Calient Networks, Inc.

Avaya Technology LLC

Octel Communications Corporation

Peter Hunt

Leonardo Rub

Kamil A Grajski

Susannah Albright

Roger Jonathan Helkey

Kevin J White

Tony Walter

Xuezhe Zheng

John E Bowers

Dan Blumenthal

Noel C MacDonald

David Edward Welsh

John Matthew Chong

Adrian Keating

Seung Bok Lee

Walt Joseph Fant

Kaushal K Agrawal

Rob Lofland

Robert Lewis

A method for equalizing optical signal power in a group of optical signals transmitted through an optical switch in an optical transmission system. In one embodiment a group of optical signals is input into an optical switch having at least one movable mirror array with a plurality of reflectors formed thereon, the optical beam being directed onto a selected at least one reflector and wherein attenuating the optical beam is accomplished by controllably detuning at least one of the selected at least one reflector to attenuate the optical beam.

Wavelength power equalization by attenuation in an optical switch

A technique is disclosed for performing testing of an optical device under test (DUT). According to a specific embodiment, the DUT includes a plurality of DUT optical input ports and a plurality of DUT optical output ports. The testing may be performed by an optical switching testing system (OSTS) which includes a plurality of OSTS output ports optically connected to a plurality of DUT input ports, and a plurality of OSTS input ports optically connected to a plurality of DUT output ports. Components of the OSTS are configured in order to perform a specific test on the DUT. A first test scenario is configured at the DUT. At least one optical test signal is transmitted to at least one DUT input port. Test results may then be obtained by monitoring at least one DUT output port for the presence or absence of light. The test results are then analyzed for specific characteristics. According to a specific embodiment, the OSTS of the present invention may be adapted to automatically perform a plurality of testing operations on a selected plurality of different optical paths associated with the DUT. Such testing operations may include, for example, transmitting a plurality of optical test signals to a plurality of DUT input ports during a given test scenario, and/or monitoring a plurality of DUT output ports for test results during a given test scenario. According to a specific embodiment, the optical switch testing system of the present invention may be used to measure and verify selected characteristics associated with a device under test (DUT) or a system under test (SUT). Such characteristics may include, for example, optical cross talk, insertion loss, polarization dependent loss, path switching time, data integrity, optical path verification, optical path stability, etc.

Multipurpose testing system for optical cross connect devices

An optical switching apparatus is provided. Generally, a plurality of optical input switches is provided. A plurality of optical output switches is provided. A plurality of central optical switches connected between the plurality of input switches and plurality of output switches is provided. A plurality of test light sources, where each test light source is connected to an optical input switch, is provided. A first plurality of optical detectors connected to the optical output switches is provided.

Method and apparatus for monitoring optical switches

Shaped electrodes for micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) devices to improve actuator performance and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. The shaped electrodes utilize its three-dimensional geometry to shape an electric field for electrostatic actuation for MEMS devices. For example, the height, width, length, sidewall slope, and layout of the shaped electrodes can be used to provide an optimum electric field in moving a MEMS mirror device. The shaped electrodes can provide electrostatic actuation at a low operating voltage and provide an optimum electric field for maximum tilt or angular range of motion for a MEMS mirror device. The shaped electrodes can be fabricated simply by using a pillar wafer and an electrode wafer. The pillar wafer can be used to form pillars as electrodes, or, alternatively, as barriers. A single substrate can also be used to form pillars and electrodes.

Shaped electrodes for micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) devices to improve actuator performance and methods for fabricating the same

A method of moving reflectors in an optical cross-connect switch. In one embodiment, the optical cross-connect switch identifies a reflector path avoiding possible interference with other reflectors, predicts the reflector path from pre-computed tables, and moves the reflector in a straight line in target reflector plane coordinates from initial position to target position.

Safe procedure for moving mirrors in an optical cross-connect switch

A method for positioning a movable reflector in an optical switch. A set of optical power values are generated by measuring optical power related to optical reflections from the movable reflection for a plurality of positions of the movable reflector. A processor is used to generate a mathematical approximation of a relationship of optical power versus reflector position based on the set of optical power values. A position of the movable reflector is chosen based on a point in the mathematical approximation of the relationship of optical power versus reflector position.

Positioning a movable reflector in an optical switch

A method for ensuring path integrity in an optical switch is provided that essentially eliminates any occurrences of misconnected paths and enables new signal paths to be easily generated and existing paths to be switched. The method is suitable for use in optical switching devices that enable selective connection of optical signals received on a plurality of input fibers to respective output fibers, wherein the optical switching device includes a first array of mirrors disposed in a first mirror plane and a second array of mirrors disposed in a second mirror plane. In accordance with the method, all mirrors are maintained in signal paths so that undesired light is prevented from reaching any of the output fibers.

Maintaining path integrity in an optical switch

A system and method for speech-responsive voice messaging, in which a Speech-Responsive Voice Messaging System (SRVMS) preferably provides a hierarchically-simple speech user interface (UI) that enables subscribers to use speech to specify commands such as mailboxes, passwords, and digits. The SRVMS generates and evaluates candidate results. The SRVMS invokes a speech UI navigation operation or a voice messaging operation according to the outcome of the evaluation of the candidate results. In the preferred embodiment, the SRVMS determines whether the candidate results are good, questionable, or bad; and whether two or more candidate results are ambiguous due to a likelihood that each such result could be a valid command. If the candidate results are questionable or ambiguous, an ambiguity resolution UI prompts the subscriber to confirm whether the best candidate result is what the subscriber intended. In response to repeated speech recognition failures, the SRVMS transfers the subscriber to a Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) UI. Transfer to the DTMF UI is also performed in response to detection of predetermined DTMF signals issued by the subscriber while the speech UI is in context. The SRVMS provides a logging unit and a reporting unit which operate in parallel with the speech UI, in a manner that is transparent to subscribers. The logging unit directs the selective logging of subscriber utterances, and the reporting unit selectively generates and maintains system performance statistics on multiple detail levels.

Growing community of inventors

Scotts Valley, CA, United States of America

Peter Hunt