Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of making an optical microstructure patterns on a light guide plate, a light guide plate thereof and a imprinting mold. The method of making the optical microstructure patterns on the light guide plate includes a step of bombarding the surface of a substrate to form a micro notch thereon by laser, in which the periphery of the micro notch has as at least a protrusion, and a step of bombarding the protrusion to at least downsize the protrusion by another laser.

Abstract: A light guiding bar includes first and second light incident portions, a light exit portion and a reflecting portion. The first and second light incident portions are at opposite ends of the light guiding bar and receive light. The light exit portion extends in a first direction, and partially totally reflects and partially emits the light according to an incident angle. The reflecting portion extends in the first direction, is adjacent to the light exit portion and includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces. Each of the reflecting surfaces has a wedge shape and reflects the light in a direction inclined with respect to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The light incident into the first and second light incident portions and directly on the light exit portion is totally reflected by the light exit portion.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to an image sensor comprising (a) a optical pipe comprising a core and a cladding, and (b) a pair of photosensitive elements comprising a central photosensitive element and a peripheral photosensitive element, wherein the central photosensitive element is operably coupled to the core and the peripheral photosensitive element is operably coupled to the cladding, and methods of fabricating and using the same. The image sensor could further comprise a lens structure or an optical coupler or an optical coupler over the optical pipe, wherein the lens structure or the optical coupler or the optical coupler is operably coupled to the optical pipe.

Abstract: A device having a case, an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber and a light path extending between the input and output optical fiber. A light path interrupting element is disposed within the case and is movable from a first position at which it interrupts a portion of the light path so that a first amount of light can reach the output optical fiber to a second position at which a second amount of light can reach the output optical fiber. A retainer is moveable relative to the case from a retaining position to a disengaged position. At the retaining position the retainer is engaged with the light path interrupting element to retain the light path interrupting element at the first position, and at the disengaged position the retainer is disengaged from the light path interrupting element and the light path interrupting element is at the second position.

Abstract: A fiber-optic coupler packaging including an internal encapsulation for encapsulating a fiber-optic coupler, the refraction index of the internal encapsulation is smaller than the refraction index of the fiber-optic coupler, and an external encapsulation, for encapsulating the internal encapsulation, the refraction index of the external encapsulation is greater than the refraction index of the internal encapsulation, the internal encapsulation and the external encapsulation are substantially transparent to the range of wavelengths of the light traveling inside the fiber-optic coupler.

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: Briefly, in accordance with one more embodiments, a substrate guided relay comprises a slab guide having an absorbing edge at a first end of the slab guide. An input coupler is disposed on a surface of the slab guide at an angle with respect to a first edge of the slab guide. An output coupler is disposed on the surface at a second end of the slab guide. Light rays that enter the slab guide toward the first end are absorbed by the absorbing edge, and light rays that enter the slab guide toward the output coupler exit the slab guide via the output coupler. The absorbing edge on the first edge of the slab guide allows the input coupler to be placed on the slab guide without regard to alignment of the input coupler with the first end of the slab guide.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image forming device having pixels; a collimating optical system collimating light from the image forming device; and an optical device receiving, guiding, and outputting the collimated light as directional rays in different directions. The optical device includes a light-guiding plate; a first optical member reflecting or diffracting the light so as to totally reflect the light inside the light-guiding plate; and a second optical member causing the propagated light to emerge from the light-guiding plate. When a light ray emitted from a pixel located farthest from the center of the image forming device and a light ray emitted from a pixel located at the center of the image forming device pass through a front nodal point of the collimating optical system and are respectively incident on the collimating optical system and the light-guiding plate at angles ?1 and ?2, ?2>?1 is satisfied.

