Lucent Technologies Inc.

At+t Corp.

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Agere Systems Inc.

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

Agere Systems Guardian Corp.

Photuris, Inc.

Neal Henry Thorsten

Ernest Eisenhardt Bergmann

Sungho Jin

Christopher Stephen Koeppen

Kevin Cyrus Robinson

Clarence B Swan

Steven E Parks

Stephen Kenneth Fairchild

Friedrich Zwickel

Stephen Charles McClain

Wayne F Thomas

Reinhard Heinrich Knerr

Kenneth R Mahon

A method is provided for assembling an optical collimator array. The method begins by directing light through a first optical collimator to produce a first optical output beam. The first collimator is supported by a first carrier element. The first collimator is rotated about its central longitudinal axis to adjust a position of the first optical output beam on a surface that intercepts the first optical output beam. The first carrier element is then rotated about a carrier axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis and in a plane containing the central longitudinal axis to further adjust the position of the first optical output beam on the surface. The first collimator continues to be rotated about these axes until the first optical output beam is located at a desired position on the surface, at which point the first optical collimator is secured to the first carrier element. Next, the first carrier element itself is secured to prevent rotation about the carrier axis. The aforementioned steps are repeated for a second optical collimator producing a second optical output beam, which is supported by a second carrier element. The second optical collimator continues to be rotated about the two axes until the second optical output beam is located at a second position on the surface that is offset from the position of the first optical output beam by a prescribed amount. Finally, the second optical collimator is secured to the second carrier element and the second carrier element is secured to the first carrier element.

Collimator array having precisely aligned optical beams and method of assembling same

A lens assembly is provided to adjust the path of an optical beam. The lens assembly includes a lens positioned along the path of the optical beam. The lens is also positioned for movement in directions parallel to a plane traversing the path of the optical beam. The lens is configured to adjust the path of the optical beam upon movement of the lens in a direction parallel to the plane.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the path of an optical beam

In accordance with the invention, an optical switching device comprises a light-reflecting mirror containing a magnetic component coupled to a substrate. One or more programmable magnets are provided for moving the mirror by interacting with the magnetic component. The programmable magnets move the mirrors between or among selected positions and then maintain the mirror position without continuous power. Exemplary cross connects and 2&times;2 switches are described.

Optical crossconnect system comprising reconfigurable light-reflecting devices

A three port filter device is formed from a thin film filter element and a pair of lensing devices. A focusing lensing device is used, with a dual-fiber termination disposed at the object plane of the focusing lensing device. A collimating lensing device is disposed between the focusing lens image plane and the thin film filter element. The third optical port is coupled to the collimated signal passing through the filter element. The focusing lens may be moved along the optical axis to modify the spacing of the dual-fiber termination image appearing at the image plane. The change in spacing results in changing the angle of incidence of the optical signal propagating toward the thin film optical element. Since the pass wavelength of the thin film element is a function of the angle of incidence, the movement of the focusing lens may be used to 'tune' the pass wavelength of the thin film optical device.

Three port optical filter

An optical circulator is disclosed that utilizes a polarization rotator comprising a polarization changer (e.g., a properly-oriented half-wave plate) in combination with a pair of latched garnet Faraday rotators. The latched garnet rotators are positioned next to each other and oriented so that one latched garnet rotator provides clockwise rotation and the other provides counterclockwise rotation. The use of latched garnet with a single half wave plate results in an arrangement that is reduced in overall size and does not require epoxy to interconnection the various piece parts.

Optical circulator using latchable garnet

A structure allowing multiple optical paths through an optical isolator or the like with substantially no interaction. A lens collimates light from a first multiple fiber optic path termination. The collimated light is processed by an optical isolator unit or another optical processing unit such as a coupler. The processed light is reimaged onto a second multiple fiber optic path termination. Preferably, the optical paths in the first termination are in one-to-one correspondence with the optical paths in the second termination.

Multiple port optical component such as an isolater or the like

A modulator and scrambler for utilization in lightwave transmission systems which utilizes an electrically controlled Faraday rotator to modulate the polarization of an optical signal. The modulator rotates the polarization of light by a controlled or time-varying amount due to the application of a variable magnetic field to a Faraday rotator material via an external electric coil. To permit high frequency excitation of the Faraday rotator a non-conducting, non-magnetic material such as glass or a composite is used for the casing of the Faraday rotator. A Faraday rotator material requiring a low intensity magnetic field, such as the Bismuth Iron Garnet films, is preferred. Several films may be stacked to increase the rotation range for a given amplitude of induced magnetic field. The modulator may include one or more optical reflectors to achieve multiple passes through the Faraday rotator to multiply the total rotation with modest additional insertion loss. The modulator modulates or scrambles the polarization of the optical signal in fiber amplifier applications to avoid the cumulative depreciation in signal to noise in long-range systems with many cascaded amplifiers (e.g., undersea) where the fixed polarization signal experiences lower gain than does the unpolarized noise in the system. The modulation frequency required to achieve these results in Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers may be in the tens of Kilohertz range which is well within the frequency response capability of garnet materials.

Polarization scrambler/modulator

An optical wave guide coupler with an integral signal modifying element that passively compensates for temperature variations by automatically tilting the element and thereby changing its operating characteristics with changes in temperature. The element is also rotatably, yet firmly, supported by the coupler and is retained at a predetermined angle relative to the axis of the coupler so that the operating characteristics of the element may be selectively varied by rotation of the element holder of the coupler.

Passive temperature-compensated optical wave guide coupler

A technique is disclosed for aligning a packaged optical emitter with its associated transmission fiber which provides peak power coupling between the emitter and the fiber. The technique uses a connectorized coherent fiber bundle which is inserted in the fiber connecting portion of the package such that it accepts the emitter output radiation at the same Z-axis position as the single fiber it simulates. The fiber bundle has a fiducial marking on one end which coincides with the core region of the single fiber. Both the emission pattern and the fiducial marking are displayed on a video monitor and the emitter subassembly is moved around inside the package until the emission pattern coincides with the fiducial, thus indicating alignment of the emitter with the associated transmission fiber.

Fiber bundle technique for aligning light emitters within connectorized

A cable penetration matrix structure comprises a plurality of individual penetration cells ganged together to form a matrix. A sheath or shroud is added to each penetration cell in use to extend the length of the passageway. Each penetration cell is designed to permit cable passage therethrough in bundles and operates as a self-contained entity. Intumescent cards are inserted between layers of cable to provide a fire stopping seal. Each cell is opened for use as needed and unused cells may be tiled over as part of the floor. The cells are made of a cementitious material and may be reused in the event of a fire.

Growing community of inventors

Lebanon, NJ, United States of America

Neal Henry Thorsten