Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated light source having first and second optical waveguides defining a first optical coupling region for coupling light therebetween. At least one of the optical waveguides includes a gain medium configured to emit light upon irradiation. The light source also includes a first acoustic wave source to subject the first optical coupling region to acoustic waves having a longitudinal frequency &ohgr;AC1, whereby a frequency of light propagating along one of the first and second waveguides differs from a frequency of light propagating along the other waveguide by an amount by an amount &ohgr;AC1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated light source having first and second optical waveguides defining a first optical coupling region for coupling light therebetween. At least one of the optical waveguides includes a gain medium configured to emit light upon irradiation. The light source also includes a first acoustic wave source to subject the first optical coupling region to acoustic waves having a longitudinal frequency &ohgr;AC1, whereby a frequency of light propagating along one of the first and second waveguides differs from a frequency of light propagating along the other waveguide by an amount &ohgr;AC1.

Abstract: Device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. All light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of an optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a chirped broadband cladding mode coupler. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter a narrow-band core mode coupler whereby selected optical bands of wavelengths, tuned by the tension on the optical fiber, are re-coupled back into the core of the optical fiber. The chirped broadband cladding mode coupler is isolated from the narrow-band core mode coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit the acoustic interaction between them.

Abstract: An optic apparatus includes an optical fiber with a cladding surrounding a core and a core-mode blocker included in at least a portion of an interactive region of the optical fiber. A mode coupler is coupled to the optical fiber and couples a first mode to a different spatial mode in a forward direction of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A product and method uses acousto-optic reflection-active media having an optical reflectivity which changes with changes in acoustic energy intensity interacting with the media to form images of defects in samples when the defects reflect acoustic energy differently from known acoustically reflecting parts of the samples.

Abstract: An acousto-optic tunable filter that includes a polarization beamsplitter, a multi-segment interaction region and a polarization beam combiner is described. The polarization beamsplitter generates a first and a second polarized optical signal. The multi-segment optical interaction region includes a first optical interaction region and a first acoustic wave generator that generates acoustic waves in the first optical interaction region. The multi-segment optical interaction region also includes a second optical interaction region that is non-collinear relative to the first optical interaction region and a second acoustic wave generator that generates acoustic waves in the second optical interaction region. Optical signals that are phase-matched to the acoustic waves are mode-converted in response to the acoustic waves. The acousto-optic tunable filter also includes a polarization beam combiner that generates both a mode-converted optical signal and a non-mode-converted optical signal.

Abstract: An optical channel monitor (OCM) or filter for analyzing an incident light carrying a number of narrow band signal channels such as WDM or DWDM channels. The OCM or filter use an acousto-optic tunable filter to receive and refract from an incident light a refracted light such that the refracted light contains a test channel with a center frequency &ngr;0. A first birefringent element is provided for filtering from the refracted light a first polarized light and a second polarized light orthogonal to the first polarized light. The transmission curves are engineered such that the transmissions of the first and second polarized light are substantially equal at the center frequency &ngr;0 of the test channel. The OCM or filter has a second birefringent element for filtering from the first polarized light a first polarized portion and a second polarized portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber having a normalized frequency applicable to a broadband optical device, and to a broadband, polarization-independent, low-loss optical fiber device made by using the aforementioned optical fiber. The optical fiber of the present invention has a normalized frequency value V, structural parameters of which including a core radius, a core refractive index and a cladding refractive index are adjusted to minimize the beat dispersion between first and second modes in a predetermined frequency range. Various optical fiber devices may be achieved if the aforementioned optical fiber is used along with acoustic wave generating means and a mode dropper or a mode selective coupler.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a control method and a control apparatus for controlling variable selected wavelengths at respective stages with high accuracy and reliability, to obtain desired wavelength characteristics, in a multi-staged band rejection type optical wavelength variable filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method and device for an optical filter, and a primary object of the present invention is to achieve accurate tracking control of the optical filter. Disclosed herein is a control method for an optical filter including first and second optical filter units cascaded, each having an input and first and second outputs. The first output of the first optical filter unit is connected to the input of the second optical filter unit. First light output from the second output of the first optical filter unit is converted into a first electrical signal having a level corresponding to the power of the first light, and second light output from the second output of the second optical filter unit is converted into a second electrical signal having a level corresponding to the power of the second light. A control signal is generated according to the first and second electrical signals. Then, the first and second optical filter units are controlled according to the control signal.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an optical wavelength filter of band rejection type capable of reliably and stably blocking a light of a desired wavelength from passing through. To this end, the optical wavelength filter of the present invention comprises a plurality of optical filter sections each blocking the light corresponding to the selected wavelength from passing through, the respective optical filter sections being cascade connected to be in a multi-staged structure, wherein the selected wavelengths in the optical filter sections are deviated from one another, to form a blocking band having a wavelength band corresponding to a deviation amount.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion profile of an optical fiber using two light sources 1 and 2 at least one of which is tunable in wavelength, in which two light beams of different wavelengths from said two light sources are injected into a optical fiber under test 7 and the four-wave mixing light that is generated by interaction between said light beams of different wavelengths is measured with an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) 9, characterized in that an optical bandpass filter 8 having a fixed central frequency is provided at a stage upstream of said optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR).

