approximately equal to the focal point of the spherical lens. The microelectrical mechanical devices include a plurality of individually controllable pixels for directing one or more light beams in the array of light beams through the at least a portion of a spherical lens and onto two or more mirrors. The two or more mirrors may be located at a distance away from the spherical lens that is approximately equal to the focal point of the spherical lens and are located generally opposite of one or more microelectrical mechanical devices.

Abstract: An optical switch is provided which includes a plurality of input/output ports for receiving one or more wavelength component(s) of an optical signal. The optical switch also includes an optical arrangement that directs the wavelength component to any given one of the plurality of input/output ports. The given input/output port may be selected from among any of the plurality of input/output ports. If the optical signal includes a plurality of wavelength components, the optical arrangement includes at least one wavelength selective element such as a thin film filter. The wavelength selective element selects one of the wavelength components from among the plurality of wavelength components. The optical arrangement also includes a plurality of optical elements each associated with one of the wavelength selective elements.

Abstract: An optical switch is provided, which is used to switch a light path(s) between at least three lenses spaced from each other in a horizontal direction, or in horizontal and vertical directions. This optical switch comprises a lens supporting member for supporting the lenses, fixed prism optically coupled to the lenses, and a movable prism supported to be movable relative to the lens supporting member. The movable prism is driven by an actuator between a first position where a light path is formed between two of the lenses by use of the fixed prism and a second position where a light path is formed between another two of the lenses by use of the movable prism.

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: A byte-wide optical switch and switching method are provided. The optical switch includes a first set of ports for receiving in parallel an optical byte of data, and multiple second sets of ports each capable of outputting in parallel the optical byte of data. An array of optical switching elements is disposed between the first set of ports and the multiple second sets of ports. The array of optical switching elements direct the optical byte of data in parallel from the first set of ports to at least one second set of ports of the multiple second sets of ports. The switching elements may comprise micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices, each having a position controllable reflective surface. Thin film optical filters can be provided on the reflective surfaces for wavelength selective switching.

Abstract: The multiplexer/demultiplexer has a planar reflector, a planar first filter element and a planar second filter element offset from the first filter element in a first direction to receive light reflected and transmitted from a first location on the first filter element. The first and second filter elements have orthogonal surface normals. The reflector is parallel to the second filter element and is offset therefrom in a second direction, orthogonal to first direction, to receive light reflected and transmitted from a second location, offset from the first location in the second direction, on the first filter element. The first and second filter elements each transmit and reflect light in non-overlapping wavelength ranges, and one of them has a band-pass or band-stop transmission characteristic.

Abstract: An optical switch includes an input port into which a multiplexed optical signal is input; a dispersing unit that, according to wavelength, disperses the multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of optical signals that are each dispersed in a unique direction; a converging unit that converges the dispersed optical signals; plural mirrors that are arrayed forming a single row in a plane and reflecting the converged optical signals, respectively; and plural output ports through which the reflected optical signals are output. Each of the mirrors has a concave reflective surface that is in the plane and of a predetermined curvature about an axis parallel to the plane.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber collimator array including a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers on a transparent substrate. Each microlens and the transparent substrate are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by the adhesive.

Abstract: An optical switch with a compact form factor includes a multiple-fiber collimator and an angle tuning element for deflecting an optical beam from an input fiber into one of at least two output fibers. The angle tuning element may be provided between a pair of coaxially-aligned collimators, one of which is the multiple-fiber collimator. Alternatively, the angle tuning element may be provided between the multiple-fiber collimator and a reflective surface, so that only one collimator is required and the optical switch may be designed to have its input and output ports on the same side.

Abstract: An optical selector switch contains an optical waveguide that includes a first optical waveguide portion having a first light-transmissivity, a second optical waveguide portion having a second light-transmissivity, reflecting members that reflect light, and a light-dividing device that reflects and transmits light; at least one light-emitting unit that emits the light toward the first optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide; and at least one light-receiving unit that receives the light which is incident to the first optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide from the light-emitting unit, based on a directivity due to an angle of the incident light to the first optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide, wherein the incident light to the first optical waveguide portion is emitted radially toward the circumference of the second optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: In a wavelength selective switch according to the present invention, an isolator is disposed between a lens array and a first lens. The isolator includes an isolator element and a transmitting means. The isolator is disposed so that the isolator element is on light paths of input lights and that the transmitting element is on a light path of an output light. The isolator element is shared among the light paths of the plurality of input lights. The isolator element intercepts lights propagating in an opposite direction to the input lights and prevents coupling of the lights to input ports. The transmitting element transmits the output light and couples it to an output port.

