Abstract: An optical transceiver converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber including a housing conforming to the industry standard XENPAK™ form factor including an electrical connector for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting and/or receiving an information-containing electrical communications signal, and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and/or receiving an optical communications signal. At least one electro-optical subassembly is provided in the housing for converting between an information-containing electrical signal and a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal, along with a modular, interchangeable communications protocol processing printed circuit board in the housing for processing the communications signal into a predetermined electrical or optical communications protocol, such as the IEEE 802.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module for converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber including a housing having an electrical input for coupling with an external cable or information system device and for transmitting and receiving information-containing electrical signals over such input, and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and receiving an optical signal; an electro-optic subassembly coupled to the information containing electrical signal and converting it to and/or from a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal; parametric data collection means disposed in the housing acquiring environmental and/or operational data associated with the module; and a communication interface for transferring the data to an external device.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a body, a cover, and a cable spool. The front of the body defines a forward interior in which telecommunications components are arranged. An optical adapter extends partially out of the forward interior at an optical coupling location. The cover includes a shroud that extends over the portion of the optical adapter extending out of the forward interior when the cover is closed. Sidewalls extend from the rear of the body to define a rearward pocket. The cable spool can be removably mounted within the rearward pocket. Alternatively, the cable spool can be fixed to the body and the sidewalls can be removed from the body to allow access to the cable spool.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a motherboard and a connector. The motherboard defines a first plane and includes at least one fiber trace. The connector includes an optical lens, an electrical/optical converter, an electrical connector, and a circuit board connecting the optical lens and the electrical connector. The optical lens can be arranged to receive and transmit light from the at least one fiber trace in a direction that is parallel or substantially parallel to the first plane. A plane defined by at least a portion of a main surface of the circuit board is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The at least one fiber trace is arranged to transmit light to and away from an edge of the motherboard and is arranged to receive light at the edge of the motherboard.

Abstract: A transmitter subassembly ground return path comprises a coupling member having a plurality of layers. At least one of the layers includes a signal trace layer that has one or more signal traces coupling components of a transceiver substrate to components of the transmitter subassembly. At least one of the one or more signal traces can be coupled to a signal coupling capacitor. At least one of the ground plane layers can connect the body of the transmitter subassembly to one or more common mode grounding capacitors. The ground plane layers of the coupling member also shield at least some of the electromagnetic radiation that can emanate from the signal trace layer in high frequency data transmissions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a data signal for transmission to a remote device transmits at least two synchronized copies of the data signal, in optical form, in different directions. To that end, the data signal first is synchronized to a clock signal to produce a composite signal. The composite signal then is converted to an optical signal, which is referred to as an “outgoing signal.” A plurality of copies of the outgoing signal then are transmitted. At least two copies of the outgoing signal are transmitted in different directions.

Abstract: An optical fiber network may be provided in a building or set of buildings that can be used with any type of services, regardless of whether those services are provided as electrical signals or as optical signals. To accomplish this, a service aggregation gateway may be provided that receives electrical and/or optical service signals and converts the incoming electrical signals to optical signals. Also, a way for conventional electronic devices in the building to communicate with the optical fiber network is provided. In addition, units for allowing such communication between electronic devices and the optical network may be modularized such that they are interchangeable. In addition, keyed optical fiber ferrule/connector pairs are described.

Abstract: An optical communication system is provided which includes an optical signal transmitter which communicates high bandwidth, high power frequencies. The optical signal transmitter includes a high efficiency/high power optical source such as an optical magnetron or a phased array source of electromagnetic radiation, and a modulator element. The modulator element may be within a resonance cavity of the high efficiency/high power optical source (intra cavity) or external to the cavity (extra cavity). The modulator element serves to modulate output radiation of the high efficiency/high power optical source to produce a modulated high frequency optical signal which may be transmitted through the air. The optical signal transmitter is particularly useful in providing the last mile connection between cable service operators and end users.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an optical communication module for transmitting high frequency signals (e.g., 10 Gbit/s and higher data rates) between an optical element and an external circuit. In an illustrative embodiment, the optical communication module includes signal transmission lines and ground lines formed on a ceramic substrate, a flexible wiring board, and a printed circuit board. The widths of the signal lines and the ground lines vary, as well as the spacing between the signal and ground lines. This facilitates characteristic impedance matching among the signal lines to within about 50?.