Abstract: A device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. All light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of an optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a chirped broadband cladding mode coupler. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter a narrow-band core mode coupler whereby selected optical bands of wavelengths are re-coupled back into the core of the optical fiber. The chirped broadband cladding mode coupler is isolated from the narrow-band core mode coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit the acoustic interaction between them.

Abstract: A device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. All light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of an optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a chirped broadband cladding mode coupler. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter a narrow-band core mode coupler whereby selected optical bands of wavelengths are re-coupled back into the core of the optical fiber. The chirped broadband cladding mode coupler is isolated from the narrow-band core mode coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit the acoustic interaction between them.

Abstract: A system for alternately directing optical energy through multiple optical modulation channels includes an optical switch having first and second optical output ports for alternately directing an optical signal at full input power out of first and second optical output ports; a first optical modulation channel for modulating the output signal received from the first optical output port; and a second optical modulation channel for modulating the output signal received from the second output port. The optical switch includes a Pockels cell and a birefringent mirror. The Pockels cell transforms a first polarization state of the optical signal into a second polarization state in response to receiving an input signal. The birefringent mirror allows the optical signal to propagate along a first axis when the optical signal has a first polarization state, and directs the optical signal along a second axis when the optical signal has a second polarization state.

Abstract: The acousto-optic bandpass filter is a device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. In this device, all light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of a optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a long-period photo-induced grating. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter an acousto-optic interaction region where selected RF frequencies of flexure waves, induced by an acoustic wave amplifier, re-couple selected bands of wavelengths back into the core mode. The interaction region is isolated from the broadband coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit acoustic interaction to the interaction region.

Abstract: Pixel clock and beam scan timing of an acousto-optic scanner are controlled by an acoustic velocity-driven, phase locked loop containing an adjustable voltage controlled pixel clock generator, which is controlled by a detector that produces delayed and attenuated replica of the excitation waveform applied to an ATWL scanner used to scan a light beam across a workpiece. In a first embodiment of the invention, an end-of-cell transducer converts the pressure induced traveling lens into an electrical signal replica of the excitation input. In a second embodiment, an end-of-scan optical pick-off monitor is employed to detect the scanned optical spot as it crosses its field of view.

Abstract: An optical communication assembly includes a demultiplexer coupled to an input fiber, a multiplexer coupled to an output fiber and a plurality of optical fibers. Each optical fiber is coupled to one or both of the demultiplexer and multiplexer. A plurality of attenuators are each coupled to an optical fiber in the pluality of optical fibers.

Abstract: An optical switch for coupling a trunk optic fiber to a selected branch optic fiber is disclosed. The switch includes one or two optically active elements which are capable of being configured to have a different diffraction angle. The elements are configured so that an optical signal emitted from the trunk fiber is directed into the selected branch fiber. The switch may also operate in reverse to couple a signal from the branch fiber into the trunk fiber.

