Ac Photonics, Inc.

Oplink Communications, Inc.

Bay Photonics, Inc.

Yiqiang Li

Yongjian Wang

Qunwen Leng

Eric V Chamness

Jenkin Angelo Richard

Jerry Lee

Yang Sheng

Optical multiplexers and demultiplexers are provided. In one implementation an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first laser diode pair, a second laser diode pair, a polarization rotator coupled between the first and the second laser diode pairs, and an output port. The first and second laser diode pairs include a first laser diode, a polarization beam splitter, a first quarter waveplate, a filter; a second quarter waveplate, and a second laser diode. The first and second laser diode pairs are coupled to the polarization rotator at the polarization beam splitter of each laser diode pair. In one implementation the apparatus is operable to multiplex distinct light signals emitted from the first and second laser diodes. In another implementation, an apparatus is provided that is operable to demultiplex an input light beam having a plurality of distinct channels.

Integrated optical multiplexer and demultiplexer

A low cost compact integrated 4-port single-channel OADM with improved optical isolation and low insertion loss is provided in which a 4-fiber pigtail includes I/O fibers and add/drop fibers, which are arranged on the same side of the multiplexer. A lens, filter and reflector are arranged in a double-pass configuration to route the optical signals to and from the appropriate fibers. The fibers are suitably arranged with the input and drop fibers at the corners of one diagonal and the output and add fibers at the corners of the crossing diagonal with the midpoints of the diagonals intersecting. Furthermore, a point halfway between the input and output fibers suitably lies at or near the central axis of the collimating lens.

Reduced element optical add-drop multiplexer

A method and system for providing a highly integrated hybrid component is disclosed. The method and system include providing a triple fiber collimator, a dual isolator/polarization beam deflector and a dual fiber collimator. The triple fiber collimator receives a plurality of pump signals in a first direction and outputs an optical signal in a second direction. The dual isolator/polarization beam deflector is optically coupled to the triple fiber collimator. The dual isolator/polarization beam deflector transmits the pump signals in the first direction, prevents a portion of the pump signals from traveling out of the triple-fiber collimator in the second direction, provides the optical signal in the second direction and prevents a portion of the optical signal from traveling out of the dual fiber collimator in the first direction. The dual fiber collimator receives the optical signal traveling in the second direction and outputs the pump signals traveling in the first direction. Moreover, a partial reflection plate, which reflects a portion of the optical signal to provide a signal tap, may be provided between the dual fiber collimator and the dual isolator/polarization beam deflector.

Highly integrated hybrid component for high power optical amplifier application

A method and system for providing an optical circulator is disclosed. The optical circulator includes a first port, a second port and a third port adjacent to the first port. The optical circulator also includes a first birefringent material, a first rotator pair, a polarization beam deflector, a second birefringent material, a second rotator pair and a third birefringent material. The first birefringent material is optically coupled to the first port and the third port and has a longitudinal axis, a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a first displacement direction. The polarization beam deflector changes the direction of the optical signal without introducing a walk-off in the optical signal. The first displacement direction is at a first oblique angle from the transverse direction. The third birefringent material has the longitudinal axis, the transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third displacement direction at a second oblique angle from the transverse direction.

Method and system for providing a simplified in-line optical circulator

A method and system for providing an optical switch is described. The method and system include providing a triple fiber collimator, a beam deflector and a reflector. The triple fiber collimator is for receiving an optical signal from a first fiber and outputting the optical signal to a second fiber or a third fiber. The beam deflector has a first portion and a second portion. The beam deflector resides between the reflector and the triple fiber collimator. The optical signal travels through the first portion of the beam deflector, is reflected by the reflector and is output over the second fiber when the beam deflector is in a first position. The optical signal travels through the second portion of the beam deflector, is reflected by the reflector and is output over the third fiber when the beam deflector is in a second position.

Reflection type compact optical switch

A method and system for providing a dense wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. The method and system include providing a dual fiber collimator, a filter and a filter holder. The dual fiber collimator includes a lens and a capillary. The capillary is for holding a plurality of fibers. The filter holder has an aperture therein. The filter is disposed between the dual fiber collimator and the filter holder. The filter has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is covered with a filter coating. The filter is affixed to the filter holder by the second surface.

Dense wavelength division multiplexer configuration

A method and system for providing an isolator/polarization beam deflector is disclosed. The method and system include a first collimator, a core and a second collimator. The first collimator collimates a plurality of optical signals traveling in a first direction. The core receives the optical signals from the first collimator. The core includes first and second birefringent wedges and a rotator between the first and second birefringent wedges. The first collimator, the first birefringent wedge and the rotator transmit the optical signals such that the optical signals cross at an interface between the rotator and the second birefringent wedge. The core transmits the optical signals with a deflection, combines the optical signals to provide a combined optical signal and prevents a reflected portion of the optical signals from traveling opposite to the first direction. The second collimator receives and couples the combined optical signal to the output.

Low cost isolator/polarization beam combiner hybrid component

A method and system for filtering an optical signal is disclosed. The method and system comprise providing a polarization beam splitter, first and second rotators, a liquid crystal tunable filter, and first and second prisms. The polarization beam splitter splits the optical signal into two components based on polarization. The first rotator rotates a polarization 45 degrees in a first direction and is located between the liquid crystal tunable filter unit and the polarization beam splitter. The liquid crystal tunable filter unit includes liquid crystal molecules aligned 45 degrees clockwise relative to the vertical direction and is placed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The second rotator rotates the polarization 45 degrees opposite to the first direction. The first prism is located near the second rotator, while the second prism is near the beam splitter. One component travels from the beam splitter to the first rotator, the liquid crystal tunable filter unit, the second rotator, the first prism, then the second prism. The other component travels from the beam splitter to the first prism in the opposite direction from the first component. Both components preferably pass through the same portion of the liquid crystal tunable filter unit.

Polarization insensitive liquid crystal tunable filter

A method and system for providing an optical circulator is disclosed. The optical circulator includes, a first port, a second port, a third port and means for establishing a first optical path and a second optical path, the second port is opposite to the first port, while the third port is adjacent to the first port. The first optical path is from the first port to the second port, while the second optical path from the second port to the third port. The optical path establishing means include a first and a second half wave plate, a first and a second rotator pair, and a polarization beam deflector. The first rotator pair is between the first port and the first half wave plate. The second rotator pair is between the second port and the second half wave plate. The polarization beam deflector is for altering a direction of the first optical path and the second optical path. The polarization beam deflector is located between the first rotator pair and the first half wave plate. Thus, when an optical signal is input at the first port, the optical signal travels along the first optical path to the second port. When the optical signal is input to the second port, the optical signal travels along the second optical path to the third port.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Yiqiang Li