Abstract:
The present invention provides a new and unique method for increasing the photosensitivity of a large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters. The method features loading the large diameter optical waveguide with a photosensitizing gas at a pressure at least about 4000 pounds per square inch (PSI) at a temperature of at least about 250E Celsius. The photosensitizing gas may be hydrogen, Deuterium or other suitable gas. The method also includes the step of using a particular large diameter optical waveguide having a diameter of greater than 0.9 millimeters. The method may be used as part of a process for writing a Bragg grating in an inner core or a cladding of the large diameter optical waveguide.
Abstract:
A chromatic dispersion compensation device selectively delays a respective portion of spectral sections of each respective optical channel of an optical WDM input signal to compensate each optical channel for dispersion compensation, and includes a spatial light modulator having a micromirror device with a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. The micromirrors tilt or flip between first and second positions in a nulldigitalnull fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A collimator, diffraction gratings, and Fourier lens collectively collimate, disperse and focus the optical input channels onto the array of micromirrors. Each optical channel is focused onto micromirrors of the micromirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels. To compensate an optical channel for chromatic dispersion, a portion of the spectral sections of each channel is delayed a desired time period by tilting an array of mirrors (i.e., spectral array) disposed in each spectral section at different spatial positions on the micromirror device.
Abstract:
A reconfigurable optical interleaver/deinterleaver device combines/separates a pair of optical input signals from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The interleaver device includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors that flip between first and second positions in a nulldigitalnull fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A pair of collimators, diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on a plurality of micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels.
Abstract:
An optical cross-connect is provided that selectively switches at least one desired optical channel between a pair of optical WDM input signals. The cross-connect includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors. The micro-mirrors tilt or flip between a first and second position in a nulldigitalnull fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A pair of collimators diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on the micro-mirrors onto a plurality of micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels. The optical channels have a cross-section (e.g., circular) to project as much of the beam as possible over the greatest number of micro-mirrors, while keeping the optical channels separated by a predetermined spacing. To selectively switch an optical channel between the optical input signals, a group of mirrors associated with each desired optical channel is tilted away from a return path to the second position. In an exemplary embodiment, the group of micro-mirrors reflects substantially all the light of each respective optical channel and does not reflect the light of any adjacent channels.
Abstract:
A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) selectively drops and/or adds desired optical channel(s) from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The ROADM includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with an array of micro-mirrors, and a light dispersion element. The micro-mirrors tilt between two positions in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and input command. Collimators, diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels. To drop and/or add an optical channel to the optical input signal, mirrors associated with each desired optical channel are tilted away from a return path to the second position.
Abstract:
A reconfigurable optical channel monitor selects and determines a parameter of desired optical channel(s) from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The OCM includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors that tilt between first and second positions in response to a control signal from a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A collimator, diffraction grating, and Fourier lens collectively converge the optical input channels onto the micro-mirrors array. The optical channel is focused onto a plurality of micro-mirrors. To select each input channel, a group of micro-mirrors associated with each desired input channel is tilted to reflect the desired input channel back along the return path to a photodetector and processing unit to determine a parameter of the selected input signal.
Abstract:
A smart node is provided for use in an optical communications network wherein the smart node comprising dynamically reconfigurable optical signal manipulation devices in combination with sensing devices and processors to provide real time closed and open loop control of various channels of the network.