Abstract: An optical tap is provided that includes an input waveguide having a first width for receiving an optical signal and a tap waveguide having a second width. The tap waveguide is coupled to the input waveguide in a junction region. An output waveguide, which has a third width, is coupled to the input waveguide in the junction region defined by the intersection of the input and tap waveguides. The input waveguide, tap waveguide and output waveguide respectively have input, tap and output longitudinal, centrally disposed optical axes. The input and tap axes define a first acute angle therebetween and the input and output axes define a second acute angle therebetween. A tapping ratio is defined by a ratio of optical output power from the tap waveguide to optical output power from the output waveguide. The tapping ratio is determined at least in part by the first, second and third widths and the first and second angles.

Abstract: A setup for providing an optical contact adapted for guiding an optical signal comprises an optical waveguide being adapted for guiding the optical signal and comprising a tip on an end of the waveguide, wherein the tip comprises a transparent elastic material covering the end. A detector is provided for detecting a substantial alignment between the waveguide and an optical path within a device under test, and a first moving unit is used to move the waveguide laterally relative to a longitudinal direction of the waveguide and the device under test until the detector substantially detects the alignment. A second moving unit is adapted to reduce the distance between the tip and the device under test until the tip comes in physical contact with the device under test when the detector has detected alignment.

Abstract: A prismatic tap assembly positioned over a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) redirects a small portion of a beam back to a light detector positioned adjacent to the VCSEL. The larger portion of the beam passes through the tap assembly and into, for example, an optical fiber. The light received by the light detector may be used to monitor the power output of the VCSEL and may be used for control purposes.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring optical transmitter signals are described. In one aspect, an optical transmitter system includes a feedback block, an optical substrate, a source of input light within an operative wavelength range, and a detector. The feedback block is substantially transparent to light within the operative wavelength range and includes an optical fiber side having a light output and one or more reflectors, and an optical substrate side. The optical substrate is substantially transparent to light within the operative wavelength range. The optical substrate includes a device side having a light input, and a feedback block side that is coupled to the optical substrate side of the feedback block. The feedback block side has a splitter that is operable to split light that is received from the device side light input into an output beam that is directed toward the light output of the feedback block and a light sample that is directed toward a feedback block reflector.

Abstract: An alignment device includes an alignment member with one or more waveguide-alignment grooves, resonator alignment grooves, and/or an alignment groove for a second optical element such as a modulator. The various alignment grooves reliably establish and stably maintain evanescent optical coupling between the optical elements positioned therein. A method for assembling a resonant optical power control device may include: fabricating an alignment member with the alignment grooves; positioning and securing the optical elements in corresponding alignment grooves for optical coupling therebetween. Alignment grooves in the substrate and/or in one or more of the optical elements are fabricated at proper depths and positions and preferably with mating grooves and/or flanges to enable optical coupling without extensive active alignment procedures.

Abstract: A microchip may include an optical signal routing system. The optical routing system may include a distribution waveguide coupled to a light source and signaling waveguides interconnecting source and destination locations. A directional coupler may be used to couple and modulate light from the distribution waveguide to a signaling waveguide at a source location. A photodetector may be used to convert light signals from the source location into electrical signals at the destination.

Abstract: A monolithic optical module of injection-molded high temperature polymeric resin combines an optical turn of typically 90 degrees together with dual or triple beam paths. No additional piece parts are necessary for achieving the optical turn, since this occurs by total internal reflection (TIR), and no additional piece parts are necessary for dual monitoring, which is realized by means of an air-gap functioning as a dual beam-splitter plate. The monolithic optical module further includes integrally surfaces for accurate alignment of the module with external optical elements, and can additionally include integral optical elements, for example lenses and thin film coatings.

Abstract: A power and communications assembly including a housing removably mountable to a worksurface, at least one electrical power receptacle at least partially contained in the housing and an optical splitting device configured to split one optical bi-directional signal into a plurality of additional optical bi-directional signals, the optical splitting device substantially within the housing.

