Nonreciprocal optical transmission devices and optical apparatuses including the nonreciprocal optical transmission devices are provided. A nonreciprocal optical transmission device includes an optical input portion, an optical output portion, and an intermediate connecting portion interposed between the optical input portion and the optical output portion, and comprising optical waveguides. A complex refractive index of any one or any combination of the optical waveguides changes between the optical input portion and the optical output portion, and a transmission direction of light through the nonreciprocal optical transmission device is controlled by a change in the complex refractive index.

Nonreciprocal optical transmission devices and optical apparatuses including the nonreciprocal optical transmission devices are provided. A nonreciprocal optical transmission device includes an optical input portion, an optical output portion, and an intermediate connecting portion interposed between the optical input portion and the optical output portion, and comprising optical waveguides. A complex refractive index of any one or any combination of the optical waveguides changes between the optical input portion and the optical output portion, and a transmission direction of light through the nonreciprocal optical transmission device is controlled by a change in the complex refractive index.

A liquid crystal phase shifter is disclosed. The liquid crystal phase shifter includes a liquid crystal cell, a partition plate, a first microstrip line, a second microstrip line and liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other; the partition plate is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; the first microstrip line is disposed on a surface of the partition plate away from the second substrate; the second microstrip line is disposed on a surface of the partition plate away from the first substrate; and the liquid crystal molecules are provided between the first substrate and the partition plate, and between the second substrate and the partition plate.

A liquid crystal phase shifter is disclosed. The liquid crystal phase shifter includes a liquid crystal cell, a partition plate, a first microstrip line, a second microstrip line and liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other; the partition plate is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; the first microstrip line is disposed on a surface of the partition plate away from the second substrate; the second microstrip line is disposed on a surface of the partition plate away from the first substrate; and the liquid crystal molecules are provided between the first substrate and the partition plate, and between the second substrate and the partition plate.

Disclosed herein are various improvements in optical switching engines. In one aspect, a range of switching engines includes various multiple bounce, multiple image devices, such as, for example, the Herriott Cell and the Robert Cell. In another aspect, liquid crystal spatial light modulators (SLMs) are used in the switching engine of an optical cross-connect. In another aspect, polarization gratings (PGs) are used in the switching engine. In another aspect, a switching engine includes a Fourier cell using SLMs with more than two states. Alternative imaging optics in a Fourier cell implementing a multiple-bounce, multiple image device are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are various improvements in optical switching engines. In one aspect, a range of switching engines includes various multiple bounce, multiple image devices, such as, for example, the Herriott Cell and the Robert Cell. In another aspect, liquid crystal spatial light modulators (SLMs) are used in the switching engine of an optical cross-connect. In another aspect, polarization gratings (PGs) are used in the switching engine. In another aspect, a switching engine includes a Fourier cell using SLMs with more than two states. Alternative imaging optics in a Fourier cell implementing a multiple-bounce, multiple image device are also disclosed.

A wavelength selective switch (WSS) includes a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel and a fiber array with multiple ports. The two outermost ports of the multiple ports are a first port and a second port. An included angle between an intersecting line of the LCOS panel and a first plane in which the incident light entering the LCOS panel and emergent light exiting the LCOS panel are located, and incident light entering the LCOS panel is (90−θ) degrees, where a wavelength of the incident light is same as a wavelength of the emergent light, θ is less than 15 degrees, the first port and the included angle of (90−θ) degrees are located on a same side of the incident light, and the second port and the included angle of (90−θ) degrees are separately located on two sides of the incident light.

The present disclosure relates to an optical field and more particularly, to a multi-field of view (FOV) (zooming) optical assembly for a lens and may include an optical element provided in a form of a solid main optical element and including an integrated focal system with two mirrors and at least one integrated afocal system with two mirrors, a plurality of switching optical elements (SOEs) arranged on a front face of the optical element and configured to be switched between an open state in which light is transmitted and a closed state in which light is reflected and/or inhibited, and an image plane curvature correction element.

The present disclosure relates to an optical field and more particularly, to a multi-field of view (FOV) (zooming) optical assembly for a lens and may include an optical element provided in a form of a solid main optical element and including an integrated focal system with two mirrors and at least one integrated afocal system with two mirrors, a plurality of switching optical elements (SOEs) arranged on a front face of the optical element and configured to be switched between an open state in which light is transmitted and a closed state in which light is reflected and/or inhibited, and an image plane curvature correction element.

An optical beam steering device is provided that includes an input optical fiber carrying multiple input optical signals, where each input optical signal includes a unique wavelength, an arrayed waveguide grating router (AWGR) having multiple output fibers, where the input optical fiber is connected to the AWGR, distal ends of the output fibers are arranged in a two-dimensional fiber array, the input optical signals are routed by the AWGR according to each unique wavelength to a unique AWGR output fiber, and a lens, where the distal ends of the output fibers are disposed proximal to a focal plane of the lens, where for each unique position of each output fiber distal end with respect to a the lens, each input optical signal is steered at a unique angle as an output beam emitted from the lens, where changing the wavelength of the input optical signal changes the output signal angles.