Abstract: A dental laser radiation chip includes an optical fiber including a fiber center section having a core and a clad and also including a jacket for covering the fiber center section. The dental laser radiation chip radiates a laser light having a wavelength of around 3 ?m. A tip section of the dental laser radiation chip has a shape of frustum tapering forward in an axial direction. The shape of frustum includes a tip face from which forward laser light is to be radiated forward in the axial direction and an inclining side face from which side laser light is to be radiated in a radial direction with respect to the axial direction. The tip face is mirror-surface-finished to have a surface roughness of 0.008 ?m. The inclining side face is rough-surface-finished to have a surface roughness of 0.4 ?m.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one more embodiments, a substrate guided relay for a photonics module includes a slab guide having a first end and a second end, and a first surface and a second surface. An input coupler disposed at the first end of the slab guide at an interface between the input coupler and the slab guide receives an input beam and feeds the input beam into the slab guide which generates multiple copies of the input beam. An output coupler disposed on the first surface of the slab guide causes the multiple copies of the input beam to exit the slab guide via the output coupler as an output. A homogenizer disposed on the second surface of the slab guide reflects at least some of the multiple copies of the input beam to increase uniformity of the output.

Abstract: A high resolution, wide spectral range, optical apparatus that includes an optical resonator cavity and a wavelength demultiplexer, arrangeable in multiple configurations. A method for increasing the resolution of a wavelength demultiplexer involves inputting light into an optical resonant cavity; inputting a plurality of different resonant output wavelengths to a wavelength demultiplexer; and routing each different resonant wavelength to a different output waveguide of the demultiplexer to generate a demultiplexer output spectrum. The method further involves performing either a time serialization or a space serialization procedure to increase the channel density and fully cover the spectrum of interest.

Abstract: Asymmetrical interleavers and deinterleavers. In one example embodiment, an asymmetrical deinterleaver includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth filter cells interleaved with first, second, third, and fourth waveplates and followed by a fifth waveplate. The filter cells are configured to filter optical signals propagating on first and second legs of an optical loop. The asymmetrical deinterleaver also includes a retro reflector optically coupled with the filter cells and waveplates. The retro reflector is configured to reflect the optical signals between the first leg and the second leg to form the optical loop. The asymmetrical deinterleaver further includes a single-fiber collimator optically coupled to the first leg of the optical loop and a dual-fiber collimator optically coupled to the second leg of the optical loop.

Abstract: The application of optical microstructures improve the quality of light available to the viewer of an optical display system, or any display which works on the concept of moving one surface into direct contact or close proximity of a light guide to extract light through frustrated total internal reflection. Certain ones of the microstructures can act to assist in overcoming stiction between the surface and the light guide.

Abstract: A miniature pluggable video module having a length less than one inch, and a width less than three quarters of an inch, and a plurality of pin connectors attached to the back of the housing. The pluggable video module can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Inputs and outputs of the module can be adapted to include various types of optical or electrical connectors. The inputs and outputs of the module can be modified into various combinations of optical or electrical configurations, and the combinations of inputs and outputs also can be modified.

Abstract: A virtual image display device with an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A termination for an optical fiber is disclosed, including an end cap optically connected to a delivery end of the fiber and tapering its towards its proximal end so as to expand the signal beam output by the fiber, a capillary having a bore mounted so that the end cap and an end portion of the delivery fiber are mounted within the bore, the capillary having an end which is angled so as to reflect undesired radiation within the capillary away from the fiber, and a cladding mode stripper arranged upstream of the delivery end.

Abstract: An optical splitter, a combiner and a device. The optical splitter comprises a first longitudinal waveguide for receiving an incoming light wave; at least first and second pairs of output waveguides, the output waveguides of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of the first waveguide; wherein each of the output waveguides of each pair comprises a longitudinal portion disposed parallel to the first waveguide and such that optical power is coupled from the first waveguide into the respective longitudinal portions and the longitudinal portions of output waveguides of the first and second pairs are displaced along a length of the first waveguide; wherein each of the output waveguides of each pair further comprises a substantially S-shaped portion continuing from the respective longitudinal portions and such that optical power coupling between the respective S-shaped portions of output waveguides of the first and second pairs is substantially inhibited.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a fiber optic display screen of adjustable size. In one embodiment, a screen comprises: a plurality of pixels formed by a terminal end of at least one optical fiber, wherein the pixels are substantially equidistant from each other along a first axis in a first screen size and in a second screen size that is larger than the first size.

