By Optical Coupling Patents (Class 398/82)
  • Patent number: 8326154
    Abstract: A multiwavelength transmitter comprises several laser sources (1) each configured to generate light of a different wavelength and a first array waveguide grating (2) arranged to direct light from each of the laser sources (1) into a first waveguide. The transmitter further comprises several electroabsorption modulators (7) each arranged to modulate light at one of the wavelengths with a respective data signal and a second array waveguide grating (6) arranged to direct each of said different wavelengths of light from the first waveguide to a respective one of the modulators (7). The optical modulators (7) are reflective optical modulators and the second array waveguide grating (6) is arranged to direct the modulated light reflected from each of the optical modulators (7) back into the first waveguide. An optical circulator (5) is provided in the first waveguide to couple modulated light from the second array waveguide grating (6) into an output waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alistair J. Poustie, Graeme D. Maxwell, Richard Wyatt, David W. Smith, David G. Moodie, Ian F. Lealman
  • Patent number: 8315522
    Abstract: A wavelength routing system includes a plurality of nodes (1, 2, 3, 4) and an array waveguide grating (40) having a routing property and optically connected to the plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes has a plurality of light sources (TLS) outputting lights at different wavelengths to the array waveguide grating, respectively, and a wavelength demultiplexer (125, 225, 325, 425) having a periodic property, demultiplexing a light output from the array waveguide grating, and outputting demultiplexed lights. The wavelength demultiplexer is set a channel period which is different from that of the array waveguide, and which is more than or equal to a number of output ports of the wavelength demultiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Urino
  • Patent number: 8306369
    Abstract: An optical hybrid circuit includes a multimode interference coupler; a first 2:2 optical coupler; a second 2:2 optical coupler; a third 2:2 optical coupler; and a phase controlling region. The first 2:2 optical coupler, the second 2:2 optical coupler, and the third 2:2 optical coupler are coupled to one of the pair of first output channels, the pair of second output channels, the pair of third output channels, and the pair of fourth output channels of the multimode interference coupler. The phase controlling region is provided in one or both of each pair of at least two pairs of output channels from among three pairs of output channels to which the first 2:2 optical coupler, the second 2:2 optical coupler, and the third 2:2 optical coupler are coupled, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limted
    Inventor: Seok Hwan Jeong
  • Patent number: 8306424
    Abstract: The present invention provides a remodulating channel selector for a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system. The remodulating selector receives a WDM input signal, selects a particular optical channel from the WDM signal and places the information from the selected signal onto a newly-generated optical output signal. The wavelength of the output optical signal can be the same as or different from one of the optical channels which comprises the WDM input signal. When used in a WDM optical communication system with remodulators at the transmission input, the remodulating selectors provide complete control over the interfaces with optical transmitters and receivers, permitting use with a broad range of optical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Alexander, Steve W. Chaddick, Roy C. Litz, Cecil D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8295698
    Abstract: A network of global coverage, scalable to hundreds of petabits per second, comprises bufferless switch units each of dimension n×n, n>1, arranged in a matrix of ? columns and ? rows, ?>1, interconnecting a maximum of ?×n edge nodes. Each edge node has ? upstream channels to ? switch units in ? different columns and ? downstream channels from ? switch units in ? different rows. All upstream channels to a switch unit are time-locked to the switch unit, thus enabling coherent switching at the switch unit. The switch units are preferably fast-switching optical nodes. Alternatively, the switch units may comprise fast-switching optical nodes each of dimension m×m, arranged in a first ?×? matrix, and latent space switches each of dimension n×n, n>1, arranged in a second ?×? matrix, ?>1, where ?×m=?×n. An edge node time locks to each optical node and each latent space switch to which it connects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Maged E Beshai
  • Patent number: 8285144
