Chiral Photonics, Inc.

Daniel Neugroschl

Victor Il'ich Kopp

Jonathan Singer

Jongchul Park

Mitchell Steven Wlodawski

Gary M Weiner

Victor M Churikov

Christopher W Draper

Victor Tchourikov

Norman Chao

Jing Zhang

A multichannel optical coupler array can include a coupler housing structure and longitudinal waveguides. At least one of the longitudinal waveguides can be a vanishing core waveguide having an inner vanishing core having a first refractive index (N-1), an outer core having a second refractive index (N-2), and an outer cladding having a third refractive index (N-3). A refractive index transition between N-1 and N-2 can have a function form N(r), where r is a transverse distance from the inner vanishing core center. The function N(r) can be a smooth function having a positive average of the second derivative or function N(r) can be a step function with at least one step approximating the smooth function. The coupler housing structure may have non-circular holes formed by convex-shaped housing structure elements.

Multichannel optical coupler array

Wavelength division multiplexers for space division multiplexing can include wavelength division multiplexing fanout devices or pump-signal combiners for multicore fibers.

Wavelength division multiplexers for space division multiplexing (SDM-WDM devices)

Space division multiplexers can include adapters between multicore fibers with different core patterns and/or add-drop multiplexers for multicore fibers.

Space division multiplexers

An optical coupler array can include an elongated optical element having a coupler housing structure and at least one longitudinal waveguide embedded in said housing structure. The housing structure can have an outer cross sectional shape comprising a first side comprising one or more curved portions and a second side comprising one or more flat portions. The second side can be disposed at a distance from the at least one longitudinal waveguide such that waveguiding properties are preserved and not disturbed.

Passive aligning optical coupler array

The optical fiber coupler array can be capable of providing a low-loss, high-coupling coefficient interface with high accuracy and easy alignment between a plurality of optical fibers (or other optical devices) with a first channel-to-channel spacing, and an optical device having a plurality of closely-spaced waveguide interfaces with a second channel-to-channel spacing, where each end of the optical fiber coupler array can be configurable to have different channel-to-channel spacing, each matched to a corresponding one of the first and second channel-to-channel spacing. Advantageously, the refractive indices and sizes of both inner and outer core, and/or other characteristics of vanishing core waveguides in the optical coupler array can be configured to reduce the back reflection for light propagating from the plurality of the optical fibers at the coupler first end to the optical device at the coupler second end, and/or vice versa.

Multichannel optical coupler

The inventive optical fiber coupler array is capable of providing a low-loss, high-coupling coefficient interface with high accuracy and easy alignment between a plurality of optical fibers (or other optical devices) with a first channel-to-channel spacing, and an optical device having a plurality of closely-spaced waveguide interfaces with a second channel-to-channel spacing, where each end of the optical fiber coupler array is configurable to have different channel-to-channel spacing, each matched to a corresponding one of the first and second channel-to-channel spacing. The novel optical coupler array includes a plurality of waveguides (at least one of which may optionally be polarization maintaining), that comprises at least one gradually reduced vanishing core fiber, at least in part embedded within a common housing structure. Alternatively, the novel coupler array may be configured for utilization with at least one of an optical fiber amplifier and an optical fiber laser. Advantageously, the refractive indices and sizes of both inner and outer core, and/or other characteristics of vanishing core waveguides in the novel optical coupler array are optimized to reduce the back reflection for light propagating from the plurality of the optical fibers at the coupler first end to the optical device at the coupler second end, and/or vice versa.

Optimized configurable pitch reducing optical fiber coupler array

A multichannel optical coupler array comprises a coupler housing structure and longitudinal waveguides. At least one of the longitudinal waveguides is a vanishing core waveguide. Light traveling from a first end to a second end can escape from an inner vanishing core into a corresponding outer core proximally to an intermediate cross section, and can escape from the outer core into a combined waveguide formed by at least two neighboring outer cores proximally to the second end.