Abstract: An optical fuse or energy-switching-off device includes an optical waveguide having an input section and an output section, the two sections forming a pair of opposed surfaces extending transversely through the axes of the waveguide sections. A substantially transparent material is disposed between the opposed surfaces and comprises an electrically conductive nanotube web immersed in dielectric material, where the nanotubes are not in electrical contact with each other. The substantially transparent material forms a plasma when exposed to optical signals propagating within the optical waveguide with an optical power level above a predetermined threshold, and the plasma damages the opposed surfaces sufficiently to render the surfaces substantially opaque to light propagating within the input section of the optical waveguide so as to prevent the transmission of such light.

Abstract: An optimized planar optical router consisting of two stages performing stationary imaging between an input waveguide and a set of output waveguides has advantages of reduced size, larger number of channels and minimal loss variation in each passband. Each stage is a waveguide grating router, the two stages are characterized by nearly equal free-spectral ranges, and a waveguide lens is connected between the two stages. In one embodiment, the lens is connected between the central zones of the two stages, and the diffraction orders of the two stages vary monotonically from each passband to the next. In another embodiment, the loss caused by secondary images is substantially reduced by using a composite lens providing efficient transmission of both principal and secondary images.

Abstract: In a conventional optical signal processing device, a confocal optical system is configured in which a focusing lens is positioned at a substantially-intermediate point of a free space optical path. Thus, the free space optical system had a long length. It has been difficult to reduce the size of the entire device. The optical signal processing device of the present invention uses a lens layout configuration different from the confocal optical system to thereby significantly reduce the length of the system. The optical signal processing device consists of the first focusing lens positioned in the close vicinity of a signal processing device, and the second focusing lens positioned in the vicinity of a dispersing element. A distance between the dispersing element and the signal processing device is approximately a focal length of the first focusing lens. Compared with the conventional technique, the length of the optical path can be halved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical connection component which comprises a solid state laser component for emitting a modulated beam of light in response to an applied electrical signal. The optical connection component also comprises an optical lens positioned relative to the solid state laser component at a predetermined position in which the optical lens reduces divergence of the emitted beam of light. The optical lens is formed at the predetermined position in a manner such that the optical lens is immobile relative to the solid state laser component. The optical connection component further comprises an optical waveguide having a core for guiding the light. The optical waveguide has first and second end-portions. The first end-portion is positioned for coupling the modulated light from the optical lens into the core.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide, includes preparing a light path conversion component including a structure in which a protruding portion having a light path conversion inclined surface is covered with a metal layer and the metal layer serves as a light path conversion mirror, and a structural body in which a core layer is formed on a first cladding layer and an opening portion is provided in an end side of a light path of the core layer, arranging the light path conversion mirror of the light path conversion component in the opening portion of the core layer, and forming a second cladding layer covering the core layer, wherein a light path of a light that propagates through the core layer is converted toward a first cladding layer side by the light path conversion mirror.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical 90-degree hybrid circuit for reducing wavelength dependency of an IQ phase difference. An optical 90-degree hybrid circuit according to the present invention comprises a first demultiplexing optical coupler including a first and second input port, a second demultiplexing optical coupler including a third and fourth input port, first and second arm waveguides connected to the first and second input port, each having the same length, a third and fourth arm waveguides connected to the third and fourth input port, each having the same length, a 90-degree phase shift section installed in one of the first to fourth arm waveguides, a first optical coupler connected to the first and third arm waveguide, and a second optical coupler connected to the second and fourth arm waveguide, the light is inputted into the first and fourth input port or into the second and third input port.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module for optically coupling with an optical fiber connector is disclosed. The optical fiber connector includes a light input optical fiber and a light output optical fiber. The optoelectronic module includes a circuit board, a photodiode mounted on the circuit board, a laser diode mounted on the circuit board and a light directing member mounted on the circuit board. The light directing member includes a first surface and a second surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface. The first surface faces the light input optical fiber and the light output optical fiber, the second surface faces the photodiode and the laser diode. The light directing member includes a light reflecting surface configured for reflecting light from the light input optical fiber to the photodiode and reflecting light from the laser diode to the light output optical fiber.