Abstract: A control section of an optical switch calculates information relating to a polarization amount in an insulating film at each predetermined time, to update the information relating to the polarization amount in the insulating film. On the other hand, when a drive voltage is applied to a MEMS mirror, an initial value of the drive voltage corresponding to an input setting command is read out from an initial value memory, and also, the information relating to the polarization amount in the insulating film is read out from the polarization amount memory, and the initial value of the drive voltage is corrected according to the read information relating to the polarization amount in the insulating film, to thereby set a new drive voltage, and the new drive voltage is applied on electrodes of the MEMS mirror.

Abstract: A switching element includes a bubble chamber, a heater and a heat conductor. The bubble chamber holds fluid. The bubble chamber includes a trench within a planar light circuit and includes a trench within an integrated circuit attached to the planar light circuit. The heater is located under the trench within the integrated circuit. The heat conductor is attached to the integrated circuit. The heat conductor is located within the trench within the integrated circuit. A portion of the heat conductor is in close proximity to the heater. The heat conductor is more heat conductive than the fluid within the bubble chamber.

Abstract: A light source supplies optical signal to an optical switch and a detector detects light receiving level. A control unit changes a deflection control amount for changing an angle of a tilt mirror, and outputs the deflection control amount to a driving unit. When an input and an output ports are same, optical offset of the tilt mirror is calculated based on optimal angle at which the light detector detects an optimal point of the light receiving level. Whenever the input and the output port are different, a structure parameter of the tilt mirror is calculated based on the optical offset and the optimal angle. The optical offset and the structure parameter are stored in a memory as a test result.

Abstract: An apparatus, an optical touch panel, a waveguide, and a process for producing a double layered waveguide structure are provided. The apparatus includes a waveguide having a plurality of transmission waveguide elements and a plurality of reception waveguide elements; a light source coupled to the waveguide; a light detector coupled to the waveguide; and a reflector, spaced apart from the waveguide, the reflector reflecting light emitted from the plurality of transmission waveguide elements towards the reception waveguide elements. The waveguide includes a substrate, a first cladding layer, a reception waveguide, a second cladding layer, a transmission waveguide, and a third cladding layer. The optical touch panel includes a waveguide section comprising a waveguide; a mirror; a surface emitting laser; and a detector.

Abstract: A high port count instantiated wavelength selective switch comprising two or more discrete sets, or instances, of m fiber ports totaling N fiber ports co-packaged together, one or more shared optical elements and dispersive elements, and one or more steering elements in each instance. The steering elements steer ?(k) from each instance of m input fiber ports to a ?(k) mirror dedicated to that fiber port instance, and wherein ?(k) mirror of the instance of m fiber ports is utilized to select and switch one ?(k) from the instance of m fiber ports to a fixed mirror which in turn reflects ?(k) to the ?(k) output mirror. The ?(k) output mirror selects and switches one ?(k) from one of the one or more instances of m fiber ports of the N×1 optical switch to the 1 output fiber port for each wavelength, and vice-versa for the 1×N optical switch.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a combination optical switch and monitoring system based on an array of mirrors, and a moveable reflective element co-packaged together, including discrete sets of fiber ports wherein ?n from input fiber ports is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics; such as shared beam steering elements, dispersive elements, and optical elements, and discrete arrays of MEMS mirrors utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the input fiber port(s) to an output fiber port(s) of the optical switch, and wherein a moveable reflective element sharing the same free space optics is utilized to sweep across and reflect selected portions of the optical spectrum back to a photodetector. By correlating reflective element position with power measured, a processor can obtain a spectral plot of the wavelength band of interest, as well as calculate parameters such as center wavelength, passband shape, and OSNR.

