Abstract:
The present invention provides for multiple wavelength laser sources. The laser source has a pumping laser generating output at a wavelength, typically below 1500 nm, and a plurality of DBR fiber lasers or DFB fiber lasers, each having an output which is centered at a selected wavelength in the 1550 nm range. The fiber lasers are connected to the pumping laser such that the output light from said first pumping laser provides lasing energy for each of said fiber lasers. The fiber lasers may be connected serially or in series to each other. An optical fiber amplifier may be connected to the output of the serially-connected fiber lasers, or to the output of each one of the parallel-connected fiber lasers, to amplify the output from the fiber lasers so that the pumping laser provides energy for both the fiber lasers and the optical fiber amplifier.
Abstract:
Arrangements for high output power laser sources and optical fiber amplifiers are disclosed. In one arrangement, an optical fiber section which is doped with erbium, is coupled with one or two mirror elements, such as fiber Bragg gratings, to form a DBR or DFB fiber laser. The optical fiber section receives energy at one end from a pumping laser and lases at one or more selected wavelengths. This output light, along with energy from the pumping laser, is transmitted through the second end of the optical fiber section to an erbium-doped fiber amplifier, which boosts the laser output even higher. The gain of the optical fiber section may be further increased by co-doping the section with erbium and ytterbium. With co-doped optical fiber sections, high power output fiber optical amplifiers and laser sources, in the form of DBR and DFB fiber lasers, which can accept the pumping energies of a plurality of pumping lasers, can be created with properly selected WDM coupler and WDM coupler/isolator devices.
Abstract:
The present invention provides for a miniature 1XN electromechanical optical switch which has an array of the end sections of output optical fibers, an end section of an input optical fiber and an actuator to effect a relative movement of the input optical fiber end section with respect to the output optical fiber end sections to form an optical path between the input optical fiber and a selected output optical fiber. An alignment controller controls the relative movement by the actuator through an electric current. The alignment controller effects a coarse alignment between the input optical fiber end section and the end section of the selected output optical fiber dependent upon the proportionality between the relative movement amount and the amount of electric current. A fine alignment between the input optical fiber end section and the end section of the selected output optical fiber is effected by the alignment controller responsive to a feedback signal dependent upon alignment of the input optical fiber end with the end section of the selected output optical fiber.
Abstract:
The present invention provides improved optic switches in which the optic fibers and optical pathways need not move. Advantageously, the switches of the present invention generally rely on a combination of a moveable reflective element and at least one fixed collimating lens. The collimating lens typically expands the light signal from a single mode fiber to a substantially larger optic path. When the reflective element is disposed out of this large optic path, the light signals continue on to a first output fiber, often through another collimating lens. However, when the reflective element is disposed within the expanded optic path from the collimating lens, the signal is reflected back through that same collimating lens into an alternative output fiber which is parallel and in close proximity to the input fiber. Conveniently, the reflective element can move across the optic path without changing the position of the input or output fibers relative to each other. Surprisingly, a thin planar reflector which is aligned to reflect one of a pair of signals crossing between two collimating lenses can also reflect the other crossing signal, thereby providing highly efficient multiple signal switching. Hence, by carefully locating a number of optic fibers parallel to each other about the center line of the collimating lens, a wide variety of highly efficient, multiple input and multiple output switching structures can be constructed.
Abstract:
The present invention provides for a fiberoptic connector device which has low back reflection with little increase in insertion loss. The connector device includes an end section of the optical fiber, a ferrule holding the end section, an optical fiber section in the ferrule, and a housing holding the ferrule. The end of the optical fiber terminates in the ferrule and the optical fiber section is coaxially aligned with the end section in the ferrule between the end of the optical fiber and an end of the ferrule. The optical fiber section has one end in close proximity to the end of the optical fiber and its other end terminates with the end of the ferrule. The end of the optical fiber is slanted and covered with antireflection material. The proximate end of the optical fiber section is slanted reciprocally and also covered with antireflection material.
Abstract:
A semiconductor laser diode is optically coupled to an electro-optic phase modulator and an electrical control signal is applied to the phase modulator to modify its optical gain or loss and its real refractive index, to in turn alter the optical length of the modulator and shift its resonant wavelengths. The result is to tune the laser diode. A facet of the laser diode is anti-reflection coated to minimize interface loss between the laser diode and the phase modulator.
Abstract:
A low-cost, high performance 1.times.N fiber optic coupler where N>16 is presented. The coupler has a GRIN lens having an first optic fiber aligned with the optical axis of the lens at one end of the lens. The first optic fiber ends in a microlens. At the other end of the GRIN lens a bundle of tapered second optic fibers is centered on the optical axis of the lens.
Abstract:
A low-cost, high performance 1.times.N fiber optic coupler where N>16 is presented. The coupler has a GRIN lens having an first optic fiber aligned with the optical axis of the lens at one end of the lens. The first optic fiber ends in a microlens. At the other end of the GRIN lens a bundle of tapered second optic fibers is centered on the optical axis of the lens.
Abstract:
A low-cost, high performance 1.times.N fiber optic coupler where N>16 is presented. The coupler has a GRIN lens having an first optic fiber aligned with the optical axis of the lens at one end of the lens. The first optic fiber ends in a microlens. At the other end of the GRIN lens a bundle of tapered second optic fibers is centered on the optical axis of the lens.
Abstract:
An RF MESFET amplifier having a feedback resistor further incorporates two sets of quarter wavelength low impedance pads and quarter wavelength high impedance lines in the resistor feedback path. These RF impedance elements prevent RF feedback as well as thermal noise generated by the feedback resistor from being coupled to the input. Moreover, they effectively isolate RF interaction between the drain and gate of the MESFET; as a result, the amplifier has excellent stability. The low impedance quarter wavelength pads serve as an RF bypass (to ground), while the high impedance quarter wavelength lines provide high attenuation near frequencies at the given wavelength. Consequently, thermal noise generated by the feedback resistor will be bypassed to ground and will not leak into the gate. The value of the feedback resistor can be selected and optimized to obtain the desired VSWR, bandwidth and gain flatness.