Novera Optics, Inc.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Ultraband Fiber Optics, Inc.

Other

The University of Southampton

Seok Hyun Yun

Byoung Yoon Kim

Wayne V Sorin

Bong Wan Lee

Hee Su Park

Hyo Sang Kim

Chang-Hee Lee

David John Richardson

Pavel G Polynkin

Kyung Hwan Oh

Steven L Shepherd

Yeon Wan Koh

Kun-Youl Park

In Kag Hwang

Kwang Yong Song

Jin-Serk Baik

David Oliver Culverhouse

Jin Ha Kim

A broadband laser source comprising: a resonant cavity () containing a medium () which emits optical energy () in a continuum of wavelengths in response to application of pump energy () to the medium (); a source of pump energy () for producing said optical energy (); a frequency shifter () within the resonant cavity (); and a tuneable spectral filter () within the resonant cavity (), and the apparatus being such that in use the tuneable spectral filter () has a peak wavelength which is repeatedly swept in a substantially resonant fashion over a wavelength range equal to, or a fraction of, a linewidth of the broadband source such that the rate of change of the peak wavelength of the tuneable spectral filter () is substantially equal to the rate of change of the frequency of the optical energy () as it is frequency shifted within the resonant cavity () by the frequency shifter ().

Broadband laser source

The present invention relates to a wavelength-swept laser and a method for generating laser output. The wavelength-swept pulse laser according to one aspect of the present invention uses spontaneous mode-locking to produce a pulse output with the center wavelength continuously varying with time. On the contrary, the wavelength-swept laser according to another aspect of the present invention suppresses mode-locking to produce continuous output by tuning the filter frequency change speed to the frequency shift speed of the frequency shifter. The lasers of the present invention are applicable to optical sensing or WDM optical communication.

Wavelength-swept laser and method for its operation

An optical amplifier comprises a wavelength tunable filter, one or more optical gain stages, and a controller for controlling a spectral profile of the wavelength tunable filter in response to a measured spectral characteristic of the amplifier. The controller may also control gain of the gain stage(s). The controller determines the filter spectral profile necessary to obtain a desired amplifier spectral characteristic. The spectral characteristic may, for example, be a power spectral output of the amplifier or a gain profile of the amplifier. The amplifier may incorporate a dispersion compensator. The controller may control a spectral profile of the wavelength tunable filter and gain of the dispersion compensator. A tunable fiber light source is also described.

Dynamically tunable optical amplifier and fiber optic light source

An add-drop wavelength filter is described which separates specific wavelength components from optical signals propagating through an optical waveguide or adds specific wavelength components thereto. In general, add-drop wavelength filters serve to separate or add specific channels in channels comprising several different wavelengths in a wavelength division optical communication system, and require good wavelength selectivity, stability and etc. Up to now, several types of add-drop wavelength filters are proposed, however disadvantageously they were not stable or were difficult to fabricate. The add-drop wavelength filter of the present invention comprising a mode discrimination coupler, Bragg gratings in which mode conversion occurs and etc., utilizes mode conversion in a dual mode waveguide and has low loss and stability. Furthermore, devices included in the add-drop wavelength filter are conventionally used, thereby resulting in easy fabrication, and the application fields of the devices can be easily expanded by apodization, chirping, or etc. of the Bragg gratings.

Add-drop wavelength filter using mode discrimination couplers and tilted bragg gratings

The present invention relates to an optical fiber having a normalized frequency applicable to a broadband optical device, and to a broadband, polarization-independent, low-loss optical fiber device made by using the aforementioned optical fiber. The optical fiber of the present invention has a normalized frequency value V, structural parameters of which including a core radius, a core refractive index and a cladding refractive index are adjusted to minimize the beat dispersion between first and second modes in a predetermined frequency range. Various optical fiber devices may be achieved if the aforementioned optical fiber is used along with acoustic wave generating means and a mode dropper or a mode selective coupler.