Abstract: An acousto-optic filter includes an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core. The optical fiber has multiple cladding modes. At least one acoustic wave generator is included and made of a sufficiently high frequency piezoelectric material to produce a longitudinal acoustic wave. An acoustic wave propagation member has proximal and distal ends. The distal end is coupled to the optical fiber and the proximal end is coupled to the acoustic wave generator. The acoustic wave propagation member propagates the longitudinal acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal ends and excites the longitudinal acoustic wave in the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical communication assembly has an optical cross connect coupled to a first, a second, a third and a fourth set of optical fibers. A first demultiplexer is coupled to a first input fiber and the first set of optical fibers and a second demultiplexer is coupled to a second input fiber and the second set of optical fibers. A first multiplexer is coupled to a first output fiber and the third set of optical fibers. A second multiplexer is coupled to a second output fiber and the fourth set of optical fibers. A first set of attenuators is coupled to the third set of optical fibers and a second set of attenuators coupled to the fourth set of optical fibers.

Abstract: The opto-acoustic generator of ultrasound waves comprises an optical fiber associated to a laser-energy source, and an opto-acoustic transducer which is applied to said fiber and is designed to be impinged upon by the laser beam and to absorb partially the energy, converting it into thermal energy, thus bringing about the formation of ultrasound waves by the thermo-acoustic effect. Said opto-acoustic transducer consists of a layer or film containing prevalently graphite, which is applied on a surface of said optical fiber.

Abstract: The acousto-optic bandpass filter is a device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. In this device, all light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of a optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a long-period photo-induced grating. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter an acousto-optic interaction region where selected RF frequencies of flexure waves, induced by an acoustic wave amplifier, re-couple selected bands of wavelengths back into the core mode. The interaction region is isolated from the broadband coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit acoustic interaction to the interaction region.

Abstract: A method of establishing transmission of light through a chirped Bragg-reflector, a method of analyzing the power spectrum of a light signal using a chirped Bragg-reflector, and an arrangement for analyzing the power spectrum of a light signal. The Bragg-reflector reflects, in an unperturbed state, essentially all incident light within a predefined wavelength range. The methods include the steps of directing the light to be analyzed into an input end of a light guiding structure, such as an optical fiber, which light guiding structure is provided with a Bragg-reflector, and sending an acoustic pulse along the light guiding structure, thereby effectively lowering the reflectance of the Bragg-reflector for a certain wavelength at a certain time. By monitoring the light thus transmitted through the Bragg-reflector, a power spectrum analysis of the incident light is obtained.

Abstract: In a tunable optoacoustic filter, a portion of the optical fiber is coiled around and placed at least partially against a rounded shell equipped with at least one longitudinal slit having an emitter and an absorber on both sides of the slit in contact with the shell or the optical fiber. The emitter transmits elastic waves along the shell and therefore along the fiber to the point of absorber. Coiled configuration of the optical fiber along with various positions of emitters and absorbers are presented allowing to widen the functional range of operation of the filter by increasing the usable length of the optical fiber subject to acoustic oscillations. As a result a reflection/conversion coefficient of up to 0.999 and the filtration band of 1-10 kHz are obtainable.

Abstract: A diffraction-optical component for providing a radiation-diffracting grating structure is proposed, comprising a surface wave device including a substrate 43, a surface wave source 47 excitable with an adjustable frequency for producing surface waves on a surface 45 of the substrate 43 and an interaction region 17 of the substrate surface 45 which is provided for the radiation to interact with a grating structure provided by the surface waves produced.

Abstract: A fiber-optic switchable wavelength filter comprises a fiber grating positioned in the thin section of the fiber, a horn with the tip attached to the side of the fiber, and a piezoelectric transducer fixed to the bottom of the horn. Upon receiving a voltage signal, the piezoelectric transducer can create acoustic wave in the horn, wherein the amplitude of the acoustic vibration in the horn is controlled by the magnitude of the voltage signal. The vibration energy is transferred and focused from the horn to the fiber, such that the operation wavelength is switched by changing the reflectivity of the optical signal at the Bragg wavelength and the reflectivity of the optical signal at the cladding-mode coupling wavelength.