Abstract: An optoelectronic transmission device includes a base, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, an optical signal source, a light detector, a carrier, and a monocrystalline-silicon reflector. The first optical fiber transmits first light. The second optical fiber transmits second light. The optical signal source emits the first light. The light detector receives and converts the second light into electrical signals. The carrier has a first through hole and a second through hole. The first optical fiber is received in the first through hole. The second optical fiber is received in the second through hole. The monocrystalline-silicon reflector is positioned on the base and covers the light detector and the optical signal source. The monocrystalline-silicon reflector internally totally reflects the first light from the optical signal source to the first optical fiber and internally totally reflects the second light from the second optical fiber to the light detector.

Abstract: An optical module includes a substrate including an optical device chip disposed on a top surface thereof, a spacer having at least one through hole and combined with the substrate on the substrate to insert the optical device chip into the through hole, a cover combined with the spacer on the spacer to stop the through hole, and an optical fiber combined with the cover on the cover in a position corresponding to a position of the optical device chip. The optical module is configured such that light transmitted through the optical fiber is incident to the optical device chip or light emitted from the optical device chip is incident to the optical fiber. The optical module may be downscaled and produced in large quantities at low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical apparatus having a multimode interference coupler configured to optically couple a strip waveguide to a slot photonic crystal waveguide. The multimode interference coupler has a coupling efficiency to the slot photonic crystal waveguide greater than or equal to 90%, a width that is approximately equal to a defect width of the slot photonic crystal waveguide, a length that is equal to or less than 1.5 ?m, and interfaces with the slot photonic crystal waveguide at an edge of a period that gives a termination parameter of approximately zero. The optical apparatus may also include an insulation gap disposed between the multimode interference coupler and the slot photonic crystal waveguide, wherein the length of the multimode interference coupler is reduced by approximately one half of a width of the insulation gap.

Abstract: A fiber spectroscopic probe that can be mounted directly above the objective lens of a standard microscope to add a spectroscopic function to the microscope. The fiber spectroscopic probe only consists of a minimum number of optical components and is compact enough to induce minimum alteration to the optical path of the microscope.

Abstract: An optical coupler includes a first waveguide configured to supply a first optical signal having a wavelength and a second waveguide. The first optical signal having a first mode. The first waveguide has a tapered portion being spaced from the second waveguide by a distance sufficient to facilitate evanescent coupling of the first optical signal from the first waveguide to the second waveguide. A first effective refractive index of the first waveguide at a location in the tapered portion being equal to a second effective refractive index at a location in the second waveguide. The first effective refractive index being associated with the first mode and the second effective refractive index being associated with a second mode of a second optical signal having the wavelength. The second mode having a different order than the first mode, and the second waveguide being configured to supply the second optical signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Provided is an optical module, including: an optical system having an optical path in a space thereof; an electro-optical device optically connected to a first input/output port as one of an input port and an output port of the optical system; an optical waveguide having flexibility; and a housing including an optical interface. The optical waveguide includes: a first connection portion optically connected to the optical interface in the housing; and a second connection portion optically connected to a second input/output port as another one of the input port and the output port of the optical system. The optical waveguide is arranged so as to be bent in the housing. A first optical axis passing between the optical interface and the first connection portion is displaced from a second optical axis passing between the second input/output port and the second connection portion.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board, and an optical waveguide formed on the circuit board. The circuit board is provided with a pedestal for supporting a slider. The pedestal allows the optical waveguide to be disposed so as to overlap the slider in a thickness direction of the circuit board.

Abstract: Lightguide is disclosed. The lightguide includes a staircase shape optical construction that includes a plurality of light reflecting risers. At least two of the risers include non-parallel light reflecting portions.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light-emitting surface includes a plurality of discrete, substantially flat light-emitting illumination devices arranged in a tiled configuration. Each device has a light-emitting area and an unilluminated area, the light-emitting area of a first device occluding at least a portion of the unilluminated area of a second, adjacent device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to microresonator systems that can be used as a laser, a modulator, and a photodetector and to methods for fabricating the microresonator systems. In one embodiment, a microdisk comprises: a top layer; a bottom layer; an intermediate layer having at least one quantum well, the intermediate layer sandwiched between the top layer and the bottom layer; a peripheral annular region including at least a portion of the top, intermediate, and bottom layers; and a current isolation region configured to occupy at least a portion of a central region of the microdisk including at least a portion of the top, intermediate, and bottom layers and having relatively lower index of refraction than the peripheral annular region.

