摘要:
An optical switch device includes a rolling shutter or membrane attached at one of its edges to a substrate near an optical port in the substrate. The rolling shutter can assume one of two states. In a first closed state, the membrane is uncoiled onto the substrate over the port such that light directed at the port impinges on the shutter. In a second open state, the membrane is rolled up away from the port such that light directed at the port impinges on the port. In one embodiment, a mirror is formed on the membrane such that when the membrane is in the closed state over the substrate, light directed at the port is reflected by the mirror. In one configuration, the optical port includes a hole or aperture such light passed through the port without interference. The device can include a latch electrode the far end of the membrane such that when it is rolled out, it can be held in position by a latching voltage applied across the latch electrode and the substrate. Slits can be formed in the membrane to keep the mirror flat by relieving strain in the membrane and to allow gases in proximity to the device to pass through the membrane as it is activated. The shutter can include dimples to minimize the area of contact between the membrane and the substrate to reduce the probability of the two sticking together. The attachment edge of the membrane can be made shorter than its width to reduce distortions in the membrane to keep the mirror flat. A raised annular rim can be provided around the port such that when the shutter is held down over the port it is pulled taut and flat over the rim. This feature is also used to maintain flatness in the mirror. The switch device can be used as part of an array of optical switches.
摘要:
An optical probe for emitting and/or receiving light within a body comprises an optical fiber that transmits and/or receives an optical signal, a silicon optical bench including a fiber groove running longitudinally that holds an optical fiber termination of the optical fiber and a reflecting surface that optically couples an endface of the optical fiber termination to a lateral side of the optical bench. The fiber groove is fabricated using silicon anisotropic etching techniques. Some examples use a housing around the optical bench that is fabricated using LIGA or other electroforming technology. A method for forming lens structure is also described that comprises forming a refractive lens in a first layer of a composite wafer material, such as SOI (silicon on insulator) wafers and forming an optical port through a backside of the composite wafer material along an optical axis of the refractive lens. the refractive lens is preferably formed using grey-scale lithography and dry etching the first layer.
摘要:
Mounting and alignment structures for optical components allow optical components to be connected to an optical bench and then subsequently aligned, i.e., either passively or actively, in a manufacturing or subsequent calibration or recalibration, alignment or realignment processes. The structures comprise quasi-extrusion portions. This portion is “quasi-extrusion” in the sense that it has a substantially constant cross section in a z-axis direction as would be yielded in an extrusion manufacturing process. The structures further comprise at least one base, having a laterally-extending base surface, and an optical component interface. At least one armature connects the optical component interface with the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is securable to an optical bench.
摘要:
Mounting and alignment structures for optical components allow optical components to be connected to an optical bench and then subsequently aligned, i.e., either passively or actively, in a manufacturing or subsequent calibration or recalibration, alignment or realignment processes. The structures comprise quasi-extrusion portions. This portion is “quasi-extrusion” in the sense that it has a substantially constant cross section in a z-axis direction as would be yielded in an extrusion manufacturing process. The structures further comprise at least one base, having a laterally-extending base surface, and an optical component interface. At least one armature connects the optical component interface with the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is securable to an optical bench.
摘要:
An optical monitoring system provides for out-of-band calibration. As a result, calibration can be performed simultaneously with monitoring. This can be used to accomplish faster and/or more accurate scanning. In addition, the need for complex switching and/or multiplexing capabilities can be avoided. The system comprises a signal source of an optical signal having spectrally separated channels, which are distributed within a spectral band, such as a WDM signal. A reference source generates a reference signal outside of the spectral band. A tunable filter filters the optical signal and the reference signal. A reference signal detector then detects the filtered reference signal, while an optical signal detector detects the filtered optical signal.
摘要:
An optical component manipulation system has two opposed jaws, which can each be independently positioned relative to each other in a coordinate plane to thereby effect the desired positioning of optical components within the larger system. Z-axis rigidity is provided by air-bearings. Laser heating of the jaws is used for solder, or similar heat driven bonding, processes.
摘要:
An integrated optical monitoring system comprises a hermetic package and an optical bench sealed within a package. An optical fiber pigtail enters the package via a feed-through to connect and terminate above the bench. A tunable filter is connected to the top of the bench and filters an optical signal transmitted by the fiber pigtail. A detector, also connected to the bench, detects the filtered signal from the tunable filter. Thus, the entire system is integrated together, on a single bench within a preferably small package. This configuration makes the system useful as a subsystem, for example, in a larger system offering higher levels of functionality and optical signal processing capability.
摘要:
Mounting and alignment structures for optical components allow optical components to be connected to an optical bench and then subsequently aligned, i.e., either passively or actively, in a manufacturing or subsequent calibration or recalibration, alignment or realignment processes. The structures comprise quasi-extrusion portions. This portion is “quasi-extrusion” in the sense that it has a substantially constant cross section in a z-axis direction as would be yielded in an extrusion manufacturing process. The structures further comprise at least one base, having a laterally-extending base surface, and an optical component interface. At least one armature connects the optical component interface with the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is securable to an optical bench.
摘要:
Dry oxygen, dry air, or other gases such as ozone are hermetically sealed within the package of the external cavity laser or ASE swept source to avoid packaging-induced failure or PIF. PIF due to hydrocarbon breakdown at optical interfaces with high power densities is believed to occur at the SLED and/or SOA facets as well as the tunable Fabry-Perot reflector/filter elements and/or output fiber. Because the laser is an external cavity tunable laser and the configuration of the ASE swept sources, the power output can be low while the internal power at surfaces can be high leading to PIF at output powers much lower than the 50 mW.
摘要:
An optical probe for emitting and/or receiving light within a body comprises an optical fiber that transmits and/or receives an optical signal, a silicon optical bench including a fiber groove running longitudinally that holds an optical fiber termination of the optical fiber and a reflecting surface that optically couples an endface of the optical fiber termination to a lateral side of the optical bench. The fiber groove is fabricated using silicon anisotropic etching techniques. Some examples use a housing around the optical bench that is fabricated using LIGA or other electroforming technology. A method for forming lens structure is also described that comprises forming a refractive lens in a first layer of a composite wafer material, such as SOI (silicon on insulator) wafers and forming an optical port through a backside of the composite wafer material along an optical axis of the refractive lens. the refractive lens is preferably formed using grey-scale lithography and dry etching the first layer.