Abstract: An acoustic impedance-matching transformer includes a tapered acoustic energy transmission (metal) block, having an acoustic impedance less than that of a piezo-electric transducer in a metric direction toward that of the acoustic propagation medium of the waveguide, and by an amount that allows tailoring of the relative spatial dimensions of mating surfaces of the transducer and the block, so as to provide efficient broadband coupling of acoustic energy. The surface area of the end face of the block engaging the transducer is a corresponding fraction of the area of the transducer. The tapered block focuses acoustic energy toward the input aperture of the waveguide channel. The taper is determined in accordance with difference between the acoustic impedance of the aluminum block and that of a second acoustic wave propagation element, such as a quarter-wave section of plexiglass, interposed between the waveguide channel and the tapered block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical MEMS components, and in particular, to a micromechanical optical switch. A removable layer is used during fabrication to define the gap between optical waveguides and a moveable element in the form of a mirror that is moved between states. This provides a high speed, low-power optical switch that is readily manufacturable.

Abstract: An acousto-optic variable-wavelength TE/TM mode converter is configured by comprising an optical waveguide, a coupled acoustic waveguide composed of two acoustic waveguides, comb electrodes arranged at the acoustic waveguides, and surface acoustic wave absorbers arranged at the acoustic waveguide. If high-frequency electric signals having different frequencies are applied to the electrodes, surface acoustic waves W11 and W12 occur on the surface of the piezoelectric substrate, meander and propagate in the substrate, and are finally absorbed by the absorbers. The intensity distributions of the surface acoustic waves W11 and W12 are distributions where the intensity is high in a middle portion of the optical guide, and low at both ends of the optical waveguide. The peak positions of the intensities are different, and the bases of the distributions partially overlap between the two absorbers.

Abstract: Unique multi-diffraction structures using electronically controlled Bragg diffraction devices such as acousto-optic (AO) devices to accomplish optical beam attenuation control functions. These variable optical attenuator (VOA) modules can be fully inertialess as they can use electronically programmable sub-microsecond speed AO devices to implement optical gain controls. These VOAs deliver desirable capabilities in one optically reversible unit, making high dynamic range, low loss, high power handling, ultra-fast, high optical isolation, broadband operation, self-aligning robust modules. These VOAs can be made essentially independent of the optical polarization of the incident light by the use of a unique fixed waveplate compensation technique within the VOA configuration that suppresses polarization dependent loss. Broadband gain control operation over several wavelengths can be achieved by controlling the frequency and electrical drive power of the chosen frequencies feeding the acousto-optic devices.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a wavelength stable optical source comprises at least one adjustable wavelength optical source, a multipath Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MMZI) for receiving a signal from the adjustable source and providing a primary output and one or more secondary outputs, and a feedback arrangement responsive to the outputs for adjusting the wavelength source. Photodetectors coupled to the primary output and one or more of the secondary outputs provide feedback information for maintaining wavelength stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber grating which introduces a plurality of asymmetric microbends in a fiber. The present invention also relates to fiber optic devices, such as a fiber-optic filter, a fiber-optic polarizer, a fiber-optic wavelength tunable bandpass filter, a fiber-optic frequency shifter, using the above fiber grating which has asymmetric mode-coupling characteristics. The optical devices of the present invention exhibit a high mechanical durability and a long-term stability of the device, degradation of the optical fiber device due to a change in the characteristics of the grating can be prevented even after a long time at high temperature. In particular, the fiber grating according to the present invention has asymmetric mode coupling characteristics, so that it can be prevalently applied to an optical fiber notch filter, an optical fiber polarizer, an optical fiber wavelength tunable bandpass filter, an optical fiber frequency shifter and so on.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical MEMS components, and in particular, to methods of fabricating a micromechanical optical switch. A removable layer is used during fabrication to define the gap between optical waveguides and a moveable element in the form of a mirror that is moved between states. This provides a high speed, low-power optical switch that is readily manufacturable.

