Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.

Corning Incorporated

Jds Uniphase Corporation

Robert W Hallock

Michael A Scobey

Vikram Bhatia

Edward F Murphy

Andrew Thomas Taylor

Michael J Cumbo

Markus Duelli

James Micheal Harris

Kevin J Zhang

Glenn K Yamamoto

Derek E Spock

Leland Scott Black

An optical component array allowing expansion of the occupied bandwidth on an existing optical transmission network without disrupting signal traffic. Wavelength selective filters () and optical components, such as amplifiers () are arrayed for use with a wavelength division multiplexed optical transmission system to transmit a selected portion of a transmission spectrum to an amplifier path and reflect the remainder of the spectrum. Wavelength selective filters and associated amplifiers are arranged in a cascade configuration with a bypass path (). Additional wavelength selective filters and amplifiers can be added in the bypass path without disrupting existing signal traffic, and such additions can provide for a remaining bypass path, thus allowing further expansion. This configuration provides an expandable amplifier array with a low initial cost. In a further embodiment, a center segment of the input transmission spectrum is passed through an amplifier path () and a red/blue splitter () having a transition region within the band of the center segment further splits the input spectrum into two expandable amplifier arrays paths. The two arrays allow reduced insertion loss and optimization of amplifier characteristics for multi-channel systems.

Expandable optical array

The inventive coupling device enables a high interconnection density of single mode optical fiber in active and passive devises used in a fiber optic telecommunication system. The coupling device comprise a micro-lens formed by terminating a single mode optical fibers with an optimized gradient index fiber, thus avoiding a significant increase in fiber diameter. The gradient index is optimized to provide a long working distance to the minimum spot size so that efficient coupling can be achieved in a free space interconnection between either multiple single mode fibers or a single mode fiber to a transmitting or receiving device.

Compact optical fiber coupler

An optical component array that has essentially equal path loss for each channel routed through a switching node in a re-insertion configuration and the bypass channels. An array input carrying a plurality of optical channels is coupled to a first node input. Consistent, low transmission loss through a switching node is achieved by a single fiber-beam-fiber transition. The low transmission loss is summed with other array losses to be within 3 dB of the insertion loss of a bypass path. In a particular configuration, a routing array with three switching nodes is loss-balanced to the bypass path. In another embodiment, a multi-channel filter stub in the bypass path improves residual signal suppression when a node is switched to an add/drop configuration.

Hybrid optical add/drop multiplexing devices

Methods and apparatus for combining, adding, and/or dropping channels in optical communication systems that utilize thin film filters without the creation of deadbands, using fiber Bragg gratings and additional thin film optical filters, are described. According to one aspect of the invention, an optical filter is used to drop a wavelength range from an optical signal. Prior to the optical signal entering the optical filter, one or more fiber Bragg gratings and an optical circulator are used reflects a portion of the communications spectrum which would normally lie with the deadband region of the optical filter. According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical filter is used to combine a first optical signal and a second optical signal to form a combined optical signal. Neither the first optical signal nor the second optical signal includes channels within a deadband region of the optical filter. One or more fiber Bragg gratings and an optical circulator or a coupler are used to add a third optical signal to the combined optical signal. The third optical signal includes signal wavelengths within the deadband region of the optical filter.

Methods and apparatus for preventing deadbands in an optical communication system

An optical assembly including a wavelength selective filter ( ) in combination with a collimator ( ). An input port is configured to provide an optical signal containing a plurality of optical channels to the collimator and then to the wavelength selective filter. The hybrid selective optical router allows a channel or segment of adjacent channels ( ) to be dropped from the optical signal with minimal signal degradation to the dropped or expressed channels. In a particular embodiment, a pair of wavelength selective routers ( ) are combined with a switched optical directing element ( ) and other components to provide an ADD/DROP switch. In a further embodiment, an ADD/DROP switch is provided with a single movable mirror, and no fixed mirrors.

Hybrid wavelength selective optical router and switch

An optical switch for manipulating a plurality of input optical signals incident thereupon to split one or more optical signal channels from the plurality of input optical signals. The optical switch includes an optical filter having a first reflective region and a second reflective region. One of the first and the second reflective regions is adapted with a wavelength selective filter that is capable of separating one or more optical signal channels from the input optical signal. A translating mechanism cooperates with the optical filter and is adapted to translate the optical filter in a plane substantially parallel to one of the first reflective region and the second reflective region between a first position and a second position. The translation of the optical filter causes at least one of the one or more optical signal channels to be separated from the optical signal and directed in a second direction. Additionally, another of the one or more optical signal channels to be separated from the optical signal can be directed in a third direction.

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Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Robert W Hallock