Capella Photonics, Inc.

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Leland Stanford Junior University

Read Rite Corporation

Iolon, Inc.

Quinta Corporation

Coherent, Inc.

Jeffrey P Wilde

Joseph Eugene Davis

John F Heanue

Jerry E Hurst, Jr

Pavel G Polynkin

John H Jerman

Kurt Edward Petersen

Alexander Tselikov

Mark H Garrett

Terry Wayne McDaniel

Jeff Drazan

Tai Seng Chen

Joseph D Drake

Masud Mansuripur

Karl Arnold Belser

Yongwei Zhang

Viatcheslav Izraelian

George R Gray

Bert P Van Drie&euml;nhuizen

Nelson Kuan

Lambertus Hesselink

Yonglin Huang

James N Blake

Stephen J Hrinya

Yonina Eldar

Joseph W Goodman

Jill D Berger

Jimmy J Shen

Bert P Van Drieenhuizen

Marcus H Barnes

John F Heanuc

Michael J Timmons

This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral characters, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values. The WSR apparatus of the present invention can be used to construct a novel class of dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) for WDM optical networking applications.

Reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers with servo control and dynamic spectral power management capabilities

This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values. The WSR apparatus of the present invention can be used to construct a novel class of dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) for WDM optical networking applications.

Systems, methods and devices are implemented for optical imaging. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical imaging apparatus utilizes a laser-based coherent light source, and an optical device to pass grated light along an illumination direction from the laser-based coherent light source toward an object. Additionally, an illumination modulator is provided for changing angles at which the light, moving toward the object plane, reaches the object plane, and the light reaches the object plane at different angles. Further, the apparatus can include circuitry to process image-based data in response to and based on the light reaching the object plane at different angles for a user-viewable image of an object in proximity of the object plane.

Grating-enhanced optical imaging

This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the invention may further employ a polarization diversity scheme, whereby polarization-sensitive effects become inconsequential and insertion loss is minimized. The WSR apparatus of the invention may additionally be equipped with servo-control and channel equalization capabilities. The WSR apparatus of the invention can be used to construct a novel class of dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) for WDM optical networking applications.

Reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers employing polarization diversity

A Fabry-Perot laser and a micro-actuator are utilized to provide continuous tuning over a range of wavelengths.

Widely tunable laser

This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports, thereby constituting a dynamic optical drop module (RODM). By operating an RODM in reverse, a dynamic optical add module (ROAM) is also provided. The RODM (or ROAM) of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and power-management capabilities. Such RODMs and ROAMs can be used as building blocks to construct dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) and other WDM optical networking systems.

Reconfigurable optical add and drop modules with servo control and dynamic spectral power management capabilities

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for optical spectral power monitoring that employ a time-division-multiplexed detection scheme. The optical spectral power monitoring apparatus of the present invention uses a wavelength-dispersing means such as a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple spectral channels and an array of beam-manipulating elements positioned to correspond with the spectral channels. The beam-manipulating elements are individually controllable so as to direct the spectral channels into an optical detector in a time-division-multiplexed sequence. The optical spectral power monitoring apparatus may further employ a polarization diversity scheme, thereby becoming polarization insensitive. This enables the apparatus of the present invention to enhance spectral resolution, while providing improved accuracy in optical spectral power detection. Accordingly, a variety of novel optical spectral power monitors can be constructed according to the present invention, that are well suitable for WDM optical networking applications.

Optical spectral power monitors employing time-division-multiplexing detection schemes

A novel wavelength routing apparatus is disclosed, which uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal from an input port into multiple spectral channels; a channel-interleaving assembly (e.g., an array of prisms) to interleave the spectral channels into two channel groups; and an 'augmented relay system' to relay the interleaved channel groups onto two separate arrays of channel micromirrors, respectively. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into multiple output ports. As such, the inventive wavelength routing apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. Further, the channel-interleaving scheme thus devised effectively 'enlarges' the channel spacing and thereby allows the channel micromirrors in each array to be made considerably larger and more reliable, thereby significantly improving the channel filtering characteristics and ensuring more robust performance.

Free-space dynamic wavelength routing systems with interleaved channels for enhanced performance

The invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into multiple output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values. The WSR apparatus of the present invention can be used to construct a novel class of dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) for WDM optical networking applications.

Reconfigurable all-optical multiplexers with simultaneous add-drop capability

This invention provides a wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels that are communicated to an array of channel micromirrors, and which includes a micromirror position sensing unit to monitor the position of each of the channel micromirrors. The micromirror position sensing unit may include an array of position sensitive detectors or split detectors, which each receive a diverted fraction of one of the reflected spectral channels.

Micromirror position sensing units for reconfigurable optical systems

Growing community of inventors

Morgan Hill, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey P Wilde