    Abstract: An optical device for rearranging wavelength channels in an optical network is disclosed. The optical device has a wavelength selective coupler having one input port and a plurality of output ports coupled to a plurality of input ports of an optical grating demultiplexor such as an arrayed waveguide grating. The wavelength channels in each of the input ports are dispersed by the demultiplexor and are directed to a plurality of output ports of the optical grating demultiplexor. As a result, at least one wavelength channel at each of the input ports of the optical grating demultiplexor is coupled into a common output port. The optical device is useful in passive optical networks wherein a same demultiplexor is used for simultaneous multiplexing and demultiplexing of wavelength channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamada, Barthelemy Fondeur, Jinxi Shen, Zi-Wen Dong, Domenico Di Mola, Jyoti K. Bhardwaj, Yimin Hua
  • Publication number: 20120251118
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a coherent detector is provided that includes an optical hybrid that supplies optical signals including local oscillator light to a balanced detector. The amount of imbalance or “balance error” in the balanced detector is identified by comparing an output of the balanced detector and an output of a photodiode that receives a portion of an input optical signal provided to the optical hybrid. Based on the balance error, electrical signals generated by the balanced detector or the power of optical signals passing through (or output from) the optical hybrid circuit can be adjusted so that the balance error is minimized or reduced to zero. As a result, imbalance associated with the balanced detector is corrected so that unwanted currents and/or related electrical signals are cancelled out or substantially cancelled out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: John D. McNicol
  • Patent number: 8280256
    Abstract: An optical hybrid circuit includes a MMI coupler including a pair of input channels provided at positions symmetrical with respect to a center position in a widthwise direction thereof, a pair of first output channels outputting a pair of first optical signals having an in-phase relationship, and a pair of second output channels neighboring with each other outputting a pair of second optical signals having an in-phase relationship. The MMI coupler converts QPSK signal light or DQPSK signal light into the pair of first optical signals and the pair of second optical signals having an in-phase relationship. The optical hybrid circuit includes a 2:2 optical coupler connected to the first or the second output channels. The 2:2 optical coupler converts the pair of first optical signals or the pair of second optical signals into a pair of third optical signals having a quadrature phase relationship with the pair of first or second optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Seok-Hwan Jeong
  • Patent number: 8280258
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical communication systems and methods that utilize, on top or in place of the conventional framework: (1) optical amplifiers that are provided with extended bandwidth coverage, such as Extended Band Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs), combination of Raman amplifiers and EDFAs, Split-Band C+L EDFAs, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Y. Frankel
  • Patent number: 8280255
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to provide for amplification at various points along one or more optical paths of a photonic integrated circuit. According to various embodiments of the invention, the photonic integrated circuit includes a plurality of optical devices having associated characteristics which may have lead to optical signal degradation. One or more optical amplifiers provided along one or more optical paths of the photonic integrated circuit compensate for such signal degradation, resulting in a highly configurable photonic integrated circuit. The various optical devices of the photonic integrated circuit may be provided on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Joyner, Radhakrishnan L. Nagarajan, Peter W. Evans
  • Patent number: 8280254
    Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more optical de-interleavers. Each optical de-interleaver includes an optical component having a first pair of optical input and output ports and a second pair of optical input and output ports and a 1×2 optical coupler. Each optical output port of the optical component is optically connected to a corresponding optical port of the 1×2 optical coupler. The optical component is constructed to operate as a first optical filter for light propagating between the optical ports of the first pair and is constructed to operate as a second optical filter for light propagating between the optical ports of the second pair. The first and second optical filters have substantially regularly spaced and interleaved passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher Richard Doerr
  • Publication number: 20120237198
    Abstract: This invention provides a fiber optic rotary joint (20) for enabling the transmission of digital optical signals across the interface between facing surfaces (26, 29) of a rotor and a stator (21, 22), comprising: a plurality of light sources (42A, 42B, 42C, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MOOG INC.