Abstract: An optical component is disclosed. The optical component includes a tap waveguide and a primary waveguide positioned on a base. The tap waveguide is configured to receive a portion of a light signal traveling along the primary waveguide. The portion of the light signal received by the tap waveguide is the tapped portion of the light signal. A direction changing region is configured to receive the tapped portion of the light signal from the tap waveguide and to direct the tapped portion of the light signal travels away from the base. A light sensor is configured to receive the tapped portion of the light signal from the direction changing region.

Abstract: An optical power combining system. The system may comprise: a means for splitting an optical source into multiple channels; amplifiers in the multiple channels; and waveguide couplers for coherently combining the multiple channels into a single output.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber Bragg grating sensor system, which comprises a light-division device having receiving-sending terminals and sensing terminals, a light generating device and a photo detector coupled with receiving-sending terminal of a light-division device, sensing fibers coupled with the sensing terminals, said sensing fiber comprising a fiber Bragg grating, a information processor connecting with said photo detector. The light-division device distribute different optical energy ratio from said receiving-sending terminals to said sensing terminals. The intensity and wavelength division multiplexing can make different intensity for the information addressed of different sensing fiber on the same optical channel to enhance the sensing capacity of fiber Bragg grating sensor system.

Abstract: Optical components may be aligned for transverse-optical coupling by: fabricating a first optical component on a substrate; fabricating an alignment member on the substrate suitably positioned relative to the first optical component; and assembling a second optical component onto the alignment member, thereby establishing transverse optical coupling between the optical components. The substrate may preferably be substantially planar. The alignment member may mechanically engage the second optical component so as to accurately establish and stably maintain transverse optical coupling. The first optical component and the alignment member may preferably be fabricated on the substrate using precision spatially selective materials processing techniques. Transverse optical coupling between two optical components may be stably maintained by substantially embedding transverse-coupled portions of the components in a substantially solid substantially transparent low-index medium.

Abstract: A tap monitor including provisions to accommodate misalignment is disclosed. The tap monitor includes an optical coupler tuned to a desired optical splitting ratio. The light output of one of the output fibers or legs is directed to a sensor. The sensor resides in a hole in the substrate and is configured to absorb substantially all of the optical energy regardless of the precise alignment between the sensor and the fiber. Also disclosed are multiple tap monitors disposed in an array.

Abstract: A tap coupler device for an optical array is formed either in a waveguide structure or in a V block in which a fiber array may be mounted. The tap coupler device may include a substrate with main and tap waveguides formed therein, and waveguide tap couplers formed in the substrate for diverting a portion of the optical signal from the main waveguides to corresponding tap waveguides. Another variation includes a substrate including waveguides, with the surface of the substrate where the waveguides end inclined to reflect a portion of the signals in the waveguides toward the top surface of the substrate. Yet another variation includes an input V block having input fibers. The surface of the V block where the input fibers terminate is inclined to reflect a portion of light signals from the input fibers toward the top surface of the V block.

Abstract: A wavelength monitoring device is provided having an optical reflecting element for reflecting an incoming optical signal to a detector, wherein the device features a narrowband optical reflecting element for reflecting only a narrowband portion of the incoming optical signal to the optical reflecting element. The narrowband optical reflecting element has a reflection function having a bandwidth and shape that determines the narrowband portion of the incoming optical signal. The narrowband optical reflecting element may be a Bragg grating for spectrally processing the incoming optical signal, while the optical reflecting element may be a blazed Bragg grating for reflecting the spectrally processing incoming optical signal to the detector. The detector determines an amount of optical power reflected by the Bragg grating and discriminates between reflections of individual gratings, and is a spatial filter for providing a direct correlation between individual detector elements and a specific wavelength range.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical connector system for data busses, in which optical elements are integrated in the connector and in the connector socket for redirecting the light. With this connector system the light guided along the bus line is decoupled to the optical receiver of a supplemental bus participant and the light transmitted from the supplemental participant is coupled into the bus line. The connector socket is either integrated in the bus line or a bus bridge is subsequently added to the bus line.

