Medical imaging camera head devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. Afocal light from the scope is manipulated and split by a beamsplitter. At least one polarizing optical element manipulates the polarization properties of one or both of the beams. The resulting first and second beams are passed through focusing optics to different image sensor areas to produce images with different intensity. The resulting images are combined with high dynamic range techniques.

In various embodiments, a beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system alters a spatial power distribution of a plurality of radiation beams before the beams are coupled into an optical fiber.

An optical communications apparatus, including a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer, in which an optical deflection component may perform angle deflection on a plurality of first sub-wavelength light beams to obtain a plurality of second sub-wavelength light beams and a plurality of third sub-wavelength light beams, and propagate the plurality of second sub-wavelength light beams to a second optical switch array. A third wavelength dispersion component combines the plurality of second sub-wavelength light beams into a second light beam. A first output component outputs the second light beam from a dimension. A second wavelength dispersion component combines the plurality of third sub-wavelength light beams into a third light beam, and makes the third light beam incident to a third optical switch array. A second output component outputs the third light beam to drop a signal.

A device includes an integrated structure of an input fiber, a first output fiber, an input splitting/combining device, a first output splitting/combining device, an input rotation device, a first output rotation device, a first lens, an isolator core, a second lens, a second output rotation device, a second output splitting/combining device, and a second output fiber. With the integrated structure, the device integrates functions of an optical isolator and an optical splitter. As an optical splitter, input of an optical signal into the input fiber are distributed to the two output fibers for output. As an optical splitter, the device can isolate light in opposite directions and can reduce damage to a light source at the input. In a system, the device can replace two conventional optical isolators and optical splitters and effectively reduce space, simplify the assembly process, and facilitate miniaturization and integration for systems.

Example embodiments include an optical assembly for an optical interrogation system having a single core or a multicore sensing fiber, a measurement fiber to couple light into the sensing fiber, and a reference fiber arranged with the measurement fiber as part of an optical interferometer. A beam splitter combines light from the sensing fiber and with light from the reference fiber. A polarization beam splitting prism separates the combined light into first polarized light and second polarized light that is orthogonal to the first polarized light. The optical assembly can substantially reduce the size, complexity, or cost associated with the traditional optical components in an optical interrogation system that it replaces. Other example optical assemblies are described. Embodiments describe optical interrogation systems using the example optical assemblies.

A multi-fiber connector fiber-optic measurement device identifies a polarity type and measures an optical power of a multi-fiber connector fiber-optic patch cord. The device includes: a beam splitter that splits light from the multi-fiber connector fiber-optic patch cord into a plurality of lights; a first optical sensor that receives one of the lights split by the beam splitter and outputs a first signal according to the received light; a second optical sensor that receives another of the lights split by the beam splitter and outputs a second signal according to the received light; and a signal processor that calculates the optical power based on the first signal and identifies the polarity type based on the second signal.

An integrated optoelectronic or optical device is formed by a polarization-splitting grating coupler including two optical waveguides, a common optical coupler and flared optical transitions between the optical coupler and the optical waveguides. The optical coupler is configured for supporting input/output of optical waves. A first region of the optical coupler lies at a distance from the flared optical transitions. The first region includes a first recessed pattern. Second regions of the optical coupler lie between the first region and the flared optical transitions, respectively, in an adjoining relationship. The second regions include a second recessed pattern different from the first recessed pattern.

A polarization scrambler using a retardance element (RE) is disclosed. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber input to transmit an optical signal, and a beam expander to receive and expand the optical signal to create an expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a retardance element (RE) to cause a polarization scrambling effect on the expanded optical signal and to create a scrambled expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a beam reducer to receive and reduce the scrambled expanded optical signal to create a scrambled optical signal. The polarization to scrambler may include an optical fiber output to receive scrambled optical signal. The optical fiber output may transmit the scrambled optical signal to one or more downstream optical components.

A polarization alteration device includes a resonator cavity having a resonance mode at a resonance wavelength and a linewidth. The resonator is configured to exhibit no intensity-independent birefringence or an intensity-independent birefringence, whose effect on a light wave confined in the resonator cavity is smaller than the linewidth of the resonance mode. The polarization alteration device is configured to exhibit a Kerr nonlinearity adapted to generate an additional polarization component due to symmetry breaking for a light wave confined in the resonator cavity having a light intensity exceeding a threshold intensity. The polarization direction of the additional polarization component is orthogonal to an initial polarization component of the light wave coupled into the resonator cavity. A polarization control device, a polarization sensor, a method for adjusting the polarization of a light wave and a method for sensing a change of a polarization of a light wave are further disclosed.

An apparatus includes a photonic integrated circuit having an optical phased array, where the optical phased array includes multiple unit cells. Each unit cell includes an antenna element configured to transmit or receive optical signals having a linear polarization of light. Each unit cell also includes a modulator configured to phase-shift the optical signals transmitted or received by the antenna element. Each unit cell further includes a quarter waveplate configured to convert between the linear polarization of light and a circular polarization of light.