    Inventor: Anthony L. Bowman
  • Publication number: 20120237223
    Abstract: An optical transceiver capable of narrowing an extra space for an external optical fiber is disclosed. The optical transceiver of an embodiment provides an optical receptacle with a port, to which the external optical fiber is to be inserted, headed for a direction in diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the optical transceiver. In another embodiment, the optical transceiver provides an optical receptacle capable of turning the port thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi MATSUI, Hiromi KURASHIMA, Kazushige OKI, Naoyuki FUKUSHIMA, Kenichiro UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120230695
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system that includes an array of chip modules (CMs) is described. In this system, a given CM in the array includes a semiconductor die that is configured to communicate data signals with one or more adjacent CMs through electromagnetic proximity communication using proximity connectors. Note that the proximity connectors are proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. Moreover, the given CM is configured to communicate optical signals with other CMs through an optical signal path using optical communication, and the optical signals are encoded using wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian W. O'Krafka, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, John E. Cunningham, Xuehze Zheng, Ilya A. Sharapov, Ronald Ho
  • Patent number: 8254784
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a light source distributor for use in an injection-locked WDM-PON (wavelength division multiplexed-passive optical network). The light source distributor receives an A band and a B band injection optical signals through a single optical terminal from an injection light source for outputting both the A band and the B band injection optical signals; transmits the A band injection optical signal to a first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer of a central office and the B band injection signal to a second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer of a remote node; transmits a wavelength-locked A band optical signal received from the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer to the second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer; and transmits a wavelength-locked B band optical signal received from the second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer to the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Luxpert Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Oh Byun, Ji Min Seo
  • Publication number: 20120213522
    Abstract: In general, optical communication systems and methods may generate higher-level nmQAM from nQAM signals using one or more delay line interferometers (DLIs) arranged in various configurations. The nQAM signals may be generated by a lower-level modulator, such as a BPSK modulator, QPSK modulator or lower-level QAM modulator, with binary driving signals. Different parameters of the DLIs, such as free spectral range (FSR), phase shift, and amplitude imbalance, may be selected to accomplish the desired higher-level nmQAM depending upon the nQAM signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS SUBSEA COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhang, Jin-Xing Cai, Yu Sun, Carl R. Davidson, Yi Cai, Georg Heinrich Mohs
  • Patent number: 8249453
    Abstract: An optical communicating apparatus that is connected to another optical communicating apparatus by a two-core optical transmission path includes: a one-core optical transmission path that passes an optical signal transmitted from an optical transmitter/receiver performing one-core bilateral communication and an optical signal transmitted to the optical transmitter/receiver in an opposite direction; a transmitting unit that transmits the optical signal transmitted from the optical transmitter/receiver through the one-core optical transmission path, to the other optical communicating apparatus through a first core of the two-core optical transmission path; and a receiving unit that receives the optical signal transmitted from the other communicating apparatus through a second core of the two-core optical transmission path, and passes the received optical signal to the one-core optical transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Takita, Susumu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8244133
    Abstract: A simple optical waveband multiplexer/demultiplexer operable to separate a wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM consisting of a plurality of wavebands WB each including a plurality of optical channels, into a predetermined plurality of wavebands WB, and output the separated plurality of wavebands WB from a plurality of output ports, wherein the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM is transmitted through two array waveguides each capable of performing a demultiplexing function with a resolution corresponding to wavelengths of the optical channels, and a characteristic of sequentially shifting the output ports by one position with shifting of input ports by one position, whereby the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM is separated into a plurality of wavebands WB each including the mutually different optical channels selected from the optical channels included in the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM, and the separated wavebands WB are outputted from the plurality of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: National University Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Sato, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Shoji Kakehashi, Osamu Moriwaki, Shin Kamei, Kenya Suzuki, Yoshihisa Sakai, Kouichi Takiguchi
  • Publication number: 20120201534
    Abstract: An optical transmission apparatus includes an optical transmitter that outputs a signal light corresponding to a wavelength of a WDM light, a multiplexer that multiplexes lights input to the plurality of input ports, and that outputs a light generated through the multiplexing from the one or more output port, an optical amplifier that amplifies the light output from the multiplexer; and an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) transmitter that inputs branching off part of the light output from the optical amplifier by a splitter and multiplexes, with the signal light, ASE in a wavelength band corresponding to an unused wavelength adjacent to the signal light included in the branched-off light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuya MIYASHITA, Takashi TOYOMAKI
