Corning Incorporated

Robert G Lindquist

Thomas Mark Leslie

J Michael Harris

Rui-Qing Ma

Venkata Adiseshaiah Bhagavatula

Stephen Joseph Caracci

Dipakbin Qasem Chowdhury

Bradley A Scott

Christopher Philip Brophy

John Kondis

Ashiqur Rahman

James V Suggs

Carina R Reisin

Lisa A Caracci

Robert L Carlson

A tunable liquid crystal switch is disclosed. An electronic controller provides an electronic drive scheme for achieving low intra-channel crosstalk of less than &minus;40 dB using only electronic compensation. A cross-talk less than &minus;50 dB is provided by combining coarse temperature turning and electronic compensation. This is acheived by designing the thickness of the liquid crystal device to cause a minimum to occur at a wavelength longer than a longest operating wavelength and at a temperature greater than a maximum operating temperature. This ensures that the liquid crystal device is tunable over all operating wavelengths and temperatures using electronic compensation.

Wavelength compensation in a WSXC using off-voltage control

A reflective spatial light modulator (SLM) includes a first substrate, a second substrate and an electro-optic material positioned between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a reflective ground layer that acts as a continuous first electrode and the second substrate includes a pixel layer having a plurality of pixel elements formed in a pattern. The pixel elements are formed of a transparent conductive material and are separated by inter-pixel regions formed of a non-conductive material. A transmissivity of the electro-optic material in a vicinity of each of the plurality of pixel elements is controlled by a potential difference applied between the first electrode and a respective one of the pixel elements.

Spatial light modulators with improved inter-pixel performance

A tunable liquid crystal switch is disclosed. An electronic controller provides an electronic drive scheme for achieving low intra-channel crosstalk of less than &minus;40 dB using only electronic compensation. A cross-talk less than &minus;50 dB is provided by combining coarse temperature tuning and electronic compensation. This is acheived by designing the thickness of the liquid crystal device to cause a minimum to occur at a wavelength longer than a longest operating wavelength and at a temperature greater than a maximum operating temperature. This ensures that the liquid crystal device is tunable over all operating wavelengths and temperatures using electronic compensation.

A non-blocking N&times;N cross-connect is provided that has an array of liquid crystal (LC) switches in a grid of planar optical waveguides within a light optical circuit (LOC). LC-filled trenches are used in a planar optical waveguide and each trench provides the functionality of a waveguide polarization splitter, a transverse electric (TE) switch cross-point, a transverse magnetic (TM) switch cross-point, or a waveguide polarization combiner. The planar optical waveguide has a refractive index substantially equal to the lowest index of refraction of the LC material. By combining these elements, a cross-connect system is fabricated. Also disclosed is a dynamically adjustable prism constructed with a liquid crystal material.

Low-index waveguide liquid crystal cross-connect

A non-blocking N&times;N cross-connect is provided that has an array of liquid crystal (LC) switches in a grid of planar optical waveguides within a light optical circuit (LOC). LC filled trenches are used in a planar optical waveguide and each trench provides the functionality of a waveguide polarization splitter, a transverse electric (TE) switch cross point, a transverse magnetic (TM) switch cross point, or a waveguide polarization combiner. By combining these elements, a cross-connect system is fabricated.

Liquid crystal planar non-blocking NxN cross-connect

A wavelength selective cross-connect switch for selectively switching wavelength-separated input channels between two optical input signals. The cross-connect switch includes two dispersive elements, where each dispersive element receives an optical input signal and disperses it into a plurality of wavelength-separated input channels. The cross-connect switch also includes a switching array mechanism, such as a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) shutter array, receiving the plurality of wavelength-separated input channels from each of the dispersive elements and operative for selectively switching one or more of the wavelength-separated input channels between the optical signals.

Wavelength selective cross-connect switch using a MEMS shutter array

A symmetric optical switch for selectively switching wavelength channels between four optical inputs. The symmetric optical switch includes two dispersive elements receiving optical inputs from respective optical fibers where the optical inputs are dispersed into a plurality of wavelength-separated input channels. The symmetric optical switch also includes a plurality of circulators disposed on each optical fiber and a switching array mechanism that receives the plurality of wavelength-separated input channels from each of the dispersive elements. The shutter array simultaneously switches one or more pairs of the wavelength-separated input channels between four optical inputs. Each circulator that is disposed on the associated optical fiber operates with the shutter array to form an eight port device so as to independently switch wavelength channels.

Symmetric wavelength selective switch for interconnecting two WDM rings

A variable delay device of the type used to correct for polarization mode dispersion in a signal transmitted over an optical communications system. In an exemplary embodiment, the variable delay device uses a plurality of polarization rotators and delay elements aligned in series and alternating with one another. The polarization rotators map the fast polarization mode component of the incoming optical signal to the slow axes of one or more delay elements, to achieve a desired pattern of relative incremental delays which total the initial differential delay being compensated. The delay elements may have uniform or non-uniform incremental delay values, and the polarization rotators may be selectively actuated to achieve the desired pattern of delay values corresponding to the intended total delay. Examples of suitable delay devices include waveguides having relatively high differential group delay characteristics associated with two orthogonal axes compared with conventional single-mode transmission fiber, and examples of suitable polarization rotators include twisted nematic liquid crystal (TNLC) or ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) cells which rotate the polarization mode components of the optical signal by 90&deg; when actuated.

Variable delay device for an optical component such as a polarization mode dispersion compensator

An electro-optic polarizor, grating assembly or cell ( ) includes a first glass plate ( ) to form the foundation of the cell. A first alignment surfactant ( ) is coated on one surface of the first glass plate ( ). Similarly, a second alignment surfactant ( ) is coated on one surface of a second glass plate ( ). A transparent interdigitated electrode pattern ( ) is disposed between the second glass plate ( ) and the second alignment surfactant ( ). A thin film of homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal ( ) is sandwiched between the first and second alignment surfactants ( ) and ( ) for applying a lateral electric field caused by the control voltage or signal ( ) across the liquid crystal ( ) to alter the optical properties of the liquid crystal ( ) such that a polarization depended grating ( ) is induced by the lateral electric field ( ).

Lateral field based liquid crystal electro-optic polarizer

A flat screen autostereoscopic display for bright wide angle stereoscopic images employs a flat screen on which are displayed a light pattern such as a plurality of regularly spaced, thin, vertical light emitting lines. The light lines are formed through use of electrically switchable materials such as liquid crystal or electrochromic materials. A transmissive electronic display, e.g., a liquid crystal display, is located in front of the light lines. The display and light lines are arranged in such a way that an observer sees the light emitting lines through one set of pixels with the left eye and the same lines through a different set of pixels through the right eye. Methods and apparatus for the simultaneous formation of a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image on such a transmissive electronic display, and for moving or dragging the display area of the three-dimensional image from one location to another on said display, are also disclosed.

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Elmira, NY, United States of America

Robert G Lindquist