Abstract: An acousto-optical filter having a wide tuning range and a method of making the same. An acoustic transducer is provided for generating an acoustic pressure wave of a selected frequency that is propagated longitudinally along an optical fiber member. The pressure wave generates a plurality of alternating localized compressions and rarefactions in the optical fiber such that a grating (i.e., periodic changes in the fiber's refractive index) is created therein. The grating reflects optical signals of a particular wavelength depending upon its period or pitch (i.e., Bragg resonance wavelength). The acoustic pressure wave's frequency is modulated by controlling the acoustic transducer such that a variable grating pitch is obtained, thereby causing a corresponding change in the Bragg resonance wavelength of the grating. In response, a reflected optical signal selected from incoming multiplexed optical signals tunes to a different wavelength.

Abstract: An optical device has a substrate, a polarization beam splitter, first and second pairs of optical waveguides, a transducer and a thin film. The polarization beam splitter is formed on the substrate and has input and output sides. The first and second pairs of optical waveguides are formed on the substrate to guide polarized optical signals. The first pair of optical waveguides meets at the input side of the polarization beam splitter, and the second pair of optical waveguides meets at the output side of the polarization beam splitter. The transducer is formed of a comb-tooth electrode on the substrate to excite a surface acoustic wave on the substrate and rotate the polarization of the optical signal. The thin film covers a portion of each waveguide of either the first or second pairs of optical waveguides. The thin film may be formed of silicon dioxide or indium dioxide, either with a metal oxide optionally added thereto. The speed of sound in the thin film is less than that in the substrate.

Abstract: System and method for rapidly reconfigurable two-dimensional true time delay generation for phased array antennas is described. The system utilizes a broadband light source, an array of fiber chirp gratings in a single fiber, and an acousto-optic spectrometer to generate a time-delayed linear grating. The grating is subsequently rotated to the desired angle utilizing an acousto-optic device having no moving parts.

Abstract: An optical switch for coupling a trunk optic fiber to a selected branch optic fiber is disclosed. The switch includes one or two optically active elements which are capable of being configured to have a different diffraction angle. The elements are configured so that an optical signal emitted from the trunk fiber is directed into the selected branch fiber. The switch may also operate in reverse to couple a signal from the branch fiber into the trunk fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acousto-optical tunable filter capable of appropriately filtering lights with a plurality of frequencies, a method of driving the same, and an optical add/drop multiplexer using the same. The acousto-optical tunable filter of the present invention includes: a signal source 13 which supplies an RF frequency to the acousto-optical tunable filter; a control part 12 which controls the RF frequency of the signal source 13; and a compensation part 111 which determines an RF frequency for selecting one light from a plurality of lights with different frequencies from each other by adding/subtracting a predetermined compensation amount to/from an RF frequency for selecting only one light, when selecting the plurality of lights in the acousto-optical tunable filter, determines all of a plurality of RF frequencies for selecting the plurality of lights, and designates the control part 12 to oscillate the determined RF frequencies.

Abstract: An acousto-optical device includes a light waveguide path formed on an acousto-optical substrate, a transducer which crosses the light waveguide path and propagates a surface acoustic wave along the light waveguide path, and a buffer layer provided so that finger electrodes of the transducer are spaced apart from the light waveguide path in crossing portions in which the finger electrodes cross the light waveguide path. The finger electrodes have other portions which directly contact the substrate.

Abstract: A drop AOTF has a first AOTF that includes an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end and an acoustic wave propagation member. The acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end of the acoustic wave propagation member. An optical circulator, with first, second and third ports, is coupled to the first AOTF at the third port. A mode coupler is coupled to the first AOTF. A orthogonal-polarization reflective mirror is coupled to the mode coupler.

Abstract: An acoustic impedance-matching transformer includes a tapered acoustic energy transmission (metal) block, having an acoustic impedance less than that of a piezo-electric transducer in a metric direction toward that of the acoustic propagation medium of the waveguide, and by an amount that allows tailoring of the relative spatial dimensions of mating surfaces of the transducer and the block, so as to provide efficient broadband coupling of acoustic energy. The surface area of the end face of the block engaging the transducer is a corresponding fraction of the area of the transducer. The tapered block focuses acoustic energy toward the input aperture of the waveguide channel. The taper is determined in accordance with difference between the acoustic impedance of the aluminum block and that of a second acoustic wave propagation element, such as a quarter-wave section of plexiglass, interposed between the waveguide channel and the tapered block.

