Ilx Lightwave Corporation

Pts Corporation

Christopher Stephen Wood

Jason Ensher

Terry Brown

Robert T Weverka

S Christopher Alaimo

Edward J Bortolini

Robert W Kaliski

Jim Rice

John T Flower

Shirley Thorkelson

David Marinelli

Keith Honea

Steven Mechels

Marc DeFrancesco

Andrew J M Kiruluta

Alan J Richards

The invention provides a polarization controller to set the state of polarization (SOP) of light in an optical fiber. A plurality of piezoelectric squeezers couple with an electronic drive to apply compression forces to the fiber. The drive applies voltage signals to the squeezers and monitors one or more of (a) a voltage across the squeezer, (b) a capacitance change with the fiber, (c) a force applied to the squeezer, (d) a force applied to the fiber, and (e) a resonance of one or more squeezers. Feedback from one or more of (a)-(e) is used to modify the applied voltage signals in control of the SOP.

Feedback polarization controller

An integrating optical system for measuring optical radiation. The system has a first sphere (forming a &ldquo;primary&rdquo; integrating cavity) and a second sphere (forming a &ldquo;secondary&rdquo; integrating cavity). An optical fiber interfaces to an input aperture of the first sphere so that light from the fiber enters the first sphere. A detector interfaces with the second sphere such that light from the first sphere couples to the detector by scattering within the first and second spheres and without a direct line of sight between the detector and the input aperture. The secondary integrating cavity has a smaller volume than the primary integrating cavity. The secondary integrating cavity is made smaller so as to decrease losses incurred by light scattering transmission through the first and second spheres. The detector is preferably configured so that it does not receive &ldquo;specular&rdquo; radiation (i.e., radiation from a single reflection) from the walls of the primary cavity.

Integrating cavity for optical measurements

The invention provides a polarization scrambler to rapidly change the state of polarization of light transmitted through a single mode fiber such that a substantial portion of the Poincare sphere is covered. A plurality of piezoelectric squeezers couple with an electronic drive. Each squeezer resonates in response to drive signals from the electronic drive to induce radial compression forces on the fiber. The drive signals remain resonant with each squeezer, at frequencies of about 100 kHz, through a feedback loop for each of the squeezers and the electronic drives. Coverage over the Poincare sphere typically occurs in less than about 100 milliseconds, and preferably less than 1 millisecond.

Resonantly driven fiber polarization scrambler

A tunable demultiplexer accepts an input optical signal that has multiple spectral bands and provides multiple output signals. Each of the output signals corresponds to a selected one of the spectral bands. The tunable demultiplexer has at least one wavelength routing element and at least one optical arrangement disposed to exchange light with the wavelength routing element. The wavelength routing element is of the type adapted for selectively routing wavelength components of a first optical signal onto multiple second optical signals according to a configurable state.

Tunable DWDM demultiplexer

A miniature, fiber-coupled Fabry-Perot interferometer has a piezoelectric transducer coupled to first and second collimating lenses. The collimating lenses collimate and interfere light energy within a gap formed between the lenses as part of the interferometer. Preferably, the lenses are matched mode gradient index lenses. Light energy coupled to the collimating lens is thus collimated and interfered within the gap. The piezoelectric transducer expands or contracts to adjust the gap, thereby adjusting the free spectral range of the interferometer. An input fiber provides input to the interferometer; an output fiber carries processed light energy of the selected free spectral range to external devices and optical systems. Metal coatings may be used to provide a capacitive feedback of lens position to calibrate the gap and, thus, the free spectral range.

Tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer, and associated methods

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Christopher Stephen Wood