Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Other

Avago Technologies Fiber IP (singapore) Pte. Ltd

Hewlett-packard Company

Avago Technologies General IP (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Brian Elliot Lemoff

Julie Elizabeth Fouquet

Charles D Hoke

Dale W Schroeder

Ken A Nishimura

Lisa Anne Windover

Mohammed Ershad Ali

Lisa Anne Buckman

Lewis B Aronson

Richard P Schneider

Frank H Peters

Dubravko I Babic

Steven Rosenau

William Gong

Jonathan Lacey

Scott W Corzine

Robert E Wilson

Jonathan Noah Simon

Ian Hardcastle

Richard Paul Tella

Tirumala R Ranganath

James N Hollenhorst

Daniel John Keeble

Jonathan P R Lacey

Edwin De Groot

Jonathan Pr Lacey

Richatd P Tella

Andrew McGhee

Fabio Pozzi

A low cost, high speed, short haul, optic interconnect and data link which employs an array of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays through which several optical signals are simultaneously transmitted through collimating optics that generate multiple, multiple-wavelength optical signals. Each combined optical signal is transmitted to a receiver array comprising a plurality of optical filters and photodetector arrangements that have a number of sections, each having an optical filter to pass a specific optical wavelength, and a mating photodetector element to convert the specific optical signal to an electrical signal. The signals may be coupled between the transmitter array and the receiver array through free space or through optical fibers.

Structure and apparatus for a very short haul, free space, and fiber optic interconnect and data link

Methods for performing time-domain equalization of an information signal represented by an optical signal are provided. A representative method includes: receiving the optical signal; optically splitting the optical signal into beams; optically delaying at least one of the beams; detecting a plurality of the beams to generate respective electrical signal components; and combining a plurality of the electrical signal components to generate an electrical output signal representing the information signal. Systems and other methods also are provided.

Equalization of optical signals

A flexible circuit having vias disposed to minimize discontinuity in a ground plane separating opposing transmission lines. The flex circuit comprises a first transmission line coupled to a first surface, a second transmission line coupled to a second opposing surface and a ground plane separating the first transmission line and the second transmission line. The flexible circuit also includes a first type of electrical connection pads disposed on the first surface, and electrically coupled to the first transmission line. The flexible circuit also includes a second type of electrical connection pads disposed on the second surface, and electrically coupled to the second transmission line wherein the second type of electrical connection pads have a higher areal density than the first type of electrical connection pads. The flexible circuit also includes vias disposed proximate the first type of electrical connection pads and extended through the ground plane to provide for electrically coupling the first transmission line and the second transmission line, such that the vias reduce discontinuity in the ground plane and aggregate discontinuity in the flex circuit.

Via placement for layer transitions in flexible circuits with high density ball grid arrays

An optical switching fabric with an optical to electrical converter in the output plane. The optical switching fabric has an input plane with at least one input. The input plane provides at least a first optical signal (e.g., a first set of optical signals). The optical switching fabric has an output plane. The optical switching fabric has an interconnection mechanism for receiving the first set of optical signals and directing each received optical signal to a predetermined location in the output plane. The output plane has at least one optical to electrical converter (e.g., a plurality of optical to electrical converters) for receiving the directed optical signals and responsive thereto for generating a set of corresponding electronic output signals.

Optical switching fabric with an optical to electrical converter in the output plane

The optical fiber-based communication system comprises a distribution optical fiber that extends proximately to a plurality of end users, and tap-off modules coupled to the distribution optical fiber at intervals along its length. Each of the tap-off modules includes a port in optical communication with the distribution optical fiber. The optical fiber-based communication system additionally comprises a branch optical fiber connected to the port of each of at least some of the tap-off modules and that extends to a corresponding one of the end users.

All-optical network distribution system

A method and apparatus for a filterless parallel WDM multiplexer is disclosed. The filterless multiplexer comprises two or more planes of lenses to allow light to be directed into a number of waveguides. The filterless multiplexer may be have either refractive or diffractive lenses.

Apparatus and method for a filterless parallel WDM multiplexer

A driver IC and EML array are electrically coupled to one another via a flexible PCB. Thermal isolation between the driver IC and EML array is adjusted by varying a cross-section and length of electrically-conductive traces on the PCB.

Method and apparatus for interconnecting a laser array and an integrated circuit of a laser-based transmitter

The WDM receiver includes a wavelength demultiplexer, a detector array and a signal extractor. The wavelength demultiplexer receives an n-channel optical input signal and transmits the n-channel optical input signal to m optical outputs. Each of the optical outputs receives a wavelength band centered at a different wavelength. The wavelength bands have a center-to-center wavelength spacing of &#x394;&#x3bb;'. The detector array is composed of m detector elements coupled to the wavelength demultiplexer. Each of the detector elements generates a detection signal in response to light received from one of the optical outputs of the wavelength demultiplexer. The signal extractor receives the detection signals from the detector array and converts the detection signals to an n-channel receiver output signal, each channel of which corresponds to a different one of the n channels of the optical input signal. The WDM receiver is able to detect optical signals that are closely spaced in wavelength, even when the optical signals have off-center of varying wavelengths.