Abstract: Optical fiber switches operated by electrical activation of at least one laser light modulator through which laser light is directed into at least one polarizer are used for the sequential transport of laser light from a single laser into a plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment of the invention, laser light from a single excitation laser is sequentially transported to a plurality of optical fibers which in turn transport the laser light to separate individual remotely located laser fuel ignitors. The invention can be operated electro-optically with no need for any mechanical or moving parts, or, alternatively, can be operated electro-mechanically. The invention can be used to switch either pulsed or continuous wave laser light.

Abstract: An acousto-optical device includes a light waveguide path formed on an acousto-optical substrate, a transducer which crosses the light waveguide path and propagates a surface acoustic wave along the light waveguide path, and a buffer layer provided so that finger electrodes of the transducer are spaced apart from the light waveguide path in crossing portions in which the finger electrodes cross the light waveguide path. The finger electrodes have other portions which directly contact the substrate.

Abstract: A light tunnel apparatus (200 or 300) having an output end (56 or 98), for uniformizing light (L) that travels through a light tunnel (30 or 80). The apparatus comprises a light tunnel having first and second sides (36, 40 or 86, 90), and one or more AO modulators (210 or 310) respectively arranged on at least one of the first and second sides. The AO modulators are arranged such that activating the one or more of them causes at least one of the first and second sides to be displaced. This displacement changes the path of light traveling through the light tunnel by an amount sufficient to reduce illumination non-uniformities at the output end. The light tunnel may be a hollow light tunnel (30) with reflective inner surfaces, or a solid light tunnel (80) with a refractive index. A method of uniformizing illumination using a light tunnel is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical add/drop multiplexer includes a mode converter. A first mode coupler is coupled to an input of the mode converter. A second mode coupler is coupled to an output of the mode converter. The mode converter includes an optical fiber with multiple cladding modes and a single core mode guided along a core. An acoustic wave propagation member is coupled to the optical fiber. The acoustic wave propagation member propagates an acoustic wave from its proximal to its distal end. At least one acoustic wave generator is coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member.

Abstract: An acousto-optic filter includes an optical fiber with a first region and a second region. A first acoustic wave generator is coupled to optical fiber. The first acoustic wave generator produces a first acoustic wave that travels in a first direction in the first region. A backward-propagating wave is generated in response to propagation of the first acoustic wave along the optical fiber. The backward-propagating wave travels in an opposite direction relative to the first acoustic wave. A first acoustic wave propagation member is coupled to the optical fiber. A second acoustic wave generator is coupled to the optical fiber at the second region. The second acoustic wave generator produces a second acoustic wave that combines with the backward propagating acoustic wave.

Abstract: The opto-acoustic generator of ultrasound waves comprises an optical fiber associated to a laser-energy source, and an opto-acoustic transducer which is applied to said fiber and is designed to be impinged upon by the laser beam and to absorb partially the energy, converting it into thermal energy, thus bringing about the formation of ultrasound waves by the thermo-acoustic effect. Said opto-acoustic transducer consists of a layer or film containing prevalently graphite, which is applied on a surface of said optical fiber.

Abstract: An acoustic impedance-matching transformer includes a tapered acoustic energy transmission (metal) block, having an acoustic impedance less than that of a piezo-electric transducer in a metric direction toward that of the acoustic propagation medium of the waveguide, and by an amount that allows tailoring of the relative spatial dimensions of mating surfaces of the transducer and the block, so as to provide efficient broadband coupling of acoustic energy. The surface area of the end face of the block engaging the transducer is a corresponding fraction of the area of the transducer. The tapered block focuses acoustic energy toward the input aperture of the waveguide channel. The taper is determined in accordance with difference between the acoustic impedance of the aluminum block and that of a second acoustic wave propagation element, such as a quarter-wave section of plexiglass, interposed between the waveguide channel and the tapered block.

Abstract: This invention disclosure describes the application of a polarization insensitive acoustically-tuned optical filter used in a multichannel WDM system to equalize variations in the power level of the WDM channels. The invention also describes a simple means for providing a low frequency control system which enables the equalizer to determine the signal levels of N optical carriers prior to equalizing the signals.