Abstract: An optical device 1 has a substrate 2, whereas bare fibers 5 exposed from a coated optical fiber tape 3 by removing a coating 4 from its middle part are secured to the upper face part of the substrate 2. In the substrate 2, a transverse groove 8 is formed obliquely with respect to an axis of the bare fibers 5 so as to traverse core parts 5a of the bare fibers. An optical member 9 for reflecting a part of signal light transmitted through the bare fibers 5 is inserted in the transverse groove 8. A support member 10 is provided on the upper side of the bare fibers 5, whereas a support surface 10a of the support member 10 is provided with photodetectors 11 for detecting light reflected by the optical member 9. The support surface 10a of the support member 10 is inclined with respect to the upper face of the substrate 2, whereby the light entrance surface 13 of each photodetector 11 is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the upper face of the substrate 2.

Abstract: An all-fiber depolarizer having a linear design includes a directional coupler associated with a polarization combiner. Linear light is pumped into the coupler where its intensity is split in two. Between the coupler and the combiner there is included an optical delay and the polarization of one intensity is made orthogonal to the other, as they enter the polarization combiner. The combiner combines the orthogonal polarizations and the light exits by an output in a depolarized state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor optical tap comprising: a multimode interferometer (MMI) (6); an input waveguide (1) coupled to the MMI; a first output waveguide (2) coupled to the MMI; and a second output waveguide (3) coupled to the MMI. The first and second output waveguides (2,3) overlap (d) such that unequal portions of light are coupled from the MMI into the first and second output waveguides (2,3). The input waveguide (1) and the first and second output waveguides (2,3) may have a rib structure. They may also be adiabatically tapered waveguides. The first and second output waveguides (2,3) may have different starting widths.

Abstract: A method for determining optical power in a WDM optical signal that includes extracting a representative portion of the optical signal with wavelengths within some band ? wherein ? is a subset of ?, the set of all channel wavelengths present in the optical signal and measuring the intensity of the extracted optical signal to determine the optical power per channel for any of the channels whose wavelengths are within the band ?.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises a light transmission portion, an optical path-changing portion, an actuator portion and light transmission channels; said light transmission portion having a light reflecting plane provided on one part of a plane facing the changing portion to totally reflect light; said optical path-changing portion being provided in proximity to the light reflecting plane and having an optical path-changing member for reflecting or scattering light; said actuator portion having a mechanism being displaced and transmitting displacement to the optical path changing portion; and said light transmission channels having optical wave guiding bodies and being provided in three directions with the light reflecting plane as a starting point. Switching or dividing of an optical path is conducted by contacting or separating the optical path-changing portion to or from the light reflecting plane by displacement of the actuator portion.

Abstract: An optical fiber array block includes at least one optical waveguide having an optical fiber zone, and an optical device. An optical signal leakage window is formed at the optical waveguide, and the optical device corresponds to the optical signal leakage window. If the optical signal leakage window is formed at an optical fiber comprising a core and a clad layer, the clad layer is partially removed or is partially connected to the core by means of tan ion implantation technique. Thus, the clad layer has a refractive index that is similar to that of the core.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical coupling having a first array of individual waveguides optically communicating with a free space region at a first junction and each waveguide having a tapered region proximate the junction where a gap spacing between tapered regions of adjacent individual waveguides is substantially constant is proposed. The gap spacing is a minimum amount of space between adjacent individual waveguides. The first array of individual waveguides also has a horn region immediately proximate the tapered region and opposite the first junction with an increasing width whose maximum establishes the gap spacing.

Abstract: A 2 to n divider with integrated optics, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, including at least one 2 to 2 optical divider element in a substrate. The optical divider element comprises a first and a second guide with widths equal to W1 and W2, respectively. The first and second guides are suitable for dividing an input light wave input into one of the guides, into a first and second output wave transported by the first and second guides respectively according to a determined division ratio. These first and second guides have at least three parts. A first part where the first and second guides move toward each other, a second part where the first and second guides are approximately parallel to each other and a third part where the first and second guides gradually separate from each other.

