Waveguide substrates, waveguide substrate assemblies, and methods for fabricating waveguide substrates are disclosed. In one embodiment, a waveguide substrate includes an input edge, an output edge, and at least one waveguide within the waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate further includes at least one input alignment feature within the input edge adjacent to the input end of the at least one waveguide, wherein the at least one input alignment feature is fabricated from a material of the waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate may also include at least one output alignment feature within the input edge adjacent to the output end of the at least one waveguide, wherein the at least one output alignment feature is fabricated from the material of the waveguide substrate.

A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule, a ferrule hub supporting the ferrule, and a split sleeve surrounding the ferrule.

Waveguide substrate, waveguide substrate assemblies and methods of fabricating waveguide substrates having various waveguide routing schemes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a waveguide substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, and a plurality of waveguides within the waveguide substrate. The plurality of waveguides defines a plurality of inputs at the first surface. A subset of the plurality of waveguides extends to the second surface to at least partially define a plurality of outputs at the second surface. In one waveguide routing scheme, at least one branching waveguide extends between one of the first surface and the second surface to a surface other than the first surface and the second surface. Another waveguide routing scheme arranges the plurality of waveguides into optical receive-transmit pairs for duplex pairing of optical signals.

Embodiments of the invention are directed a waveguide having a first waveguide segment that includes a set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters; a second waveguide segment having routing bends and a set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters; and a third waveguide segment having a set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters. The waveguide is configured to guide optical data according to an asymmetric optical-loss performance curve that is a plot of the sets of first, second, and third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a first axis; and a level of optical-loss performance that results from the sets of first, second, and third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a second axis. The sets of first, second, and third waveguide segment confinement parameters are configured to, collectively, maximize a predetermined worst-case optical-loss performance level of the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve within a range of waveguide fabrication tolerances.

An apparatus for assessing balance is described comprising a light source; a light guide; and a light detector. The light source is arranged to introduce light into the light guide; the light guide is arranged to be stood upon by a subject; the light detector is arranged to detect light emanating from the light guide to thereby facilitate an assessment of the balance of the subject standing upon the light guide.

The invention relates to a bend limiting structure for preventing a flexible optical circuit from being bent too sharply. More particularly, the invention involves adding a bend limiting layer or layers to the flexible optical circuit and/or any housing or other structure within which it is enclosed or to which it is attached. The bend-limiting layer may comprise a plurality of blocks arranged in a line or plane and joined by a flexible film that is thinner than the blocks, with the blocks positioned close enough to each other so that, if that plane of blocks is bent a predetermined amount, the edges of the blocks will interfere with each other and prevent the plane from being bent any further. The blocks may be resilient also to provide a less abrupt bend-limiting stop.

Embodiments of the invention are directed a waveguide having a first waveguide segment that includes a set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters; a second waveguide segment having routing bends and a set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters; and a third waveguide segment having a set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters. The waveguide is configured to guide optical data according to an asymmetric optical-loss performance curve that is a plot of the sets of first, second, and third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a first axis; and a level of optical-loss performance that results from the sets of first, second, and third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a second axis. The sets of first, second, and third waveguide segment confinement parameters are configured to, collectively, maximize a predetermined worst-case optical-loss performance level of the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve within a range of waveguide fabrication tolerances.

Thermal control is provided for external light sources for silicon photonics based pluggable modules. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first circuit board; a light source disposed upon the first circuit board; a silicon photonics modulator; a connector comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein: the first and second portions are physically matable and separable; mating the first and second portions of the connector optically couples the first and second portions, the first portion is disposed upon the first circuit board, and is optically coupled to an output of the light source, and the second portion is optically coupled to an input of the silicon photonics modulator; and a thermal controller to control a temperature of the light source. Some embodiments disable the light source when the connector is separated.

A cable management arrangement (1000) is disclosed. In one aspect, a plurality of cables (1002) extending between first and second ends is provided. The arrangement (1000) can also include a supporting sheet (1004) having a first side and a second side, wherein the plurality of cables (1002) is removably adhered to the supporting sheet first side by a first adhesive (1010). A second adhesive (1012) can be provided on at least a portion of the supporting sheet second side and a protection sheet (1014) can be provided to cover the second adhesive (1012). A protection sheet (1014) can be provided that is removable from the supporting sheet (1004) to allow the supporting sheet (1004) to be adhered to a surface. A telecommunications arrangement is also disclosed in which the aforementioned cable management arrangement (1000) is mounted to a telecommunications tray (112) via the second adhesive (1012).

A wiring method of an optical fiber in a curved shape includes disposing a first guide member which guides the optical fiber on an outer peripheral side of a wiring path of the curved shape of the optical fiber, and imparting a predetermined bending to the optical fiber by bringing the optical fiber into contact with the first guide member.