Abstract:
Methods for communicatively coupling components at down-hole locations within a wellbore (10) include introducing first and second cables (32) through which signals are transmissible into the wellbore (10). Terminal ends (52, 54) of the cables (26, 32) are coarsely aligned by coupling connector housings (28, 34) associated with the cables (26, 32) within the wellbore (10). The terminal ends (52, 54) are then finely aligned by activating motors (60, 62, 64) to move at least one of the terminal ends (52, 54) within the connector housings (28, 34) until a signal of sufficient strength is transmissible between the first and second cables (32).
Abstract:
We describe a LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) telecommunications light beam routing device, the device comprising: an optical input; a plurality of optical outputs; a LCOS spatial light modulator (SLM) in an optical path between said input and said output, for displaying a kinoform; a data processor, coupled to said SLM, configured to provide kinoform data for displaying said kinoform on said SLM; wherein said kinoform data defines a kinoform which routes a beam from said optical input to a selected said optical output; wherein said data processor is configured to input routing data defining said selected optical output and to calculate said kinoform data for routing said beam responsive to said routing data; and wherein said data processor is configured to calculate said kinoform data by: determining an initial phase pattern for said kinoform; calculating a replay field of said phase pattern; modifying an amplitude component of said replay field to represent a target replay field for said beam routing, retaining a phase component of said replay field to provide an updated replay field; performing a space-frequency transform on said updated replay field to determine an updated phase pattern for said kinoform; and repeating said calculating and updating of said replay field and said performing of said space-frequency transform until said kinoform for display is determined; and outputting said kinoform data for display on said LCOS SLM.
Abstract:
An apparatus for directing a light path sequentially between multiple positions. A rotary switch rotates a light beam from a prism relative to a plurality of optical elements arranged radially on a switch body. In one embodiment, a prism rotates in the switch body, causing the light beam to sweep through the optical elements. In another embodiment, the switch body rotates about a prism transmitting the light beam. In various embodiments, the optical elements include a photodetector, a filter and a photodetector pair, a reflector, and a filter and a reflector.
Abstract:
Methods for adjusting dither amplitude for MEMS mirrors in optical switches and optical switches employing such a method are disclosed. A dither amplitude of one or more MEMS mirrors may be adjusted in an optical switch having an input port, and an array of one or more MEMS mirrors that can be selectively optically coupled to one or more of N=3 optical input/output (I/O) ports. The MEMS mirrors are aligned mirrors to achieve nominal peak coupling at each of the N collimators. Digital-to-analog (DAC) settings for positioning mirrors in an open control loop as a function of the selected collimator are stored to a non-volatile memory. The DAC settings are used to determine a dither amplitude DITHER(x) for one of the MEMS mirrors positioned to couple optical signals to an output port at a position x. The optical switch apparatus may comprise N=3 optical input/output (I/O) ports, an array of one or more MEMS mirrors that can selectively reflect one or more spectral channels to one or more of the N ports, and a servo-control assembly in communication with said one or more of the MEMS mirrors. The servo control assembly includes memory containing digital-to-analog converter (DAC) settings for positioning each mirror in an open control loop as a function of a port position x. The servo control assembly is programmed to adjust dither amplitude of one or more of the MEMS mirrors using the stored DAC settings.
Abstract:
When controlling an optical switch (2) having an input light deflecting means (2-1) capable of deflecting an optical signal input from a predetermined input port in an arbitrary direction, and an output light deflecting means (2-2) capable of deflecting the optical signal from the input light deflecting means (2-1) in an arbitrary direction and coupling it with a predetermined output port, the optical coupling efficiency of the optical signal with the output port is monitored by a monitoring means (4), and control means (5, 6 and 7) control the deflecting condition of the input light deflecting means (2-1) in parallel with the deflecting condition of the output light deflecting means (2-2). Even when the optimum control amount of the optical switch (2) is deviated by the temperature drift or the time-elapse drift, it is possible to considerably shorten the search time of the optimum control amount, and switch the optical path at a high speed.
Abstract:
Variable optical attenuators (100) that use a blade (120) in a gap (114) between two fibers (111, 112) to control the optical attenuation without having coupling optics in the gap, where the blade has at least one blade surface at an angle with respect to an end facet of one fiber.
Abstract:
Techniques and systems for controlling an optical switch array (1700) based on local and global optical monitoring and feedback controls. Each optical switch element (1724, 1734) includes a local optical monitoring mechanism to form a local feedback control to lock the switch element at a desired orientation. The global optical monitoring is used to adjust at least one switch element in the path of the signal beam (1712) to maintain an overall alignment.
Abstract:
A beam steering module (2302) comprised of a mirror stack array (2304, 2308) in close proximity to a collimator array (2306) controllably steers photons along two axis and in a direction substantially less than 90 degrees to the collimator orientation. Several configurations of the module are described using single (900) and double (800) axis mirror rotation and relay optics (120, 216,226). Optical telecommunications switches (2300) are shown using modules coupled to each other along flat and curved surfaces, with and without use of fold mirror (2310) and enabling a plurality of configuration options including photodetector optical power monitoring schemes that require no external power taps.
Abstract:
This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating (101) to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are than focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors (220). The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into multiple output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values. The WSR apparatus of the present invention can be used to construct a novel class of dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networking applications.