Abstract: An optical power equalization method and an optical power equalizer for optical signals traveling upstream in a passive optical network are disclosed. The equalizer includes a wavelength coupler, an optical splitter, an optical detector, an active gain control circuit, a delay element, and an optical amplifier. The wavelength coupler separates an upstream optical signal from a single optical fiber. The optical splitter transfers a part of the optical signal to the optical detector. The optical detector converts the optical signal from the coupler into an electrical signal having an amplitude proportional to the optical signal's intensity. The control circuit controls a driving current to be provided to the amplifier, according to the electrical signal's amplitude. The delay element delays the optical signal by a time required for the optical detector and the control circuit to perform their operation.

Abstract: A bi-directional wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing device is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the bi-directional wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing device comprises a diffraction grating for combining a plurality of monochromatic optical input beams into a multiplexed, polychromatic optical output beam, and for separating a multiplexed, polychromatic optical input beam into a plurality of monochromatic optical output beams; and a transmissive/reflective optical element for transmitting the plurality of monochromatic optical input beams on an optical path toward the diffraction grating, and for reflecting the plurality of monochromatic optical output beams received on an optical path from the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A switching apparatus provides 1×2 and 2×2 switching functions having significantly reduced crosstalk levels using an imaging arrangement of three arms combined with two star couplers. In another 1×2 switching element embodiment, the input star coupler is replaced with an optical signal splitter. Application of the 1×2 and 2×2 switching elements include the realization of a variety of dilated N×N broadband switches with negligible crosstalk over very wide wavelength stopband characterized by two or more equally spaced zeros. The very wide crosstalk stopband enables the N×N broadband switch to switch a broadband wavelength division multiplexed input signal to the desired output port with very low crosstalk at the other output ports.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including the steps of wavelength division multiplexing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths to obtain resultant WDM signal light; transmitting the WDM signal light by an optical fiber transmission line; supplying reference light having a predetermined wavelength to the optical fiber transmission line; generating four-wave mixing in the optical fiber transmission line by the interaction of the WDM signal light and the reference light; detecting the power of light generated as the result of the four-wave mixing; and controlling the power of the WDM signal light to be supplied to the optical fiber transmission line according to the power detected. According to this method, the effect of four-wave mixing can be suppressed.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the emission wavelength of a laser source emitting a main radiation beam to be launched into an optical waveguide includes a wavelength selective photosensitive element adapted to be exposed to the radiation beam to generate an output signal indicative of the wavelength of the radiation. The arrangement comprises an optical system defining a beam propagation path for the radiation beam towards the waveguide. The wavelength selective photosensitive element is arranged at a marginal position of the beam, to collect at least a corresponding marginal portion of the radiation beam, whereby the signal indicative of the wavelength of the radiation is generated from said marginal portion of the radiation beam in the optical system.

Abstract: A microchip may include an optical clocking system. The optical clocking system may include a ring resonator which multiplies the frequency of light pulses from a light source for use as optical clocking signals and distribution waveguides to distribute the optical clocking signals to different regions of the microchip.

Abstract: A device for attenuating cladding modes in a single mode optical fiber is disclosed. The device comprises two supports, each equipped with spaced apart corrugations. The optical fiber lies transversely across the corrugations and the two supports are clamped together to impart micro-bends to the optical fiber. The resulting micro-bends provide excellent cladding mode attenuation and the spacing of the corrugations and support members can be adjusted so that the core modes are not attenuated.

Abstract: Since the bandwidth-intensive applications such as Internet access, electronic commerce, multimedia applications, and distributed computing are rapidly increasing the volume of telecommunication traffics, optical networks become an essential backbone of telecommunication networks. The optical networks have shown a superior performance/cost ratio for both long-haul and short-haul routes and the emerging dense wavelength division multiplexing and all-optical network technologies have promised a potential to improve speed, capacity and connectivity of telecommunication networks. The present invention provides a multifunctional intelligent optical module (IOM) by integrating a multitude of photonic, electronic, and micro mechanical elements into a single module.

Abstract: This invention relates to a variable optical power splitter with an integrated variable optical attenuator. According to an embodiment of this invention, a first polarizing beam splitter separates an incident light beam into two substantially mutually orthogonally polarized light beams. Rotator cells are arranged to change the polarization directions of the polarized light beams to control the power splitting ratio between a first output and a second output. A second polarizing beam splitter diverts a first and a second predetermined polarization components in the polarized light beams to the first and the second outputs respectively. At each output, there are rotator cells and a polarizing beam splitter. These rotator cells changes the polarization directions of the diverted light beams to control the attenuations to the diverted light beams. The polarizing beam splitter combines predetermined polarization components of the diverted light beams into a single light beam at the output.

