Ii-vi Incorporated

Capella Photonics, Inc.

Jds Uniphase Corporation

Massimo Martinelli

Mark H Garrett

Ruipeng Sun

Long Yang

Aravanan Gurusami

Mikhail I Rudenko

Jeffrey E Ehrlich

Joseph Eugene Davis

Eric Timothy Green

Ian Peter McClean

Russell A Chipman

Nadhum Kadhum Zayer

Mark Filipowicz

Manish Sharma

Robert Ostrom

Brian Daniel

An optical amplifier module is configured as a multi-stage free-space optics arrangement, including at least an input stage and an output stage. The actual amplification is provided by a separate fiber-based component coupled to the module. A propagating optical input signal and pump light are provided to the input stage, with the amplified optical signal exiting the output stage. The necessary operations performed on the signal within each stage are provided by directing free-space beams through discrete optical components. The utilization of discrete optical components and free-space beams significantly reduces the number of fiber splices and other types of coupling connections required in prior art amplifier modules, allowing for an automated process to create a 'pluggable' optical amplifier module of small form factor proportions.

Optical amplifier module

An optical switch is configured in a 'dual-ganged' switch geometry to provide for the simultaneous switching of a selected transmit/receive pair of optical signal paths between a specific optical communication device and an optical communication network. A biaxially-symmetric signal redirection component may be used to direct the signals between the selected channel and the optical communication device. A specific waveguide (e.g., fiber) array topology within the dual-ganged switch (DGS) breaks the symmetry between the network transmit/receive arrays and a pair of transmit and receive signal paths associated with the communication device to improve isolation and minimize the possibility of cross-talk between non-selected waveguides in the transmit and receive arrays. The possibility of 'hits' during switching between channels can be eliminated, and is controlled by dictating the process or switching steps used to rotate the biaxially-symmetric signal redirection element.

Dual-ganged optical switch

A tunable multiport optical filter includes various types of arrays of optical ports. The tunable filter also includes a light dispersion element (e.g., a grating) and a reflective beam steering element (e.g., a tilting mirror). An optical signal exits an optical (input) port, is dispersed by the light dispersion element, reflects off the reflective beam steering element back to the light dispersion element, and on to another optical (output) port. The reflective beam steering element can be steered such that a wavelength portion of the dispersed optical signal can be coupled to the optical output port. For example, the input optical signal may be a wavelength division multiplexed signal carrying multiple channels on different wavelengths, and the tunable multiport optical filter directs one of the channels to the output optical port. Additionally, the tunable filter may be incorporated into a device acting as a wavelength reference.

Multiport tunable optical filters

A tunable multiport optical filter includes various types of arrays of optical ports. The tunable filter also includes a light dispersion element (e.g., a grating) and a reflective beam steering element (e.g., a tilting mirror). An optical signal exits an optical (input) port, is dispersed by the light dispersion element, reflects off the reflective beam steering element back to the light dispersion element, and on to another optical (output) port. The reflective beam steering element can be steered such that a wavelength portion of the dispersed optical signal can be coupled to the optical output port. For example, the input optical signal may be a wavelength division multiplexed signal carrying multiple channels on different wavelengths, and the tunable multiport optical filter directs one of the channels to the output optical port. Additionally, the tunable filter may be incorporated into a device act as a wavelength reference.

A multicast optical switch includes a free-space optical assembly of discrete splitters, cylindrical optics, and a linear array of reflective switching devices, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors, to provide low-loss, high-performance multicast switching in a compact configuration. The assembly of optical splitters may include multiple planar lightwave circuit splitters or a multi-reflection beam splitter that includes a linear array of partially reflecting mirrors, each of a different reflectivity.

Multicast optical switch

Optical switches can include collimator elements that accommodate two or more optical ports. This increases the number of ports the switch can accommodate without having to increase the size of other optical components within the switch. Separate deflectors can be used to accommodate optical signals from two different groups of ports. In some embodiments cross-coupling of signals between the two groups can be accomplished through use of re-direction optics.

Wavelength switch system using angle multiplexing optics

An optical assembly for double passing a transmission grating may include a prism having first, second and third surfaces. A transmission grating may be bonded to the first surface. A first mirror coating may be bonded to the second surface and a second mirror coating to the third surface. The first, second and third surfaces, the transmission grating and the first and second mirror coatings are configured such that light of a predetermined wavelength entering the prism that is incident on the transmission grating is diffracted a first time by the transmission grating towards the second surface, reflected from the second surface to the third surface, reflected from the third surface back to the transmission grating, and diffracted a second time by the transmission grating as the light exits the prism.

Double-pass diffraction grating

A micromirror for use in an optical apparatus may comprise a reflective portion, configured to be rotatable about a switching axis and an attenuation axis that is different from the switching axis. The reflective portion may include an edge that is substantially parallel to the attenuation axis. The edge may include one or more edge features that protrude above a plane of the micromirror surface and/or are submerged below the plane of the micromirror surface, and/or have an edge shape that deviates from a straight line. Alternatively, an array of micromirrors may have mirrors characterized by sawtooth features disposed along edges that are substantially parallel to the attenuation axis.

Optical apparatus with reduced effect of mirror edge diffraction

Polarization controlling elements equivalent to quarter and half waveplates are constructed from sequences of variable retarder plates having fixed retardation axes. An endless polarization control algorithm is provided.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Massimo Martinelli