Abstract: An optical switch, comprises: a plurality of N input ports (2); a plurality of M output ports (24); and a plurality of displaceable beam steering arrangements (1) which, during switching, displace; N being greater or equal to 3 while M is greater or equal to 2; the plural number of displaceable arrangements substantially corresponding to either N or M; wherein said displaceable arrangements displace to and from positions of interception of substantially entire beams originating from said input ports and direct said beam on a path to said output port.

Abstract: A reduced polarization-dependent loss optical device utilizing two or more dispersive elements or a single dispersive element and a turning mirror, wherein the optical signal makes two passes through said single dispersive element when reflected from said turning mirror, and wherein the two or more dispersive elements or double pass single dispersive element has lower dispersion compared to a functionally equivalent single dispersive element, resulting in lower polarization dependent loss, reduced chromatic dispersion and increased wavelength dispersion. Moreover, a wavelength selective switch incorporating the optical device 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: An optical switch switches ports through which a beam is input and output and includes an optical system through which the beam passes; a movable reflector that is enclosed in a casing and reflects, at a variable angle, the beam that has passed through the optical system; and a transmissive window that is disposed in the casing at a position through which the beam passes, is made of a uniaxial crystal, and obtains a phase difference with respect to the beam passing therethrough having a wavelength ?. The phase difference is ?/4 times a positive odd integer and results from a setting of an orientation of a crystal axis and a thickness of the transmissive window.

Abstract: An all-optical cross-connect switching system provides optical switching that may reduce processing requirements by three orders of magnitude over conventional techniques by associating at least one optical detector with an optical beam steering element. In one embodiment, a first beam steering element, having a reflective surface in optical association with a first optical fiber array, and a second beam steering element, having a reflective surface in optical association with a second optical fiber array, are optically arranged to direct an optical beam from a first optical fiber in the first optical fiber array to a second optical fiber in the second optical fiber array. The optical detector provides information about a first position of the optical beam on the second beam steering element. Based on this information, the angle of the first beam steering element may be adjusted to cause the optical beam to change to a second position on the second beam steering element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dither control of a micromirror using a servo control loop in an optical switching apparatus, an optical switching apparatus and optical network are disclosed. A servo control loop may use dither tone having two or more frequency components to dither an output driver that controls the position of a micromirror in an optical switch. The two components may be demodulated from an optical signal deflected by the micromirror. The optical signal may be fed into two band-pass filters. Each band-pass filter may have a pass band centered on a different one of the two frequency components. The envelope detector may compare the envelopes of the band-pass filter outputs. If the envelopes differ by more than a set threshold the output of the envelope detector may be forced to zero. Otherwise, the output of the envelope detector may be the sum of the two band-pass filter outputs.

Abstract: An isolator assembly, for use internally within a multi-port optical switch, and which operates on a preselected number of input port channels. The assembly incorporates a sequence of a birefringent crystal with a half wave plate on part of its output face acting as a linear polarizer, a 45° Faraday rotator element and a half wave plate aligned at 22.5° to the polarization direction of the light rotated by the Faraday rotator. This arrangement ensures that any light spuriously returned from a reflective beam switching element of the switch is blocked from transmission out of the paths of light which the isolator assembly covers because of the orientation of the light polarization returned to the birefringent crystal. The isolator assembly is arranged such that it does not cover the beam path leading to the output port or ports, such that legitimate output beams are transmitted unhindered.

Abstract: A tilting mirror MEMS variable optical attenuator attenuates light over a band of wavelengths with minimum wavelength dependent loss. The attenuator includes a lens that has a wedged input face and is made from a material that has high dispersion. The lens design causes different wavelengths to travel different paths through the attenuator such that wavelength dependent loss is reduced. The attenuator may be designed to have minimum wavelength dependent loss at a specified attenuation greater than zero.