Abstract: A method and optical tap is provided for forming a monitor signal that is a measure of optical power in a guided mode output of an optical modulator. The method and optical tap may monitor the guided mode power without tapping the guided mode light, even when optical power of the radiation modes is non-complementary to that of the output mode. Light from the radiation modes of the optical modulator is coupled into the wall of a capillary through a front face. Separate portions of the radiation mode light are reflected into photodetectors, which form photocurrents that are incoherently added to form the monitor signal.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a planar lightwave circuit device. A lift-off mask layer is formed on a planar lightwave circuit composed of cores and a cladding. The lift-off mask layer is next exposed to light by using a mask having a plurality of first patterns respectively corresponding to the cores and a plurality of second patterns each formed on at least one side of each first pattern in spaced relationship therewith. A wiring pattern material layer is next deposited on the lift-off mask layer exposed above, and the lift-off mask layer is next stripped off to thereby form a plurality of real patterns respectively corresponding to the first patterns and a plurality of dummy patterns respectively corresponding to the second patterns, from the wiring pattern material layer.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for and method of monitoring wavelength multiplexed signal light, which can obtain monitored data for multi-channel optical signals contained in the wavelength multiplexed signal light, which can avoid a large size and complicated structure and high cost of monitoring apparatus, and which can easily monitor the wavelength multiplexed signal light. The invention also provides an optical transmission system employing the monitoring apparatus and method. An optical filter being able to control a loss pattern is disposed on a monitoring waveguide for the wavelength multiplexed signal light, which is branched for monitoring from an input waveguide and an output waveguide constituting a main optical transmission path in a wavelength multiplexed signal light monitoring apparatus.

Abstract: An add drop filter utilizing a three dimensional photonic crystal structure for WDM applications is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing splice loss in an optical transmission line. A described system includes fiber guides for holding a first fiber and a second fiber in position for splicing to each other at a splice point. A heat source applies sufficient heat at the splice point to cause the first and second fibers to be fused together at the splice point, and subsequently applied heat to the splice point after the splice has been completed. The system further includes a tensioning assembly for applying a controlled, non-zero tension to the first and second fibers after they have been spliced together.

Abstract: A switched multichannel fiber optic power monitoring apparatus, includes a plurality of photodetectors, each connected to a tap of a different optical line for converting an optical signal therefrom to an electrical signal, a single switch having inputs connected to outputs of each of the photodetectors for receiving the output electrical signal from each photodetector and for switching the output electrical signals in a multiplexed manner to an output thereof as a multiplexed electrical signal, an amplifier amplifying the multiplexed electrical signal, an analog to digital converter which converts the amplified electrical signal to a digital signal, and a microprocessor which provides an output measurement signal in response to the digital signal, the microprocessor being connected to the switch to control the length of time that the switch is open for each optical line, and connected with the amplifier to control amplification thereof.

Abstract: According to this invention, there are provided a wavelength correction method and apparatus which can easily correct the wavelength characteristics of an optical element such as an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating in a slab waveguide or another waveguide, and a wavelength check method and apparatus which check the quality of a waveguide. A center wavelength &lgr;0 of light having a predetermined wavelength &lgr;, emitted from a light source, is obtained at the initial position of an input-side slab waveguide which is cut into a first input-side waveguide component and a second input-side waveguide component. When a light component having a first wavelength &lgr;s on the short wavelength side and a light component having a second wavelength &lgr;1 on the long wavelength side, centered on a desired wavelength &lgr;g, are sequentially output from the light source, the amount of each light component is measured while the relative position of the input-side slab waveguide is changed.