Wavelength division multiplexing receiver for wavelength tracking

An optical retimer is provided that retimes an optical data signal entirely in the optical domain, thus eliminating the need for optical-to-electrical and electrical-to-optical converters, which are needed to perform retiming in the electrical domain. Eliminating these conversion steps also eliminates, or at least decreases, the potential for errors in the retimed optical signal, such as jitter. The optical retimer samples the optical data signal during a clock cycle that has been determined by clock recovery, allows the sampled signal to traverse an optical pathway for the remainder of the cycle, out-couples a fraction of the sampled optical signal each time the signal traverses the optical pathway, and amplifies the signal traversing the pathway to maintain the signal at the power level it had when it was sampled. By the end of the clock cycle, the out-coupled signal corresponds to a retimed version of the original signal, synchronized to the recovered clock signal.

Optical retiming of an optical data signal

VCSEL array configurations for use with parallel WDM transmitters are disclosed. Transmitters that use several wavelengths of VCSELs are built up out of multiple die to avoid the difficulty of manufacturing monolithic arrays of VCSELs with different optical wavelengths. VCSEL configurations are laid out to insure that VCSELs of different wavelengths that destined for the same waveguide are close together.

VCSEL array configuration for a parallel WDM transmitter

A process for discovering a path from a source node to a destination node through a network by using 'collisions' of randomly-propagating 'feeler' packets originating from both the source node and the destination node. A discovered path is reported to the source node by the collision-detecting node where it may be stored and updated responsively to reports of new feeler packet collisions. Paths discovered and reported may be analyzed at either the collision-detecting node or the originating node to remove loops. The random collision-detecting path-discovery procedure reduces the operational traffic overhead associated with other exponentially-proliferating discovery methods. The feeler packets are propagated randomly through the network topology, thereby imposing relatively uniform path-discovery traffic effects in the network. Path discoveries arising from feeler-packet collisions always reflect current network topology and traffic conditions. The origination rate of feeler packets may be adjusted responsively to changes in demand, cost or other parameters.

Adaptive path discovery process for routing data packets in a multinode network

A first plurality of stages each support a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of N optical input fibers. A second plurality of stages each support a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of M optical output fibers. Mechanical mechanisms translate the stages along a plurality of orthogonal X and Y axes to align a facet of a selected one of the N input optical fibers with a facet of a selected one of the M output optical fibers. The stages of the input optical fibers, the output optical fibers, or both, have mechanical mechanisms for moving the ferrules along Z axes perpendicular to the X and Y axes into and out of alignment holes of a central panel to physically mate the facets of the coupled fibers.

Non-blocking mechanical fiber optic matrix switch

A semiconductor-based optical switch engine switches input light from an input switch element to an output switch element and directly couples through an optical waveguide each output of the input switch element to a respective input of the output switch element. The switch architecture reduces signal cross-talk because each signal passes through the optical switch engine using a dedicated optical path. The optical switch engine also maintains a consistent signal-to-noise ratio among all the paths through the switch and reduces the total number of switch points through which an optical signal may pass.

Semiconductor-based optical switch architecture

A parallel optics and wavelength division multiplexing package for multiplexing optical data signals for transmission, or for receiving and demultiplexing optical data signals. The package includes an array of diodes mounted on a parallel transmitter or receiver circuit for receiving electrical signals from the circuit and converting them into an array of corresponding light signals, or for receiving an array of light signals and converting them into an array of corresponding electrical signals. In a transmitter package, an optical multiplexer, located adjacent the array of diodes, receives the array of light signals and converts them into a set of corresponding parallel multiplexed light signals. In a receiver package, an optical demultiplexer, located adjacent the array of diodes, receives a set of parallel multiplexed light signals and converts them into the array of demultiplexed light signals. A lid mounted on the optical multiplexer or demultiplexer includes alignment pins for aligning the multiplexer or demultiplexer with a parallel fiber ribbon for transmitting or receiving the light signals. The package can include an hermetic or non-hermetic enclosure, depending upon the materials used within the package.

Parallel multiwavelength optical subassembly

A fiber ribbon includes a plurality of first segments of optical fibers that extend in a planar side-by-side arrangement having a first predetermined pitch. A fiber-fan-out including a plurality of second segments of the optical fibers extends in a diverging arrangement from the fiber ribbon. A fiber holder extends across the plurality of second segments of the optical fibers for maintaining a plurality of terminal portions of the second segments in a second predetermined pitch that is greater than the first predetermined pitch so that the terminal portions can each be optically coupled to a corresponding optical subassembly (OSA) of a plurality of OSAs arranged in a linear array. An alternate embodiment uses a second fiber holder in place of the fiber ribbon. The holders can be replaced with a common housing assembly spanning all but the terminal portions of the optical fibers.

Growing community of inventors

Union City, CA, United States of America

Brian Elliot Lemoff