Abstract:
A unique waveguide structure is provided in which the waveguide contains individual scattering elements that are capable of being tuned to provide local refractive index variations, e.g., on a micron scale - which is on the order of wavelengths typically used for communication system. According to the invention, the waveguide contains a core region (22), a cladding region (24), and a solid or liquid material (28) having the tunable scattering elements dispersed therein, where the material is disposed within the core (22) and/or cladding (24) regions, and/or on the exterior of the cladding region. Useful scattering elements include, for example, liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer (polymer-dispersed liquid crystals - PDLC) or electrophoretic particles dispersed in a liquid medium.
Abstract:
A method for making a chirped grating device (10) capable of a broad bandwith for optical communication systems is disclosed. An intrinsically-chirped optical grating (12) is externally strained to alter the range of chirping. The external strain may be induced by a gradient-generating body (14) bonded onto the length of the fiber grating that may be latchably strained so that the grating characteristics may be changed or tuned while avoiding use of a continuous power supply. Various optical networking applications using such dispersion compensating devices are also disclosed. The gradient may comprise a temperature gradient, a strain gradient (e.g., mechanically or magnetically-induced), or any other gradient capable of imposing an external perturbation on the fiber.
Abstract:
In accordance with the invention, a thermally tunable optical waveguide device is stabilized against ambient changes. Specifically, a feedback signal derived from a temperature-dependent resistance is used to stabilize the device with respect to ambient changes that could otherwise alter the temperature. Specific embodiments include resistance-heated tunable gratings.
Abstract:
In accordance with the invention, an optical waveguide grating with adjustable chirp comprises a waveguide grating in thermal contact with an electrically controllable heat-transducing body which varies the temperature along the length of the grating. The heat-transducing body can generate heat on the fiber or remove heat from the fiber to establish a temperature gradient along the grating. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat-transducing body is a resistive film coating whose local resistance varies along the length of the grating. Electrical current passed through the film generates a temperature gradient along the grating approximately proportional to the local resistance of the film, and the amount of chirp can be adjusted by the current. The resulting devices are simple, compact and power efficient.
Abstract:
An improved elastomeric mold for use in fabricating microstructures, the mold having first and second surfaces, the first surface including at least one recessed microchannel and the second surface including an access opening or filling member that extends through the mold to the first surface and communicates with the recessed microchannel. The mold is used by placing it onto a substrate with the recessed microchannel facing the substrate. The access opening of the mold is filled with a liquid material which is capable of solidifying. The access opening continuously introduces the liquid material into the space defined between the microchannel and the substrate. After the liquid material solidifies, the mold is removed from the substrate thereby leaving a microstructure formed from the solidified liquid material on the substrate.
Abstract:
A thermally tunable optical fiber device, such as a fiber grating, comprises a length of optical fiber (10) and a heater (23) including an unslotted microcapillary tube (23A) that surrounds the optical fiber (10). The microcapillary tube is made of an electrically resistive material and forms the heater (23) itself. The heater may further comprising a plurality of nested tubes (23B, 33B, 43B), wherein each nested tube includes thin film heating elements.
Abstract:
In accordance with the invention, an optical fiber is provided with a metal coating of controlled variable thickness by the steps of disposing the fiber in position for receiving coating metal from a metal source, and depositing metal while moving a shadow mask between the fiber and the source to provide patterning of deposited metal. Advantageously, the mask is translated at a constant velocity perpendicular to the fiber. The method is particularly useful for the fabrication of adjustable Bragg gratings.