Abstract: An optical backplane connector with a board removable (being possible to insert and remove) therein in the direction perpendicular to the backplane plate surface is arranged on a backplane having optical transmission paths. The optical backplane connector accommodates a photoelectric conversion module in such a manner the incident and exit light are perpendicular to the backplane and a transparent board with a photoelectric conversion element mounted thereon is perpendicular to the board and parallel to the backplane. The conduction between the electric contacts of the photoelectric conversion module and the inner electric contacts of the optical backplane connector is held by mechanical contact. At the end portion of the optical transmission path on the backplane, an optical connector having a 45? mirror and guide pins is mounted. The positioning operation is achieved by fitting the guide pins of the optical connector with the guide holes of the photoelectric conversion module.

Abstract: An FOT module is provided that has a molded cover in which an optical beam transformer is integrally formed. The molded cover includes at least a nontransparent molded part that is secured to a mounting structure, such as a molded leadframe or a PCB, on which at least one active optical device is mounted. The material of which the nontransparent molded part is made has a CTE that matches, or nearly matches, the CTE of the body of the mounting structure. Consequently, exposure of the FOT module to temperature variations will not result in delaminations at the interface of the mounting structure and the nontransparent molded part.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and devices for a variable fiber optic delay line that includes an electro-optic modulator for receiving and modulating an input signal, a switchless discrete long time delay module for injecting a long time delay into the modulated signal to produce a long delayed signal, and a switchless analog variable short delay module injecting a variable short time delay into the long delayed signal for a delayed output signal having a delay approximately equal to the long plus the short time delay. The module may also include non-dispersive single mode fibers for transmission between components and a circulator coupled for routing the input signal to the discrete long time delay module and routing the first delayed output signal to the analog variable short delay module. The VFODL can be used for Radio Frequency, digital electrical signals requiring time delay and amplitude processing or optical signal processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light coupler and a manufacturing method thereof. The light coupler of the invention includes a plurality of light input terminals, a plurality of light output terminals, a plurality of half mirrors, and an optical wave guide connecting the plurality of the light input terminals, the plurality of the light output terminals and the plurality of the half mirrors. The optical wave guide has kinked line shape and each of the plurality of half mirrors is placed at a respective corner of the kinked line shape. Especially, the kinked line shape includes a polygon network.

Abstract: An optical coupling device enabling spherical or hemispherical light sources to be more fully utilized by gathering more of the emitted radiation and reducing the angle of emission. The optical coupling device includes a first conic reflector having an aperture at the first conic reflector vertex; a second conic reflector coaxial with the first conic reflector and opening toward the first conic reflector; a light source positioned at the second conic reflector vertex; and a negative element located at the aperture for reducing the numerical aperture of the light emitted from the optical coupling device. The optical coupling device may include a refractive medium between the first and second conic reflectors. The present invention provides for improved efficiencies when transferring or coupling optical energy into additional optical systems, and may be used with solid state light as well as conventional sources.

Abstract: A multiplicity of Fresnel lenses are attached to tubular branches of a tree-like support structure. Fiber optic bundles are connected to the Fresnel lenses and routed inside the tubular branches and collected as a larger fiber optic bundle inside a main trunk structure to which each of the branches is connected. The larger fiber optic bundle may be connected to a remotely located power generating plant or other processing facility via a fiber optic transmission network. A domed solar energy collector includes an outer dome and one or more inner domes concentrically nested therewith, one or more Fresnel lenses being positioned on the hemispherical surface of each of the outer and inner domes. Each of the inner domes is sized and positioned such that its hemispherical surface lies on the focal point of the next larger dome to thereby multiply the solar energy focused through each of the domes to a collection area within the innermost dome.

