This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected 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 WDM optical networking applications.

This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral characters, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected 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 WDM optical networking applications.

An image forming apparatus including a polygon mirror that deflects a light beam includes: a light emitter that emits the light beam; an optical sensor that is disposed at a position on which the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror is incident; a detector that detects a minimum level being a light intensity level of the light beam, the lowest within a range detected by the optical sensor; a switcher that switches a light intensity level of the light beam emitted from the light emitter until the detector detects the minimum level; and a determiner that determines a degree of contamination of a component on an optical path of the light beam extending from the light emitter to the optical sensor, on the basis of the minimum level detected when the light intensity level is switched by the switcher.

A coupler array device may include an array of couplers arranged in a coupler plane, where each of the couplers couples light between the coupler plane and one or more directions outside of the coupler plane. A coupler array device may further include a pixel switch network to selectively couple light into or out of a selected subset of the plurality of couplers, where the pixel switch network may include one or more pixel-network waveguides and pixel-network switches to couple light between couplers and pixel-network waveguides. The coupler array device may further include one or more feed networks including a feed-line waveguide and one or more feed-network switches to couple light between the feed-line waveguide and at least some of the pixel-network waveguides. Light may be routable between selected couplers and selected feed-line waveguides along selected paths by controlling the pixel-network switches and the feed-network switches along the selected paths.

A deformable mirror and capacitive array controller is capable of controlling a plurality of individual actuators by applying independent voltages from 0V to 240V to each actuator. The device utilizes a distributed microcontroller (MCU) architecture, including a main microcontroller and a plurality of slave microcontrollers to maximize actuator voltage refresh rate. One Slave MCU may be used for up to 384 actuators. For maximizing actuator refresh rate, each Slave MCU may be limited to 192 actuators. The final circuit stage includes a digital/analog converter, a voltage sample and hold and a high voltage amplifier, all packaged in a single integrated circuit. These integrated circuits are referred hereinafter as HV S&H (high voltage sample and hold). A flexible, stacked PCB assembly significantly reduces overall footprint and weight compared to conventional devices. The device's power consumption is nearly an order of magnitude less than that of a conventions adaptive optical system.

An optical transmission device controls driving of a mirror that adjusts an attenuation amount of a VOA and a transmission frequency of a TOF. The device acquires an adjustment amount of a reference voltage in which the intensity of output light becomes a target at detecting a change in the attenuation amount. The device calculates a deviation of an attenuation amount by using a difference between the reference frequency and the adjusted frequency specified from the characteristic of the mirror. The device calculates a deviation of an attenuation amount from a relationship at detecting a change in a new attenuation amount. The device calculates an adjustment amount by using a difference between the voltage of the reference frequency specified from the characteristic and the voltage of the frequency that is after deviation, adds the adjustment amount to the reference voltage, and sets the result.

An eye tracker characterization system comprising a scanning retinal imaging unit and a controller. The scanning retinal imaging unit characterizes eye tracking information determined by an eye tracking unit under test. The scanning retinal imaging unit includes a scanning optics assembly and a detector. The scanning optics assembly scans light in a first band across a retinal region of an eye of a user. The detector detects the scanned light reflected from the retinal region. The controller selects eye tracking information received from the eye tracking unit under test and corresponding eye tracking parameters received from the scanning retinal imaging unit. The controller calculates differences between the selected eye tracking information and the corresponding selected eye tracking parameters, and characterizes the selected eye tracking information based on the calculated differences.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to a photonic apparatus. The photonic apparatus including a phase alignment waveguide including waveguide inputs and waveguide outputs. The waveguide inputs being operably connected with a light source to provide a light wave into the phase alignment waveguide and the waveguide outputs providing a plurality of light waves from the optical waveguide. The phase alignment waveguide modulates the light wave to generate the plurality of light waves with different phases. The photonic apparatus includes a transmit switch operably connected with the waveguide inputs to selectively connect at least one of the waveguide inputs with the light source to provide the light wave into the phase alignment waveguide. The photonic apparatus includes control circuitry operably connected with the transmit switch, the control circuitry dynamically activating the at least one of the waveguide inputs according to an electronic control signal.

To relax the accuracy with respect to a positional deviation, and thus to reduce costs. An optical waveguide and a light path adjuster are included, the optical waveguide performing propagation only in a reference mode at a first wavelength, the light path adjuster adjusting a light path such that input light is guided to a core of the optical waveguide. Communication is performed using light of a second wavelength that enables the optical waveguide to perform propagation in at least a first order mode in addition to the reference mode. When there is a positional deviation, input light that is not headed for the core of the optical waveguide is guided to the core due to the light path adjuster adjusting a path of the light. This results in a reduction in a loss of coupling of optical power. Further, propagation is performed by the optical waveguide in at least the first order mode in addition to the reference mode, the at least the first order mode being generated due to the light path adjuster adjusting a path of the input light. This results in a reduction in a loss of coupling of optical power. This makes it possible to relax the accuracy with respect to a positional deviation, and thus to reduce costs.

A method and system for configuring an optical circuit switch is provided. Configuring includes sampling for demand estimation at buffers of an electrical packet switch that is either directly connected to the optical circuit switch, or is dynamically routed to a physical port that is connected to the optical circuit switch. Configuring is performed based on the demand estimation at a port on the electrical packet switch exceeding a first dynamic threshold. The optical circuit can be released based on the demand estimation at the port on the electrical packet switch receding a second dynamic threshold, and the second dynamic threshold is less than the first dynamic threshold.