Abstract: A method and system for processing calls in a telecommunications system using fiber extender loops providing a local micro network. Calls originating from subscribers within the local micro network to subscribers that are also provided service within the local micro network are processed and connected by a location base station within the local micro network.

Abstract: A package to encapsulate an optical component includes a RF interface to receive high frequency signals from an external source. The RF interface pins that can be configured as one or more single-ended transmission lines or as one or more differential transmission lines. For example, the RF interface includes four pins that can be coupled in one of two configurations to provide a single-ended transmission line and in a third configuration to provide a differential transmission line. In one embodiment, the first, second, and fourth pins are coupled to ground while the second pin is coupled to receive a RF signal. Alternatively, the first, second and fourth pins are coupled to ground and the third pin is coupled to receive a RF signal. For a differential transmission line, the first and fourth pins are coupled to ground while the second and third pins are coupled to receive a differential RF signal.

Abstract: A transmission line with a bending portion is provided, which line comprises any one of a coplanar line, another coplanar waveguide line formed on the dielectric substrate under which a ground layer is provided and a coplanar strip line. A chamfered portion is provided on the outer angular portion of the bending portion of the signal wiring conductor and a triangular conductor is disposed to an inner angular portion thereof. Given that length of the chamfered portion is defined as a, and length of the wiring edge side of the triangular conductor is defined as b and width of the signal wiring conductor is defined as c, it is arranged such that a is greater than b+c×square root of 2. Thereby, a transmission line or an optical module of smaller reflection loss at the bending portion thereof and of improved high-frequency characteristics is provided.

Abstract: An optical transceiver having a transmitter section and a receiver section formed on a substrate to be close to each other is provided, which suppresses the electrical and optical crosstalk between the transmitter section and the receiver section. The transceiver comprises: (a) a substrate; (b) a transmitter section formed on the substrate and including a light-emitting element; (c) a receiver section formed on the substrate to be close to the transmitter section and including a light-receiving element; (d) a conductive first connection member fixed near the substrate; and (e) a transparent second connection member fixed near the first member in such a way as to block the first opening and the second opening of the first member from a front of the first member. The first member has a first opening that allows a first light beam to penetrate the first member and a second opening that allows a second light beam to penetrate the first member.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved graphical user interface (GUI) for optical network administration. The GUI allows a user to view a network topology in which only those nodes at which channel traffic may be added to and/or dropped from a muxed signal are displayed. The GUI also provides a view of optical components through which data is transmitted on a selected route, and a view of the individual channels which comprise the selected route. Finally, the GUI allows the user to view information relating to transmitters and receivers associated with the channel signals being transmitted along the selected route.

Abstract: In coupling a control station transmitting a radio signal to a plurality of base stations each transmitting the radio signal to a terminal station by an optical fiber, and dependently connecting the plurality of base stations to the optical fiber, the control station includes a radio signal transmitter and an electrical-to-optical converter. Each of the base stations including an SOA-EAM comprises a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and an electro-absorption modulator (EAM), a down link radio signal amplifier, and a down link antenna, the SOA-EAM receiving an optical signal from the control station. The optical transmission system can prevent optical power from lowering even if the number of base stations increases and can facilitate adding a base station since an optical coupler is not used.

Abstract: This invention provides a dynamic interconnection system which allows to couple a pair of optical beams carrying modulation information. In accordance with this invention, two optical beams emanate from transceivers at two different locations. Each beam may not see the other beam point of origin (non-line-of-sight link), but both beams can see a third platform that contains the system of the present invention. Each beam incident on the interconnection system is directed into the reverse direction of the other, so that each transceiver will detect the beam which emanated from the other transceiver. The system dynamically compensates for propagation distortions preferably using closed-loop optical devices, while preserving the information encoded on each beam.