Abstract: A transceiver comprising a CMOS chip and a laser coupled to the chip may be operable to communicate an optical source signal from a semiconductor laser into the CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be used to generate first optical signals that are transmitted from the CMOS chip to optical fibers coupled to the CMOS chip. Second optical signals may be received from the optical fibers and converted to electrical signals via photodetectors in the CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be communicated from the semiconductor laser into the CMOS chip via optical fibers in to a top surface and the first optical signals may be communicated out of a top surface of the CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be communicated into the CMOS chip and the first optical signals may be communicated from the CMOS chip via optical couplers, which may comprise grating couplers.

Abstract: An optical rotary joint comprises a first collimator arrangement for coupling-on first light-waveguides, and a second collimator arrangement for coupling-on second light waveguides, with the second collimator arrangement being supported to be rotatable relative to the first collimator arrangement about a rotation axis. At least one derotating optical element is provided in the light path between the first collimator arrangement and the second collimator arrangement. At least one collimator arrangement comprises a rod-shaped lens that is fastened on a support plate so that the axis of the lens is tilted at a given angle relative to the rotation axis of the rotary joint.

Abstract: A diffractive beam expander (50) comprises an input grating (10), a crossed grating (20), and an output grating (30) implemented on a planar transparent substrate (7). The crossed grating (20) comprises a plurality of diffractive features (23) arranged along the lines of a first set of parallel lines (25) and along the lines of a second set of parallel lines (26) such that the lines (25) of the first set are parallel to the lines (26) of the second set. The lines of the first set have a first grating period and the lines of the second set have a second grating period. A light beam (B1) coupled into the substrate (7) by the input grating (10) impinges on the crossed grating (20) at a first location (EC1) and further locations (EC2). Interaction at the first location (EC1) provides several sub-beams (S00, S01, S10) which propagate in different directions.

Abstract: A transmissive active channel element is provided in each signal channel of a monolithic multi-channel TxPIC where each channel also includes a modulated source. The active channel element functions both as a power control element for both monitoring and regulating the output channel signal level of each signal channel and as a modulator for channel wavelength tagging or labeling to provide for wavelength locking the modulated sources. The power regulating function is also employed to control the channel signal power outputs of each channel to be uniform across the channel signal array. All of these functions are carried out by a feedback loop utilizing digital signal processing.

Abstract: A light distributing device (100) comprises a thin planar waveguide (10) and a waveguiding ridge (20). An incoming light beam (B1) coupled into the ridge (20) forms a second light beam (B2) waveguided in the ridge (20). The ridge (20) and the planar waveguide (10) have a common portion (23) such that light is further coupled from the side of the ridge (20) into the planar waveguide (10) through said common portion (23). Thus, optical power of a broad incoming beam (B1) may be effectively coupled to a relatively thin planar waveguide (10). The planar waveguide (10) may further comprise diffractive out-coupling elements (30) to direct light towards a display (400).

Abstract: An optical 90-degree hybrid circuit includes: first and second optical splitters for receiving and splitting a first and second light beam into two, respectively; a first optical coupler for generating an interfering light beam by multiplexing one of the light beams split by the first optical splitter and the second optical splitter; and a second optical coupler for generating an interfering light beam by multiplexing another one of the light beams split by the first optical splitter and the second optical splitter. The first optical splitter includes an optical coupler configured to output two light beams having equal phases, and the second optical splitter includes an optical coupler configured to output two light beams having a phase difference of 90 degrees.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a signal in an optical system includes generating an optical signal along an optical axis for transmission through an optical element, positioning the optical element so that a surface discontinuity is positioned along the optical axis such that the optical signal defines a substantially radially symmetric intensity profile, and launching the optical signal into an input face of an optical fiber such that the intensity profile is substantially null proximate an optical axis associated with the optical fiber.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, first optical fiber arrangement(s) can be provided which transceives at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. Second focusing arrangement(s) can be provided in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation. Third dispersive arrangement(s) can receive a particular radiation which is the first electro-magnetic radiation and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation, and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure. At least one end of the fiber can be directly connected to the second focusing arrangement and/or the third dispersive arrangement.