  • Patent number: 8238031
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, lightwave device for use in a dispersion compensator, includes a light coupler configured to direct light toward a grating structure. The light coupler includes a first strip including a first material and a second strip attached to the first strip. The second strip includes a second material, and the second material has an expansion coefficient different than the first material. The first and second strips form a deformable reflector. A thermoelectric unit is coupled to the light coupler and is configured to adjust a shape of the deformable reflector based on a temperature of the thermoelectric unit. A support member is connected to the light coupler and is configured to position the deformable reflector so to receive light for transmission to the grating structure. Another embodiment provides a dispersion compensator using the lightwave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Peng Wang, Hongxing Dai
  • Patent number: 8238751
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling multiple optical line termination (OLT) devices to share a feeder fiber are disclosed. For example, the optical network comprises a plurality of optical line termination (OLT) devices, where each OLT device having a transceiver for sending and receiving optical signals. The optical network further comprises a wave division multiplexer (WDM) combiner, coupled to the plurality of OLT devices, for combining optical signals received from the plurality of OLT devices. The optical network further comprises an optical extender box comprising at least one hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier, wherein the optical extender box is coupled to the WDM combiner via a first standard single mode fiber section. Finally, the optical network further comprises at least one optical splitter coupled to the optical extender box via a second standard single mode fiber section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick Paul Iannone, Han Hyub Lee, Kenneth Charles Reichmann, Xiang Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120189309
    Abstract: A protected light source for generating seed light for at least two wavelength division multiplexed passive optical networks (WDM-PONs). The protected light source includes an optical coupler having N?2 input ports and M?2 output ports, each output port being optically connected to supply seed light to a respective set of one or more WDM-PONs. A respective multi-wavelength light source (MWLS) is optically coupled to supply seed light to each input port of the optical coupler. A controller unit controls operation of each multi-wavelength light source (MWLS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ROCKSTAR BIDCO LP
    Inventors: Richard HABEL, Kim B. ROBERTS
  • Patent number: 8229258
    Abstract: An optical waveguide-type wavelength domain switch includes a waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate comprising three or more laminated waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing devices, a lens system positioned on a demultiplex side of the waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate, and a reflective optical phase-modulating cell positioned on an opposite side of the waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate to the lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Hitachi Cable, Ltd., Keio University
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Toshifumi Hasama, Hitoshi Kawashima, Kenji Kintaka, Masahiko Mori, Hisato Uetsuka, Hiroyuki Tsuda, Keisuke Sorimoto
  • Publication number: 20120183296
    Abstract: A multiport passive optical signal sharing device enabling optical signals received by each of a first plurality of ports of the device to be transmitted to all of the ports of a second plurality of ports of the device. The device includes a first coupling mechanism adapted to combine signals received by each port of the first plurality of ports of said device into a first optical signal, the first optical signal being transmitted over a bi-directional optical link. The device further includes a second coupling mechanism and guide for redirecting the first optical signal in a form of a second optical signal into the bi-directional optical link, in the opposite direction from that of the first optical signal, the first coupling mechanism being adapted to duplicate the second optical signal on each port of the second plurality of ports of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Juan Lopez, Sabastien Delorge, Alexandre Touya
  • Patent number: 8213799
    Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit (PLC) includes a substrate, a tunable filter, a demultiplexer (DEMUX), and an optical processor each disposed on the substrate. The tunable filter is configured to filter at least one of a bandwidth or a wavelength of a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical input signal. The DEMUX is connected to the tunable filter and configured to receive a filtered WDM optical input signal at an input and to supply one of a plurality of channels of the filtered WDM input signal at a respective one of a plurality of outputs. Each of the plurality of channels corresponds to one of a plurality of wavelengths of the filtered WDM input signal. The optical processor includes a bit-delay interferometer communicating with a respective one of the plurality of outputs of the DEMUX. The optical processor is configured to receive one of the plurality of channels from the DEMUX and output a plurality of demodulated optical signal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Brent E. Little, Wei Chen, John V. Hryniewicz, Sai T. Chu, Jeff Rahn, Mehrdad Ziari
  • Patent number: 8208771
    Abstract: In an optical switch, fibers in a fiber array are arranged in a row. When a region where lights input into or output from the fibers in the fiber array intersect is taken as an intersecting position C, and an axis parallel to the fibers in the fiber array and passing through the intersecting position C is taken as a Z axis, then a distance ? between a core of a desired fiber among the fibers and an optical axis of a corresponding one of the lenses varies depending on a distance S of the desired fiber from the Z axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromu Ikeda, Shohei Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8204379