Abstract: A satellite constellation has a plurality of satellites. Each of the satellites has an RF ground link for communicating with a ground station and an optical link for communication with at least one of the plurality of satellites. Each of the satellites has a reconfigurable optical transmitter for sending and receiving data streams. Each reconfigurable optical transmitter has a first optical carrier associated therewith and a reconfigurable optical receiver. The plurality of satellites is arranged to have a first subset of satellites. The first subset of satellites is configured to communicate. The plurality of satellites is reconfigured to have a second subset of satellites having at least one different satellites than that of said first subset. The second subset supercedes the first subset. The second subset of satellites is configured to communicate. Various subset around the globe may form local area networks. The local area networks are preferably optically coupled to form a wide area network.

Abstract: A point-to-multipoint bi-directional wide area telecommunications network employing atmospheric optical communication. The network comprises a primary transceiver unit, a plurality of subscriber transceiver units and an optical router. The primary transceiver unit may send data destined for the subscriber transceiver units through the optical router, and the subscriber transceiver units may send data destined for the primary transceiver unit through the optical router. The primary transceiver unit and optical router communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere. Similarly, the optical router and the subscriber transceiver units communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere.

Abstract: Internal communication signals in a stored program controlled system comprising a plurality of units configured to process signals are provided by a free space optical beam line which is proximal to all of the plurality of units. The free space beam line is configured to contain optically encoded signals which comprises signals transmitted between and/or among the plurality of units. Each unit includes a probe for injecting optically encoded signals in the free space beam line and/or and for receiving optically encoded signals from the free space beam line. Advantageously, there may be a first terminal at a first end of the beam line to configure to transmit and terminate the optically encoded signals and a second terminal unit at the second end of the free space beam line configured to transmit and terminate the optically encoded signals.

Abstract: Infrared communications scheme for use in an embedded system. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises the use of an infrared communications scheme, according to IrDA protocol, which is utilized to transmit and receive data via an electrical interface between circuit cards housed within an enclosed, embedded system. Preferably, each respective circuit card is provided with a digital tri-stateable transmitter element and a digital receiver to respectively transmit and receive data. The systems and methods of the present invention provide increased reliability than prior-art systems and methods.

Abstract: Docking stations for transferring data between handheld electronic devices and various data input/output devices are provided. A docking station includes a housing, an infrared (IR) signal emitter disposed within the housing, and one or more cradles formed within the housing. Each cradle is configured to removably receive a handheld electronic device therein and includes a floor and a first peripheral wall extending outwardly from the floor in a direction transverse to the floor. The first peripheral wall is permeable to IR signals. A second peripheral wall surrounds the first peripheral wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship such that the first and second peripheral walls define a peripheral area. The second peripheral wall comprises an IR-reflective inner surface. A cylindrical lens is positioned within the peripheral area and is configured to receive IR signals from an IR emitter and scatter the IR signals throughout the peripheral area.

Abstract: A hybrid optical and millimeter wave beam acquisition and tracking system and method. A host platform includes an INS and a GPS for generating geolocation data, optical and RF receivers, and a common optical/RF aperture. An interface is coupled to the host platform by way of a mechanical gimbal and includes a beamsplitter, an optical gimbal and optical aperture, and an RF aperture. A CPU on the interface includes an optical track error processor for acquiring the optical beam by systematically searching for a focused light spot in a focal plane of the optical receiver, an RF track error processor for outputting gimbal angles of the mechanical gimbal that are derived from the aperture of the RF receiver that are referenced to the inertial navigation system, and a search and track processor that generates an optical gimbal control signal for the optical gimbal and a mechanical gimbal control signal for the mechanical gimbal for tracking the optical and RF beams.

Abstract: A package to encapsulate an optical component includes a RF interface to receive high frequency signals from an external source. The RF interface pins that can be configured as one or more single-ended transmission lines or as one or more differential transmission lines. For example, the RF interface includes four pins that can be coupled in one of two configurations to provide a single-ended transmission line and in a third configuration to provide a differential transmission line. In one embodiment, the first, second, and fourth pins are coupled to ground while the second pin is coupled to receive a RF signal. Alternatively, the first, second and fourth pins are coupled to ground and the third pin is coupled to receive a RF signal. For a differential transmission line, the first and fourth pins are coupled to ground while the second and third pins are coupled to receive a differential RF signal.