Optical fiber for broadband optical devices and optical fiber devices using thereof

A method of fabricating a fused-type directional coupler that can be made in a simple manner. The present invention is characterized in that a pair of optical fibers satisfying a particular phase match condition are previously selected to form a fused-type directional coupler. The two optical fibers are prepared by respectively tapering and etching two identical optical fibers. The present invention can be applied to fabrication of mode-selective directional couplers utilizing symmetrical high-degree modes such as LP02 mode as well as fabrication of mode-selective directional couplers utilizing asymmetrical high-degree modes such as LP11 mode.

Method of fabricating a fused-type mode-selective directional coupler

An optical communication assembly includes a demultiplexer coupled to an input fiber, a multiplexer coupled to an output fiber and a plurality of optical fibers. Each optical fiber is coupled to one or both of the demultiplexer and multiplexer. A plurality of attenuators are each coupled to an optical fiber in the pluality of optical fibers.

Channel equalizer with acousto-optic variable attenuators

An acousto-optic filter includes an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core. The optical fiber has multiple cladding modes. At least one acoustic wave generator is included and made of a sufficiently high frequency piezoelectric material to produce a longitudinal acoustic wave. An acoustic wave propagation member has proximal and distal ends. The distal end is coupled to the optical fiber and the proximal end is coupled to the acoustic wave generator. The acoustic wave propagation member propagates the longitudinal acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal ends and excites the longitudinal acoustic wave in the optical fiber.

Acousto-optic devices utilizing longitudinal acoustic waves

An acousto-optic filter has a non-birefringent single mode optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core. The optical fiber has multiple cladding modes and a single core mode that is guided along the core. An acoustic wave propagation member has a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the optical fiber. The acoustic wave propagation member propagates an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launches a flexural wave in the optical fiber. At least one acoustic wave generator is coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member.

Acousto-optic filter

An optical communication assembly has an optical cross connect coupled to a first, a second, a third and a fourth set of optical fibers. A first demultiplexer is coupled to a first input fiber and the first set of optical fibers and a second demultiplexer is coupled to a second input fiber and the second set of optical fibers. A first multiplexer is coupled to a first output fiber and the third set of optical fibers. A second multiplexer is coupled to a second output fiber and the fourth set of optical fibers. A first set of attenuators is coupled to the third set of optical fibers and a second set of attenuators coupled to the fourth set of optical fibers.

An acousto-optic filter includes an optical fiber with a first region and a second region. A first acoustic wave generator is coupled to optical fiber. The first acoustic wave generator produces a first acoustic wave that travels in a first direction in the first region. A backward-propagating wave is generated in response to propagation of the first acoustic wave along the optical fiber. The backward-propagating wave travels in an opposite direction relative to the first acoustic wave. A first acoustic wave propagation member is coupled to the optical fiber. A second acoustic wave generator is coupled to the optical fiber at the second region. The second acoustic wave generator produces a second acoustic wave that combines with the backward propagating acoustic wave.

Acousto-optic variable attenuator with active cancellation of back reflections

A drop AOTF has a first AOTF that includes an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end and an acoustic wave propagation member. The acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end of the acoustic wave propagation member. An optical circulator, with first, second and third ports, is coupled to the first AOTF at the third port. A mode coupler is coupled to the first AOTF. A orthogonal-polarization reflective mirror is coupled to the mode coupler.

Add/drop acousto-optic filter

An optical add/drop multiplexer includes a mode converter. A first mode coupler is coupled to an input of the mode converter. A second mode coupler is coupled to an output of the mode converter. The mode converter includes an optical fiber with multiple cladding modes and a single core mode guided along a core. An acoustic wave propagation member is coupled to the optical fiber. The acoustic wave propagation member propagates an acoustic wave from its proximal to its distal end. At least one acoustic wave generator is coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member.

Growing community of inventors

Taejon, South Korea

Seok Hyun Yun