    Abstract: An optical network node for an n-channel dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical communications network, includes an add path for adding an n-channel wavelength multiplex onto the network. The add path has an n-channel signal combiner for combining the n signal channels. An optical amplifier amplifies an output of the signal combiner. A multichannel wavelength selective filter with variable-per-channel attenuation filters out noise from the amplifier on a channel which carries no content to be added to the network, and controls amplitude of signals in channels to be added to the network. An add coupler couples the add path to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Ericsson AB
    Inventors: Harry Richard Claringburn, Michael Sharratt
  • Publication number: 20120148235
    Abstract: A communication system includes a transmitter, a receiver device, and a control circuit. The transmitter transmits an optical signal. The receiver device receives the optical signal. The control circuit reduces a power consumption of the receiver device based on an accumulated chromatic dispersion of the received optical signal. The receiver device includes a receiver, an analog/digital converter, and a digital signal processor. The receiver extracts a signal indicating a complex amplitude of the optical signal. The analog/digital converter converts the signal indicating the complex amplitude into a digital signal. The digital signal processor digitally-processes the digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masato Nishihara, Tomoo Takahara, Toshiki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8200053
    Abstract: An optical apparatus including input ports receiving WDM light, an output port, a first wavelength dividing unit that divides the lights input from the input ports into divided lights with different wavelengths, an optical signal processing unit that reflects the divided lights respectively to the first wavelength dividing unit, thereby light from one of the input ports is directed to the output port, for respective wavelength of the divided lights, a light source outputting a monitor light, a first coupler branching the monitor light to the monitor lights to the input ports, a second coupler branching the monitor lights output from the output port and outputs branched output monitor light, a second wavelength dividing unit that divides the branched monitoring lights into divided lights with different wavelengths, and a monitoring unit monitoring the divided lights from the second wavelength dividing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shinji Komiya
  • Publication number: 20120141130
    Abstract: The optical transmitter includes a light source; a signal processor; an optical modulator that modulates output light from the light source in accordance with a transmitting signal subjected to digital signal processing in the signal processor and outputs the modulated light as a light signal to a transmission path; and a control circuit that controls a carrier-wave frequency of the light signal output from the optical modulator, the signal processor including a mapping circuit that maps the transmitting signal to electric-field information according to a modulating scheme, and a phase rotating circuit that provides a phase rotation having a constant cycle to an electric-field phase of the electric-field information to which the mapping circuit maps the transmitting signal, the control circuit controlling the cycle of the phase rotation that the phase rotating circuit provides and thereby controlling the carrier-wave frequency of the light signal output from the optical modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hisao Nakashima, Takeshi Hoshida
  • Publication number: 20120141128
    Abstract: A dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) system, comprising a plurality of laser transmitters, a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) optically coupled to the laser transmitters and to an output optical transmission media, a coupler optically coupled to the output optical transmission media, an interferometric filter optically coupled to the coupler but not directly to the output optical transmission media, and a light reflector optically coupled to the interferometric filter and not directly to the output optical transmission media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Sheng Bai, Yang Jing Wen
  • Patent number: 8195048
    Abstract: The invention pertains to optical fiber transmission systems, and is particularly relevant to transmission of high volume of data and voice traffic among different locations. In particular, the improvement teaches the use of a single optical transport system for both metropolitan area transport and long haul transport of data and voice traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Pivotal Decisions LLC
    Inventors: Angela Chiu, Michael Herbert Eiselt, Jay Martin Wiesenfeld, Lara Denise Garrett, Mark Shtaif
  • Patent number: 8190025
    Abstract: A wavelength selective switch utilizing aperture-shared optics and functionally distinct planes of operation that enables high fiber port counts, such as 1×41, and multiplicative expansion, such as to 1×83 or 1×145, by utilizing elements optimized for performance in one of the functionally distinct planes of operation without affecting the other plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Harry W. Presley, Michael L. Nagy
  • Patent number: 8175427
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for using a tunable optical source in safety curtain applications provide for enhanced operation of the safety curtain. In an embodiment, a safety curtain includes a transmit unit and a receive unit to operate as the safety curtain, where a single tunable light source generates different wavelengths of light and a single detector is used to detect the generated light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Lawrence Leard, Hassan R. Manjunath, James Edward Dogul
  • Patent number: 8165470
