Integrated Optics Communications Corporation

Other

International Optics Communications Corporation

Oplux, Inc.

Jinliang Chen

Ming Xu

Peiching Ling

Jianjun Zhang

Wayne Lui

Yu Chen

Jiangjun Zhang

The present invention is a wavelength-selective optical transmission system that includes a first waveguide for transmitting a multiplexed optical signal therethrough. The system further includes a second waveguide coupled to the first waveguide wherein a least one of the first and second waveguides have a set of wavelength-selective Bragg gratings disposed near a coupling section between the first and second waveguides to reflect a reflecting optical signal back to the first waveguide and for transmitting a contra-directional optical signal and a co-directional optical signal having respectively a contra-directional selected wavelength and a co-directional selected wavelength corresponding to the Bragg gratings. One of the contra-directional and co-directional wavelengths is chosen as a designated wavelength, and the reflecting optical signal and one of the contra-directional or co-directional optical signals are outside of a predefined range surrounding the designated wavelength.

Grating-based wavelength selective switch

The present invention discloses a switching matrix configuration to reduce the optical propagation losses and coupling losses. The switching matrix comprises M horizontal waveguides interested with 2N vertical waveguides, where M and N are positive integers and the optical switching system is configured to receive a multiplexed input optical signal from a horizontal waveguide disposed next to an i-th horizontal waveguide where i is a closest integer to a positive real number M/2.

Switching matrix configuration for reducing loss

A wavelength selective switch. The switch comprises an input waveguide for carrying an optical signal having a wavelength &#x3bb;. Also included is an output waveguide having a Bragg grating adapted for coupling the wavelength &#x3bb;into the output waveguide in a coupling zone. Finally, provided is a heater element that can selectively provide thermal energy to the coupling zone such that the Bragg grating does not couple the wavelength &#x3bb;.

Waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switch actuated by thermal mechanism

The present invention discloses an optical switching element that uses reversible electroplating mirrors includes a trench with transparent sidewalls located at the intersection of two waveguides A and B. The trench has two electrodes; one, which is transparent, is placed on the trench sidewall and the other is placed on the trench floor. The trench is filled with an index-matching electrolytic solution containing ions of a metal that can electro-deposit on these two electrodes. To actuate the switching element, a negative electrical potential is applied to the sidewall electrode. Actuation causes metal deposits to form on the sidewall electrode, creating a mirror that reflects light from waveguide A to waveguide B. To deactivate the switching element, a positive electrical potential is applied to the sidewall electrode. Deactivation causes metal deposits move off the sidewall and form on the trench floor. The lack of metal deposits on the sidewall allows light to pass through the switching element and continue along the original waveguide A

Optical switch with reversible electroplating mirrors

The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for constructing optical switch systems, in which any input optical signals can be routed to any output ports. The methods and apparatus provide advantages of configuration flexibility, modular construction, constant signal loss, and minimal numbers of switch units required. The switch systems comprise M&#xd7;N switch modules. The switch module in turn comprises a two-dimensional waveguide array and a number of waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switches. With the capability of wavelength-selective routing provided by the switch modules, the optical switch systems requires a relatively small amount of switch units to extend into a very-large-scale switch system.

Optical switch systems using waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switch modules

The present invention discloses a drop-before-add optical routing and switching system. The drop-before-add optical routing and switching system includes an input waveguide for carrying a multiplexed optical signal comprising optical signals transmitted over a plurality of wavelength channels represented by &#x3bb;, &#x3bb;, &#x3bb;, . . . , &#x3bb;and &#x3bb;, where N is a positive integer wherein the input waveguide extending over a first direction. The drop-before-add optical routing and switching system further includes a plurality of second direction waveguides extending over a second direction and intersecting at N intersections with the input waveguide. The drop-before-add optical routing and switching system further includes a plurality of wavelength selective grating switches each disposed on one of the N intersections for selectively transmitting an optical signal of a selected wavelength into an associated one of the second direction waveguide.

Drop-before-add optical switching and routing system employing grating-based wavelength selective switches

The present invention is a wavelength-selective optical switching system. The switching system includes an input waveguide designated as waveguide WG() for receiving a multiplexed optical signal comprising optical signals transmitted over a plurality of wavelength channels represented by &#x3bb;, &#x3bb;, &#x3bb;, , &#x3bb;, where N is a positive integer wherein the input waveguide extending over a first direction. The switching system further includes a two dimensional waveguide array comprising a plurality of first direction waveguides WG(i), i=1, 2, 3, , M extending over the first direction substantially parallel to the input waveguide WG() where M is a positive integer and a plurality of second direction waveguides WG'(j), j=1, 2, 3, N, extending over a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting with the input waveguide and each of the first direction waveguide WG(i), i=0, 1, 2, 3, ,M, thus forming (M+1)&#xd7;N intersections. The switching system further includes a plurality of wavelength selective grating-based switches SW(i, j) where i=0, 1, 2, 3, , M and j=1, 2, 3, , N, each disposed on one of the (M+1)&#xd7;N intersections for selectively transmitting an optical signal of wavelength &#x3bb;j into a waveguide WG&#x2032;(j) and for selectively transmitting an optical signal of a predefined combination of wavelengths into at least one of the waveguide WG(i) for i=1, 2, 3, M.

Waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switch actuated by micro-electromechanical system

This invention discloses an optical device that includes a wavelength-selective optical transmission system. The wavelength-selective optical transmission system further includes a first waveguide for transmitting a multiplexed optical signal therethrough. The wavelength-selective optical transmission system further includes a second waveguide coupled to the first waveguide wherein a least one of the first and second waveguides having a set of wavelength-selective Bragg gratings disposed near a coupling section between the first and second waveguides. One of the first and second waveguides has an aspect ratio, i.e., a ratio of a thickness divided by a width, is no greater than 0.75.

A wavelength selective light source is disclosed. The wavelength selective light source comprises a broadband light source producing light having a plurality of wavelengths and a demultiplexer that receives the light and separates at least one of the plurality of wavelengths from said light. Further, a multiplexer is included for coupling the at least one of said plurality of wavelengths into an output waveguide. Finally, a semiconductor optical amplifier is provided that receives the at least one of the plurality of wavelengths from the output waveguide and amplifies the at least one of the plurality of wavelengths.

Wavelength selective light source using Bragg-grating

An all-optical switch with wavelength conversion is disclosed. The optical switch comprises an input waveguide for carrying a multiplexed optical signal comprised of a plurality of wavelength channels. Further included is a demultiplexer for separating the multiplexed optical signal into the plurality of wavelength channels. The wavelength channels are then provided to a wavelength converter operative to convert the wavelength channels into a converted wavelength channel. The converted wavelength channels are input to a switch operative to switch the converted wavelength channels onto output waveguides.

Waveguide Bragg-grating based all-optical wavelength-routing switch with wavelength conversion

A wavelength converter is disclosed. The converter comprises a broadband light source producing light having a plurality of wavelengths. Further, a semiconductor optical amplifier is provided that receives the light from the light source. The semiconductor optical amplifier amplifies the light under the control of a control signal related to an optical signal of a first wavelength. Next, a demultiplexer receives the output of the semiconductor optical amplifier and extracts from the amplified optical signal at least one of the plurality of wavelengths.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Jinliang Chen