Harris Corporation

University of California

Optiuh Corporation

Timothy Eugene Dimmick

Douglas James Markos

Kevin Randolph Harper

Kevin H Smith

Paul Bryant Koeneman

Mark Alan Trautman

Daniel Jacob Blumenthal

Peter S Scheuter

Brian Edward Simpson

Curtis R Niemeier

Todd E Deese

Paul Pilipovich

Bengt-Erik Olsson

Timothy Joseph Norwood

Giammarco Rossi

Heider Nalm Ereifej

Eric Karl Johnson

William E Edwards, Jr

Kenneth James Ritter

Actuator systems () are provided for inducing one or more static deflections, such as bends, in optical waveguides (), to alter spectral characteristics of an optical signal transmitted through the waveguide. The actuator systems () can include actuators () that deflect the waveguide (), and a controller () that controls the actuators () so that the deflections in the waveguide () are tailored to produce desired spectral characteristics in the optical signal. The actuator systems () can be used in conjunction with, for example, a fused fiber optic coupler () to form a wavelength selective switch. The actuator systems () can be used in conjunction with other types of waveguides to form other types of optical signal processors ().

Actuator systems for deflecting optical waveguides, and devices for processing optical signals comprising same

A heating device for an optical fiber may include a crucible body having an optical fiber receiving slotted passageway therein for receiving the optical fiber therein, and a heating element receiving passageway therein adjacent the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway and spaced apart therefrom. The heating device may include a respective electrically powered resistance heating element enclosed within the heating element receiving passageway for heating the optical fiber within the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway.

Filament heating device for an optical fiber and related methods

An apparatus and method for tapering an optical fiber segment having an initial radial profile to substantially conform to a pre-specifiable desired radial profile for controlling mutually coordinated elongation and softening of different axial portions of the segment according to control parameters derivable based on a normalized axial coordinate reference by which points of the initial profile map to corresponding points of the desired profile. The softening and/or elongation may progress substantially in either a step-wise, time-discrete manner or time-continuously. The invention is useful for forming tapered fused couplers as well as for tapering individual fibers.

Method for tapering optical fibers to conform to a desired radial profile

A filled-core optical fiber () spliced to conventional, solid core optical transmission fiber () and a related method of making the same are provided. The optical fiber () comprises a core region (), a cladding ring () enclosing the core region (), and an outer cladding layer (). A fill hole () is formed in the optical fiber () which extends from an outer sidewall () to the core region (). The fill hole () is for introducing optical material () into the core region (). The optical material () is introduced into the core region () after opposing ends () of the optical fiber () are spliced to the free ends () of conventional, solid core optical transmission fiber (). The optical material () is introduced into core region () after splicing to avoid damage to the optical material () due to exposure to high temperatures generated during splicing.

Filled core optical fiber spliced to optical fiber and method of making the same

An optical fiber () utilized as a sensor for measuring a parameter of interestsuch as temperature, strain, photonic energy intensity, electric field intensity and magnetic field intensity is provided. A first optical cladding layer () is disposed on an optically transmissive core () that includes one or more optical gratings (-). The optical grating(s) (-) modifies a propagation path of selected wavelengths of light propagating through the core (). The optical grating(s) (-) also varies the index of refraction of the first optical cladding layer (). The selected wavelengths of light are determined in part by the index of refraction of the core materialas dependent upon a parameter of interestapplied to the core materialand as varied by the optical grating(s) (-). One or more detectors () are used for determining the properties of the reflected and/or transmitted light. Knowing the properties of the reflected and/or transmitted light, a parameter of interestcan be determined.

Fiber optic device for measuring a parameter of interest

A method of filtering optical signals () utilizing an optical fiber (A-D). The method of filtering optical signals () includes the steps () selecting an optical fiber (A-D) coupled to a source of optical signals, () disposing a core () in the bore () of the optical fiber (A-D) formed of a core material (), () selecting a core material () to provide a waveguide within the optical fiber (A-D), () disposing an optical grating (-) in a first optical cladding layer () disposed about the core (), () propagating an optical signal within the optical fiber (A-D) guided substantially within the core (), () modifying a propagation path of selected wavelengths comprising said optical signal with the optical grating (-), and () determining selected wavelengths for which the propagation path is modified by selectively varying an energetic stimulus to the core () thereby tuning the waveguide.

Method of filtering optical signals with a capillary waveguide tunable optical device

A four-port optical filter is provided including two tapered optical fibers, each having a loop in the area of their tapered portions, which are located relative to one another to form a ring resonator. The optical filter has a low Q with a broadband filter response which is useful as a channel interleaver or de-interleaver for dense wavelength division multiplexing and other applications.

Four-port optical filter fabricated from tapered optical fiber

An optical fiber (A-D) is provided with a cylindrical core () and a first optical cladding layer (). The core () is formed of a core material () that is optically transmissive. The core material () has a core index of refraction that is continuously variable over a predetermined range of values responsive to a first energetic stimulus, such as thermal energy, photonic energy, magnetic field, and an electrical potential. The core () includes a bore () axially disposed within the first optical cladding layer (). The bore () is filled with the core material (). The first optical cladding layer () is disposed on the core (). The first optical cladding layer () is formed of a photosensitive material. The photosensitive material has a first cladding layer index of refraction that is permanently selectively configurable responsive to an exposure to a second energetic stimulus. The first optical cladding layer () has gratings (--) inscribed therein.

Capillary waveguide tunable optical device

A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the spatial temperature distribution of a flame emitted from a burner nozzle for use in the fabrication of tapered optical fibers and fused couplers so that the position of the burner can be calibrated to locate the optical fiber within the most thermally stable part of the flame during production.

Method and apparatus for measuring spatial temperature distribution of flames

A system for exciting flexural waves on an optical fiber () is provided. The system includes a substrate (), an actuator (), and a mechanical optical fiber coupling (). The actuator is formed of an electromechanical transducer material. The actuator is mounted on the substrate. The mechanical optical fiber coupling (for example, an adhesive media) forms a secure mechanical connection between the actuator and the optical fiber. The mechanical optical fiber coupling is configured for communicating mechanical vibrations from the actuator to the optical fiber. However, it should be understood that the mechanical optical fiber coupling is exclusive of a tapered horn.

Actuator arrangement for excitation of flexural waves on an optical fiber

A suite of optical performance monitoring (OPM) methods, based on optical subcarrier multiplexing, are described by the invention. The strength of this approach lies in the simplicity of double sideband subcarrier signals and the fact that these signals travel the complete optical path with the baseband signal of interest. The subcarrier signals can be recovered using techniques described in the application and are immune to fiber dispersion induced fading.

Methods for monitoring performance in optical networks

An optical data transmitter is described that includes a precoder that converts an input data signal to a binary precoded data signal and to a complementary binary precoded data signal. A delay element delays one of the complementary binary precoded data signal and the binary precoded data signal relative to the other by a time corresponding to less than one bit period of the binary precoded data signal. A differential amplifier converts the binary precoded data signal and the complementary binary precoded data signal to a four-level data signal and to a complementary four-level data signal. An optical data modulator modulates an amplitude of an optical signal applied to an optical input of the optical data modulator in response to at least one of the four-level data signal and the complementary four-level data signal to generate a modulated optical output signal.

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Oviedo, FL, United States of America

Timothy Eugene Dimmick