Abstract: A small form factor optical transceiver module is provided that includes a housing within which are disposed an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. A controller IC is also disposed in the housing and includes a serial digital interface configured to facilitate communication between the controller IC and a host. Among other things, the serial digital interface enables access to onboard digital diagnostics while substantially conforming with the standardized packaging, footprint, and form factor of a standardized optical transceiver module. Further, the use of memory map locations in the controller IC enables the implementation of various types of host accessible diagnostic and other finctionalities in the optical transceiver module.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optoelectronic transceiver, comprising a first PCB, a transmitting device, a receiving device and a housing. The transmitting device includes a laser diode, and the receiving device includes a photo diode. The laser diode and photo diode are encapsulated by a sleeve, respectively. For the laser diode, a first cambered surface of the sleeve aligns a laser beam such that it goes straight forward along the sleeve, and the second cambered surface of the sleeve focuses the laser beam. The housing covers the first PCB, the transmitting device and the receiving device.

Abstract: A multi-port optical node is disclosed. The optical node is configured to send and receive optical and radio frequency data signals over a data distribution network. The data signals enter and exit the node through cables connected to ports of the main housing of the node. The main housing has a plurality of slots configured to accept a plurality of electronic modules. The electronic modules provide the basic functionality of the optical node including the power supply and transmitters and receivers for sending, receiving and converting of data signals. The electronic modules are approximately all the same size thus they can occupy any of the slots of the main housing. The modules further can be monitored and controlled via a serial system bus.

Abstract: A mobile phone includes a light emitting section and a flat space section in a case thereof. In the surface of the case, the mobile phone includes a window section through which light emitted from the light emitting section is transmitted. The light emitting section includes a light emitting surface directed in a direction along a surface of a wiring board located in the case, and emits light to the space section. When light beams of three colors, red, green, and blue, are emitted from the light emitting section, the light beams are mixed in the space section and emitted-through the window section to the outside of the case. This mobile phone can be made thinner and can emit light with high uniform luminance from the window section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitter optical sub-assembly (TOSA) for use in high data rate (10 Gb/s or higher) small form factor transceivers. A flexible cable electrical connector, a ceramic feedthrough, and a differential drive disposed adjacent the laser result in improved optical eye-diagrams with increased design margin. A heat spreader incorporated in the housing of the TOSA ensures constant performance at the high data rates.

Abstract: More cost-effective fiber optic interface modules, such as fiber optic transmitter modules and fiber optic receiver modules, are provided that meet the high performance requirements demanded by avionics and other specialized applications over a wide range of temperatures and other environmental conditions. The fiber optic interface module includes a printed wiring board having a pair of outwardly extending arms that define a notch therebetween. The fiber optic interface module also includes an integrated circuit mounted upon a medial portion of the printed wiring board and an optical subassembly. The optical subassembly includes a receptacle and an optoelectronic device, such as a light source or a detector. The receptacle generally defines an internal cavity for receiving the optoelectronic device and a pair of slots proximate the internal cavity.

Abstract: An arrayed waveguide grating 101 is shown, which comprises at least one input waveguide 103, a plurality of output waveguides 104, at least one wavelength compensation output waveguide 105 disposed adjacent to the output waveguide 104, a channel waveguide array 107, an input side slab-waveguide 108, and an output side slab-waveguide 109. The wavelength compensation output waveguide 105 has a tapering connecting portion connected to the output side slab-waveguide 105. Thus, the outputted light has a sharp spectrum, thus permitting ready wavelength compensation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for maintaining balanced communication channels evenly even with heavy increases in service demands are disclosed. The apparatus uses an arrangement of jumpers and unique connection panes which allow rapid changes in the distribution of similar circuits to achieve balanced loads.

Abstract: Docking stations for transferring data between handheld electronic devices and various data input/output devices are provided. A docking station includes a housing, an infrared (IR) signal emitter disposed within the housing, and one or more cradles formed within the housing. Each cradle is configured to removably receive a handheld electronic device therein and includes a floor and a first peripheral wall extending outwardly from the floor in a direction transverse to the floor. The first peripheral wall is permeable to IR signals. A second peripheral wall surrounds the first peripheral wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship such that the first and second peripheral walls define a peripheral area. The second peripheral wall comprises an IR-reflective inner surface. A cylindrical lens is positioned within the peripheral area and is configured to receive IR signals from an IR emitter and scatter the IR signals throughout the peripheral area.