    Abstract: In a wavelength selecting switch, light output from an input port of an input/output optical system is angularly dispersed according to a wavelength thereof, with a spectral element. Then the lights of respective wavelengths are collected by a light collecting optical system and reflected with a corresponding reflecting mirror of a mirror section. The reflected light corresponding to the angle of the reflecting mirror, is input to an output port at an output destination of the input/output optical system. The respective output ports of the input/output optical system each have a lens coupled to an end face of an optical fiber, and the lens has a structure where a focal length of a first region corresponding to inside a variable range of attenuation is different from a focal length of a second region corresponding to outside the variable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hirofumi Aota, Tamotsu Akashi, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8165468
    Abstract: In today's reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) based optical node, transponders associated with the ROADMs' add/drop ports are dedicated to a given network node interface. Dedicated transponders reduce the flexibility to route around network failures. Example embodiments of the invention includes an optical node and corresponding method for routing optical signals within an optical node. The optical node may include at least two ROADMs to transmit respective wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals onto at least two inter-node network paths and at least one add/drop module including add ports to direct add wavelengths received from tributary network paths to each of the ROADMs via intra-node network paths to allow the wavelengths to be available to be added to the inter-node network paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Boduch, Kimon Papakos
  • Patent number: 8155521
    Abstract: Provided are a network node which has a wavelength switching cross-connection function and can thus interconnect paths of a wavelength-division-multiplexed optical signal and convert wavelengths, and an operating method of the network node. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a multi-degree cross-connection system having a simple structure at lower cost by allowing transmission of optical signals supposed not to be added/dropped at a network node without converting them into electrical signals and performing O/E conversion or E/O conversion only on optical signals supposed to be added/dropped at a network node. In addition, it is possible to increase the expandability of networks by regenerating degraded signals and which can effectively utilize bandwidths by grooming low-speed electrical digital hierarchy signals and transmitting them as high-speed optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hwan-Seok Chung, Kwangloon Kim, Sang-Soo Lee, Sun-Hyok Chang
  • Patent number: 8150264
    Abstract: A method for providing multi-wavelength switching. The method comprising receiving a plurality of signals through at least one input port, and separating the plurality of said signals into at least one wavelength signal set based on wavelengths, wherein a first wavelength signal set of said at least one wavelength signal sets corresponds to a first wavelength. The method further comprises providing a plurality of output lanes to at least one output port, and determining if two signals from said first wavelength signal set traveling on said first wavelength are scheduled output from an output port during an overlapping time period through said plurality of output lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: University of Houston
    Inventors: Wenjing Tang, Yuhua Chen
  • Publication number: 20120063771
    Abstract: A WDM optical transmission system includes a plurality of optical nodes optically coupled by a transmission line, a processor that is operative to calculate an amount of adjustment of a reception level capable of increasing an optical signal-to-noise ratio for each channel of the WDM light reaching the optical node positioned at a receiving end of the unit section based on information on amplification operation of the WDM light in at least one optical-amplification repeating node disposed on the optical transmission line in the unit section, and to adjust a power level corresponding to each channel of the WDM light transmitted on the transmission line from the optical node positioned at a transmission end of the unit section in accordance with a calculation result of the calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasushi SUGAYA, Takehiro FUJITA, Satoru OKANO
  • Publication number: 20120057874
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, an optical communication system, such as a passive optical network (PON), is provided that includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs). The OLT includes a plurality of photonic integrated circuits that have both optical transmitters and receivers provided therein. Accordingly, the OLT may have fewer components and a simpler, more reliable and cost-effective design than a conventional OLT including discrete components. In addition, various ONU configurations are provided that also have a simple design and fewer components. Thus, ONUs consistent with the present disclosure may also have reduced costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Radhakrishnan L. Nagarajan, Christopher C. Liou, Masaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20120057876
    Abstract: A method for amplifying a burst optical signal, a burst optical amplifier and system, and a communications system are provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: combining an auxiliary light and a signal light into a mixed light and outputting the mixed light, where the auxiliary light is a non-burst light, the signal light is a burst light, and power of the auxiliary light is set to be independent from power of the signal light; generating a pump light; and combining the pump light with the mixed light and inputting the combined light into a gain medium, so as to obtain an amplified mixed light. Present invention has the following advantages: reducing the delay time of enabling the burst optical amplifier, improving the transient response speed of the burst optical amplifier, and preventing the generation of a surge phenomenon, so as to prevent the generation of signal distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Hong LIU, Feng Ding
  • Publication number: 20120057875
