Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.

Xinzhong Wang

Yao Li

Andy Fenglei Zhou

Xiaoxu Li

Yu Huang

Daoyi Wang

Chun He

A design of optical testing device or system for fiber arrays is disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, an array of light sources and an array of detectors are disclosed. One of the light sources is controlled to be turned on to test a designated fiber in an array of fibers being tested for connection issues. A microcontroller is configured to determine which one of the detectors is detecting a light beam from one of the light sources, and mark a channel of the array of fibers accordingly depending on if the one of the detectors is supposed to detect the light beam; if another one of the detectors detects the light beam; or if none of the detectors detects the light beam.

Polarity test of fiber arrays based on electronically switched optical signals

A variable optical attenuator is provided. The variable optical attenuator includes an input optical fiber, an output optical fiber, a non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism and a prism positioning system. The input optical fiber, the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism and the output optical fiber are optically arranged such that an optical path from the input core of the input optical fiber to the output core of the output optical fiber passes through the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism. The non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism diffracts an optical signal propagating from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber such that an input portion of the optical path is non-linear with an output portion of the optical path. The prism positioning system changes a pose of the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism within the optical path thereby attenuating the optical signal.

Variable optical attenuator with a transmitting non-attenuating diffracting prism

Various designs of optical switch are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical switch uses wedges to hold up a collimator and secure the wedges and collimator to a substrate with a type of adhesive, thus avoiding high temperature in soldering process. There are at least two assemblies bonded to the substrate using the adhesive. Each of the assemblies includes a collimator and two wedges, where the wedges are provided to physically hold up the collimator in position. The assemblies are glued directly to the substrate after an optical alignment is performed.

Fiber optical switches

An apparatus and method for splitting and controlling optical powers provided by an input fiber and received by a plurality of output fibers comprises: (a) providing a first collimated beam from the input fiber using a first lens; (b) splitting the first collimated beam into a plurality of separated collimated beams having different directions using a collimated beam splitting device; (c) controlling area of each separated collimated beam by moving the collimated beam splitting device on a plane perpendicular to the first collimated beam; and (d) focusing the plurality of separated collimated beams using a second lens and coupling the focused beams into the plurality of output fibers, respectively.

Variable optical power splitter

A pluggable platform in small form factor is described. In one embodiment, the pluggable platform is designed to accommodate passive optical devices and may retrofit into an existing system. Further, the pluggable platform in small form factor is provided with an interface for tractability of the passive optical devices being supported.

Pluggable small form factor platform for optical passive devices

Various designs of pluggable variable optical attenuator (VOA) are disclosed. A pluggable VOA has an optical fiber adaptor connected to an internal VOA via different fiber optical interface configurations. At least a pair of ports is provided to accept optical fibers or external optical fiber ferrules for optical pluggability. The VOA is controlled electronically or manually. To facilitate a control of the VOA via a hosting system, an electronic device and/or interface is provided. External commands take the control of the VOA and set an attenuation level within a specification when the pluggable variable optical attenuator device is connected to a hosting system.

Pluggable variable optical attenuators and methods for making the same

Attenuators used to regulate optical signals are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an assembly including an IR source and an IR sensor is provided to sense blockage of optical signals transmitted between two collimators via a fixed common light blocker that is driven by a stepper motor. The movement of the light blocker is sensed by a sensing assembly including an IR source and IR sensor. By detecting the photocurrent from the IR sensor and a feedback circuit, the attenuation of the optical signals can be well controlled.

Motor driven variable optical attenuator with IR sensor closed-loop control

Techniques for controlling and monitoring MEMS optical switches are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic feedback loop is employed to determine a control signal to a MEMS switch actuator in accordance with an instruction. The control signal is so determined in such a way that the switching statuses are maximally guaranteed. To generate an appropriate control signal, AC or DC impedances of the MEMS switch are detected and used to configure the control signal to drive the switch. When it is detected that the impedance changes do not meet respective thresholds, the control signal is adjusted. In the case that the stiction happens, the switch actuator is overcharged, discharged and repeatedly applied for a limited time to overcome the stiction.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Xinzhong Wang