The Whitaker Corporation

Jds Uniphase Corporation

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Poa Sona, Inc.

Warren Hale Lewis

Terry P Bowen

Bernard G Caron

Robert Nelson Fair, Jr

Gregory B Powers

Richard C Bergstrom

Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen

Long Yang

Kuochou Tai

John C Hoffer

Eric Timothy Green

Guolin Ma

Robert Wallace Roff

David Schleuning

David S Graham

Shan Zhong

Casey Francis Kane

Terence Mason Ward

An apparatus and method for generating a lamina of light. The apparatus includes an optically transparent member having an input configured to receive light and one or more facets formed in the optically transparent member. As light enters and travels through the member, a lamina of light is created by the light reflecting off the facets. In one application, the lamina of light is provided in the free space adjacent a touch screen display. When the lamina is interrupted during a data entry operation to the screen, an optical position detection device is used to determine the data input based on the location of the interrupt in the lamina. In various other embodiments, the position and uniformity of the lamina may be controlled by selecting the angle, depth and tilt of a reflective surface of the facets in the optically transparent member.

Apparatus and method for generating a lamina of light

The invention relates to optical modules for use in larger electro-optic components, such as erbium doped fiber amplifiers. One aspect of the invention relates to the optical module including input and/or output fiber tube ferrules surrounded by glass mounting sleeves secured to a metal housing using a suitable adhesive. Preferably, the optical module includes one or more optical elements, such as isolators, WDM filters and beam splitters, for effecting light traveling therethrough before entering or exiting a main housing of the electro-optic component. Another aspect of the invention relates to the electro-optic component including the main housing with gaps in the outer wall thereof for receiving the optical modules. Preferably, the optical component includes an electro-optical system including lasers, erbium doped fiber, an integrated circuit board and controller hardware. The present invention provides a fully integrated system, while eliminating the vast majority of optical splicing required in conventional electro-optical components.

Modular optical components

The invention provides an optical coupling system having a first collimator assembly having a first optical axis, a second collimator assembly having a second optical axis, an optical device, such as a tap coupler, an isolator or a WDM filter, disposed along an optical path between the first and the second collimator assembly, a first sleeve for containing the first collimator assembly, said first sleeve having an angled end face for forming a first angle, and a second sleeve for containing the second collimator assembly, said second sleeve having an end face for abutting the angled end face of the first sleeve such that the first optical axis of the first collimator assembly intersects with the second optical axis of the second collimator assembly at a coupling angle. The first sleeve and the second sleeve are relatively rotatable to each other for changing the coupling angle. Furthermore, the end face of the second sleeve is angled for forming a second angle.

Multi-port optical coupling system

The present invention relates to a planar wave guide structure having a grating element fabricated thereon as well as a focusing element therein. The lens element of the present disclosure is preferably a void, to include air, a vacuum or other material which has an index of refraction less than an index of refraction of the core layer of the planar wave guide in which the lens element is disposed. The lens element is preferably fabricated by laser micromachining or other techniques described herein. The grating at the far end of the planar wave guide functions to separate wavelengths in the demultiplexing embodiment of the present disclosure, and as a wavelength integrator in the multiplexing embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention.

Planar wave length multiplexer/demultiplexer

A scalable optical switching device comprising: (a) an input optical fiber; (b) a plurality of output optical fibers; (c) a rigid concave spherical mirror; and (d) at least one planar refractive plate located between the input fiber and the mirror and shiftable between a first position and a second position wherein the refractive plate has a thickness dimension in the direction through which a light beam from the input optical fiber passes and an index of refraction that are selected to transmit the light beam to and from the mirror through the refractive plate to different output optical fibers when the refractive plate is switched between the first position and the second position.

Scalable optical switch

The invention is an optical ADD/DROP filter suitable for dense wavelength division multiplexing/de-multiplexing. It comprises an optical bench having a longitudinal V-groove into which the optical components of the ADD/DROP filter are passively aligned and bonded. The bench further includes first and second pairs of opposed, spaced, vertical members at each end between which a fiber array block is inserted. In the method of constructing the ADD/DROP filter, an interference filter is bonded to a first collimating lens. Then, the first collimating lens with the interference filter attached thereto and a second collimating lens are placed in the V-groove of the bench where they are passively aligned. The two collimating lenses are then bonded to the bench. Fiber array substrates are inserted between the pairs of opposed, spaced, vertical members and a UV transparent block is inserted on top of each fiber array between the corresponding pair of opposed, spaced, vertical members. The fiber arrays are actively aligned. After proper alignment is achieved, adhesive is wicked into the spaces between the fiber array, the block and the vertical members. The adhesive is then cured.

Optical ADD/DROP filter and method of making same

An optical switch 10 has a first waveguide I arranged in a first set, 2.sup.N waveguides in a second set, and N number of successive refractive elements between ends of the waveguides and a reflector 9, wherein an output signal is coupled to any of the 2.sup.N waveguides by pivoting said refractive elements to selected binary states.