The inventive configurable chiral fiber sensor with a tip-positioned sensing element, is readily configurable for use in a variety of applications (such as applications involving pressure, temperature, and even axial twist sensing), and is particularly suitable for applications requiring highly precise and accurate sensor readings within corresponding predefined limited sensing ranges. Advantageously, the inventive configurable chiral fiber sensor with a tip-positioned sensing element, is operable to utilize a wide variety of light sources, photodetectors, and related devices for sensor interrogation.

Configurable chiral fiber tip-positioned sensor

The inventive high density optical packaging header apparatus, in various embodiments thereof, provides configurable, modular, and highly versatile solutions for simultaneously connecting multiple optical fibers/waveguides to optical-fiber-based electronic systems, components, and devices, and is readily usable in a variety of applications involving highly flexible and modular connection of multiple optical fibers/waveguides assembled in a header block configuration to optical-fiber-based system/component backplanes, while providing advantageous active and passive alignment features.

High density optical packaging header apparatus

The system and method of the present invention advantageously enable controllable light extraction from optical fiber waveguides and offer highly configurable light signal guidance and control capabilities, as well as additional advantageous features associated with waveguides, by providing, in various exemplary embodiments thereof, a multitude of novel techniques by which the parameters relating to utilization of various light signals (such as direction of their emission, magnitude of the emission, physical surface area of the emission, etc.), can be readily controlled and configured as a matter of design choice. Additionally, the inventive system and method, in various exemplary embodiments thereof, also enable and facilitate selective configuration of, and/or control over, various characteristics of the light signals guided/controlled/extracted thereby, such as the signals' wavelength, polarization, intensity, amplitude, etc. To achieve the above-noted beneficial functions, the system and method of the present invention utilize a physical property of a standard, or a specialty, chiral optical fiber to scatter light signals entering the fiber in directions away from the fiber core (through the fiber cladding), to thereby advantageously enable selective and controllable extraction of light signals of a desired predetermined wavelength (or, optionally of a predetermined range of wavelengths) therefrom.

Chiral fiber apparatus and method for controllable light extraction from optical waveguides

The inventive optical component assembly advantageously enables a multi-waveguide optical component (such as the inventive optical fiber coupler array, a multi-core optical fiber, etc.), to be coupled to at least one waveguide of an optical device at a predefined coupling angle. The optical component assembly of the present invention comprises a multi-waveguide optical component with an output end, a prism having an input surface, an output surface, and an internal reflective surface with a predefined reflection angle, and a GRIN lens, positioned between the component output end and the prism input surface, along a longitudinal axis of the multi-waveguide optical component. In accordance with the present invention, the length of the GRIN lens, and its refractive index gradient profile are optimized to form an optical image of the output end of the multi-waveguide optical component, at the output surface of the prism, thus enabling the output surface of the prism to be coupled to at least one waveguide of an optical device, with the predefined reflection angle corresponding to the angle at which the multi-waveguide optical component may be coupled to the optical device.

Optical component assembly for use with an optical device

A multichannel optical coupler array comprises a coupler housing structure and longitudinal waveguides. At least one of the longitudinal waveguides is a vanishing core waveguide. The coupler housing structure at a proximity to a first end has one of the following cross sectional configurations: a ring surrounding the longitudinal waveguides, or a structure with holes, at least one hole containing at least one of the longitudinal waveguides.

The inventive configurable optical fiber polarization mode coupler is capable of providing a low-loss, high-coupling coefficient interface with high accuracy and easy alignment between a plurality of optical fibers (or other optical devices) with a first channel-to-channel spacing, and an optical device having a plurality of closely-spaced waveguide interfaces with a second channel-to-channel spacing, where each end of the optical fiber coupler array is configurable to have different channel-to-channel spacing, each matched to a corresponding one of the first and second channel-to-channel spacing, and that are preferably optimized for use with photonic integrated circuits, such as coupling to dense optical input/output interfaces, wafer-level testing, etc. The novel optical coupler array includes a plurality of waveguides (at least one of which may optionally be polarization maintaining), that comprises at least one gradually reduced vanishing core fiber, at least in part embedded within a common housing structure. Advantageously, at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises a physically untappable secure optical fiber link component comprising at least one optical fiber polarization mode coupler configured as a pitch reducing optical fiber array (PROFA) interconnect.

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Suffern, NY, United States of America

Daniel Neugroschl