Abstract: A programmable electro-optically controlled optical delay device providing multiple optical outputs. The optical delay device provides multiple output ports where the optical propagation delay increases at each port. An incident optical beam is propagated within electro-optically active material within the device, so that the propagation delay at each output port may be varied according to an applied voltage. In an optical beam steering system, the present invention provides true-time delay for multiple optical beams, allowing the beams radiated by the beam steering system to be time-coincident. The present invention provides for one or two dimensional beam steering.

Abstract: The optical fiber tap establishes optical communication between a branch optical fiber and a main optical fiber and includes a housing, a serpentine main channel and a branch channel. The main channel is defined in the housing and is shaped to accommodate part of the main optical fiber. The main channel includes a coupling curve portion shaped to define a main coupling curve in the main optical fiber. The branch channel is also defined in the housing and is shaped to accommodate part of the branch optical fiber. The branch channel communicates with the main channel at the coupling curve portion of the main channel. Optical signals couple laterally between the main optical fiber located in the main channel and the branch optical fiber located in the branch channel. Optical communication between the optical fibers is therefore established.

Abstract: A WDM demultiplexer/multiplexer comprising a plurality of narrow band reflective filters linearly disposed along an optical axis, each narrow band reflective filter reflecting a single channel or group of channels and transmitting the remaining channels, is described. In a demultiplexing mode, an optical signal initially carrying channels at &lgr;1&lgr;2 . . . &lgr;N travels along the optical axis. Each narrow band reflective filter reflects a distinct channel and is tilted with respect to the optical axis such that it directs the reflected beam away from the optical axis to an output. Each narrow band reflective filter is substantially transparent to the remaining channels of the optical signal, such that the remainder of the optical signal proceeds along the optical axis substantially undisturbed.

Abstract: Fiber tap monitors formed on side-polished fiber coupling ports based on evanescent coupling.

Abstract: A Tapped Optical-Fibers Processor (TOP) for correlation and autocorrelation facilitates the processing if radar and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) signals, allowing fine resolution to be obtained without fast front-end sampling while significantly reducing digital computational burdens. Particularly in conjunction with radar signal processing, the input signal may be composed of the sum of at least two or more signals, in which case the output may include the autocorrelations of both inputs as well as the generation of a cross-correlation of the two autocorrelations.

Abstract: A method and optical tap is provided for forming a monitor signal that is a measure of optical power in a guided mode output of an optical modulator. The method and optical tap may monitor the guided mode power without tapping the guided mode light, even when optical power of the radiation modes is non-complementary to that of the output mode. Light from the radiation modes of the optical modulator is coupled into the wall of a capillary through a front face. Separate portions of the radiation mode light are reflected into photodetectors, which form photocurrents that are incoherently added to form the monitor signal.

Abstract: In an optical connection board, a first clad layer is formed on a flat surface of a substrate and a core layer is formed on the first clad layer and is extended in a propagation direction of an optical signal. The core layer is covered with a second clad layer. A termination mirror having a reflection face is so buried in the clad layer as to reflect the optical signal guided in the core layer, to the outside of the optical connection board.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical interleaver/deinterleaver includes a substrate having at least one window therein. The interleaver/deinterleaver further includes a first optical waveguide and a second optical fiber, which are disposed over a substrate. The first and second optical waveguides are coupled together at at least two locations to form optical couplers at each of the locations. The first optical waveguide has a first length between the two locations, and the second optical waveguide has a second length between the two locations wherein the first length is smaller than the second length. Illustratively, the first optical waveguide is disposed over the window, so that the window is along the first length of the first optical fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microbend fiber optic coupler and a method of forming same. The microbend fiber optic coupler includes two pairs of pigtail ends oriented one beside the other and having a bent fused biconically tapered coupling region interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A tap detector monitors an optical signal propagating through a waveguide as a portion of the optical signal is tapped and directed to the monitor detector. A precisely formed grating structure formed within the waveguide surface causes a portion of the propagating optical signal to be coupled out of the waveguide at a particular angle. The grating structure produces an angular separation of light propagating through the waveguide in opposite directions and which is directed out of the waveguide by the grating structure. A monitor detector is positioned to detect the light tapped from the optical signal and to avoid being influenced by any other signals that may be propagating in a direction opposite the optical signal and that are diffracted out of the waveguide by the grating structure.