Optical switch with multiple refractive elements pivoted into respective

An optical switch (1) has a refractive element (3) between a reflector (5) and multiple optical waveguides (6), the refractive element (3) being pivotable to a first position to optically couple a first set of the waveguides (6), the refractive element (3) being pivotable to a second position to optically couple a second set of waveguides (6), a magnet (4) with the refractive element (3) on an inertially balanced holder (2), a ferrous element (32) to which the magnet (4) is attracted, to pivot the refractive element (3) to the first position, and a magnetic coil (29) applying a torque on the magnet (4) and pivoting the refractive element (3) toward the second position.

Optical switch

An optical switch (1) has a refractive element (3) between a reflector (5) and multiple optical waveguides (6), the refractive element (3) being pivotable to different positions to optically couple different sets of the waveguides (6), the reflector (5) being received on a reflector holder (7), the reflector holder (7) engaging spaced apart springs (9), and the springs (9) being compressed to aim the focal point of the reflector (5) at a precise position in front of the waveguides (6).

Optical switch having a reflector

A bidirectional link for simultaneous or sequential transmission and reception of optical signals is disclosed. A simple alignment process is used in which the emitter or transmitter is disposed in a subassembly having a subhousing with a beamsplitter therein. This is then inserted into the main housing with the other device mounted therein.

Microoptic bidirectional module

A compact optical transceiver including a ceramic mounting block 1, with a laser diode 3 abutting a first end of the mounting block for generating light of a first wavelength. A GRIN lens 5, mounted to the mounting block, then receives and focuses the generated light to an optical fiber 13 which is attached to the compact optical transceiver. A dichroic substance 7 acts as a beamsplitter by passing light of a first wavelength and deflecting light of a second wavelength. The dichroic substance 7 is coated on a glass plate, which is mounted in a first angular groove of the mounting block. The beamsplitter 7 receives and passes the generated light of the first wavelength which has been focused by the GRIN lens 5. From a remote transmitter, light of a second wavelength is then transmitted through an optical fiber 13, to the compact optical transceiver from a direction opposite that of the light generated by the laser diode 3. The light transmitted from the optical fiber 13 is then transmitted and output through ferrule 11, attachable to the optical fiber and attached in a second, V-shaped, groove of the ceramic mounting block 1. The light of the second wavelength is output to the beamsplitter 7 and is deflected through a bore hole 21 in the ceramic mounting block to a detector 9 abutting the bottom of the mounting block. Optionally, a blocking filter 15 can be included between the detector and the optical fiber end face for blocking light of any wavelengths different from the first and second wavelengths, from reaching the detector 9.

Bidirectional wavelength division multiplex transceiver module

A compact optical transceiver including a ceramic mounting block 1, with a laser diode 3 abutting a first end of the mounting block for generating light of a first wavelength. A holographic optical element (HOE) 5 is positioned adjacent laser diode 3 and acts as a hologram lens which receives and focuses the generated light to the end face of an optical fiber 13 which is attached to the compact optical transceiver. A glass element 7 is mounted on the mounting block between the diode and the optical fiber end face, and includes dichroic substance 8 coated to the fiber-proximate side of the glass element 7 and acts as a beamsplitter by passing light of a first wavelength and deflecting light of a second wavelength. The glass element 7 is mounted in an angular positioning groove of the mounting block. The beamsplitter 8 receives and passes the generated light of the first wavelength which has been focused by the HOE 5. From a remote transmitter, light of a second wavelength is then transmitted through an optical fiber 13, to the compact optical transceiver from a direction opposite that of the light generated by the laser diode 3. The light transmitted from the optical fiber 13 is then transmitted and output through ferrule 11, attachable to the optical fiber and attached in a second, V-shaped positioning groove of the ceramic mounting block 1. The light of the second wavelength is output to the beamsplitter 8 and is deflected through a bore hole 21 in the ceramic mounting block to a detector 9 abutting the bottom of the mounting block. A blocking filter 15 can be included for blocking light of wavelengths other than the first and second wavelengths from the detector.

An optical switch having a fixed-position concave reflector, a fixed array of optical waveguides facing the concave reflector, said array including n number of input waveguides for transmitting the optical signal into the switch, and m number of output waveguides adapted to receive the optical signal, and a refractive element located between the reflector and the array of optical waveguides having multiple angular positions for selectively coupling one of the n number of input waveguides with one of the m number of output waveguides, the switch further including an actuator connected to the refractive element for moving the refractive element between angular positions.

Refractive element optical transmission switch

A continuously variable fiber optic attenuator 10, particularly for attenuating single mode fibers, has means 20 for supporting a section 25 of an optical fiber 24 substantially along the length of the section 25 and means 22 for bending at least a portion of the supported optical fiber section 25 in a controlled manner for attenuating light passing through the optical fiber 24. Preferably, the support means 20 comprises a deformable support means such as a spring 15 or an elastomeric body 71 for supporting the optical fiber 24 as it is bent. Most preferably, the deformable support means supports a section 25 of optical fiber 24 formed in one or more loops around the deformable support means, and the bending means is a plunger 22 movable to an extended position pressing against the support means 20 to bend portions of the loops of optical fiber 24 in a controlled manner. The fiber optic attenuator 10 of the present invention provides accurate control over the amount of attenuation of the light passing through the fiber 24 without damaging the optical fiber 24 or the signal passing therethrough.

Growing community of inventors

Newport, PA, United States of America

Warren Hale Lewis