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, an optical communication system, such as a passive optical network (PON), is provided that includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs). The OLT includes a plurality of photonic integrated circuits that have both optical transmitters and receivers provided therein. Accordingly, the OLT may have fewer components and a simpler, more reliable and cost-effective design than a conventional OLT including discrete components. In addition, various ONU configurations are provided that also have a simple design and fewer components. Thus, ONUs consistent with the present disclosure may also have reduced costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: RADHAKRISHNAN L. NAGARAJAN, Christopher C. Liou, Masaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8126331
    Abstract: The power level of a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal is detected by a detection unit. When the power level of the optical signal detected by the detection unit is equal to or lower than a first threshold, the coupling direction of an attenuation unit for controlling the coupling direction for the ports of the optical signal is controlled in the direction orthogonal to the array direction of the ports. When the power level of the optical signal exceeds a second threshold, the coupling direction of the attenuation unit is controlled in the array direction of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Ichiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8125984
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing stream processing are provided. The system includes an application framework and applications containing dataflow graphs managed by the application framework running on a first network. The system also includes at least one circuit switch in the first network having a configuration that is controlled by the application framework, a plurality of processing nodes interconnected by the first network over one of wireline and wireless links, and a second network for providing at least one of control and additional data transfer over the first network. The application framework reconfigures circuit switches in response to monitoring aspects of the applications and the first network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Giles, Nagui Halim, Kirsten W. Hildrum, Daniel M. Kuchta, Yoonho Park, Deepak Rajan, Laurent Schares, Eugen Schenfeld, Phillippe L. Selo, Marc Taubenblatt, Rohit Wagle, Joel L. Wolf, Xiaolan J. Zhang
  • Patent number: 8121483
    Abstract: A hermetically packaged, MEMS array-based ROADM module is disclosed. The enclosure sidewalls and a top lid are made of Kovar, and the base is made of alumina ceramic AuSn-soldered to the enclosure sidewalls. The MEMS array is attached to the ceramic base. The optics are passively pre-aligned using a removable template and epoxied to an optical bench. The optical bench is actively aligned as a whole and attached to the ceramic base. A plurality of electrical feedthrough contact pins extend from the bottom of the ceramic base for connecting the MEMS to a connector on a printed circuit board. In one embodiment of the invention, the ceramic base extends beyond the footprint of the sidewalls of the enclosure of the module, for mounting additional electronic components, for example MEMS driver circuitry chips, directly to the ceramic base of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventors: Nenad Duricic, Pierre D. Wall
  • Patent number: 8116629
    Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device includes a light distributor, a light combiner, and first and second sets of add and drop ports. The light distributor is configured to receive an optical signal along a primary input of the reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device and to distribute the received optical signal along a plurality of subtending outputs. The light combiner is configured to receive optical signals along a plurality of subtending inputs, to combine the received optical signals into a combined signal, and to output the combined signal. The add and drop ports in the first set function as add and drop ports, respectively, and the add and drop ports in the second set function as both add and drop ports, respectively, and as express ports connectable to another reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Boduch, Kimon Papakos, Gilbert A. Buescher
  • Patent number: 8111994
    Abstract: The invention generally relates, in one aspect, to an interferometer system. The interferometer system includes a splitter/combiner element (SCE), a first bi-directional optical path, and a second bi-directional optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Milos Popovic
  • Patent number: 8111989
    Abstract: An optical switch including a first reversible optical circulator and a second reversible optical circulator is provided. Each of the first reversible optical circulator and the second reversible optical circulator respectively has four I/O ports, wherein the four I/O ports are respectively a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal, the four terminals sequentially transmit an optical signal in a forward circulation or a backward circulation according to a control signal, and an open end is formed between the first terminal and the adjacent fourth terminal. The open ends of the first reversible optical circulator and the second reversible optical circulator are coupled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chun-Liang Yang, Dar-Zu Hsu, Jian-Ting Hong
  • Patent number: 8103138
    Abstract: A tunable filter is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: O-Net Communications (Shenzhen) Limited
    Inventors: Yang Fang, Bin Chen, Chuan Zhang, Hong Xie
  • Publication number: 20120008957
    Abstract: An optical transmission system includes a plurality of optical nodes that transmits wavelength multiplexing light including a plurality of signal light components having different wavelengths, wherein each of the optical nodes includes superimposed signal light generation circuit which superimposes a low frequency signal having a common frequency on a corresponding signal light component included in the wavelength multiplexing light; low frequency signal extraction circuit which extracts a low frequency signal having a frequency of a given range from a corresponding signal light component; and pass-through node number measurement circuit which measures, for each of the signal light components, a pass-through node number based on the frequency of the low frequency signal extracted by the low frequency signal extraction circuit, the pass-through node number being the number of optical nodes through which the signal light component has passed before being transmitted to a specific optical node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Toyomaki, Motoyoshi Sekiya