Abstract: A technique for photonic switching is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for photonic switching. The method may comprise receiving at least one optical signal at a photonic line card, wherein the at least one optical signal comprises one or more wavelength channels and the photonic line card comprises at least one integrated optical switch. The method may also comprise routing at least one of the one or more wavelength channels through the at least one integrated optical switch to a photonic bus, wherein the photonic bus comprises a plurality of optical paths and each of the plurality of optical paths is capable of carrying multiple wavelength channels.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical switch is disclosed. The optical switch is implemented with one or more cantilevered optical channels, which are formed in a flexible waveguide structure, and an actuator which is connected to the cantilevered optical channels, to position the cantilevered optical channels to direct an optical signal along one of a number of optical pathways.

Abstract: An optical switch includes plural pairs of ports and first lenses, each of the ports emitting light in a diffused manner or receiving light input thereto in a collected manner, and the first lenses respectively collimating light emitted from the ports; a second lens that collects the light collimated by the first lenses; and an inclinable mirror that reflects the light collected by the second lens at different angles toward the second lens. A position of a first lens is adjusted based on a first distance between a core of the second lens and a portion of the second lens through which light collimated by the first lens passes.

Abstract: An optical device includes an I/O port group and a movable mirror reflecting light input through an input port of the I/O group, aligning the light reflected with an output port of the I/O port group, and changing the angle of the light reflected according to a driving voltage supplied thereto. The optical device further includes a control unit that adjusts the driving voltage within a range lower than the voltage at which the degree of alignment of the light with respect to the output port is maximized and controls attenuation of the light reflected by the moveable mirror.

Abstract: An optical path switching device includes compact and unpackaged components; the components are mounted onto a single platform; and the components are coupled by luminous flux. Connection between optical fibers is negated. In particular the optical path switching device includes an optical input, an optical output, an optical branching device and an optical signal detection device. At least two of the optical input, the optical output, the optical branching device and the optical signal detective device are mounted onto a single platform.

Abstract: An optical module includes a fiber array, a laser diode array, a photodiode array and a micro-lens array. The fiber array includes optical fibers which are divided to a transmitter group and a receiver group. The laser diode array includes laser diodes which are grouped in a transmitter group. The photodiode array includes photodiodes which are divided to a monitor group and a receiver group. The laser diode array is provided between the fiber array and the photodiode array. The optical fibers of the transmitter group are optically aligned with the laser diodes of the transmitter group, respectively. The micro-lens array is provided between the laser diode array and the photodiode array, and optically aligns the laser diodes of the transmitter group and the optical fibers of the receiver group with the photodiodes of the monitor group and the photodiodes of the receiver group, respectively.

Abstract: A thin film interleaver device is disclosed. The thin film interleaver includes thin film optics. The thin film(s) are formed such that they reflect one group of wavelengths while allowing a second group of wavelengths to pass through the thin film(s). The thin film(s) exhibit a flat top frequency response across the channel bandwidths of the multiplexed signal for which the thin film filter is designed such that the thin film interleaver is less sensitive to wavelength drift and temperature variations.

Abstract: A single-pole, wavelength selective switch in which the input optical signal is converted to a light beam having a defined polarization, such as S-polarization, with respect to the system plane. The beam is laterally expanded in the system plane, and then spatially dispersed in the same plane as that of the beam expansion, preferably by means of a diffraction grating. The light is directed through a polarization conversion device, preferably a liquid crystal cell, pixelated along the wavelength dispersive direction such that each pixel operates on a separate wavelength. When the appropriate control voltage is applied to a pixel, the polarization of the light signal passing through that pixel is rotated, such as from S to P. The wavelength dispersed beams from the pixels are recombined, and are passed towards another polarizer at the switch output, aligned such that only the selected polarization components are allowed to exit.

Abstract: An optical switching system includes a connection information memory portion (21) that stores connection information between input ports and output ports, a control characteristic memory portion (23) that stores control characteristic data of micro mirrors with respect to each of a plurality of temperatures, a temperature sensor (25) that senses a temperature in the optical switching system, and a computing portion (22) that refers to the control characteristic data stored in the control characteristic memory portion so as to calculate a controlled variable for the angle control of the micro mirrors based on the connection information stored in the connection information memory portion and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An optical switch provides the ability to broadcast one input signal to multiple output channels and to combine multiple input signals into single output channel. The signal broadcast pattern is reconfigurable. One or more diffractive optical elements are used in the switch.