A device (e.g., a photonic multiplexer) is provided that includes a plurality of first switches. Each first switch in the plurality of first switches includes a plurality of first channels. Each first switch is configured to shift photons in the plurality of first channels by zero or more channels, based on first configuration information provided to the first switch. The device further includes a plurality of second switches. Each second switch includes a plurality of second channels. Each second channel is coupled with a respective first channel from a distinct first switch of the plurality of first switches. Each second switch is configured to shift photons in the plurality of second channels by zero or more channels, based on second configuration information provided to the second switch.

Optical switches and methods of switching include a first hybrid coupler configured to accept an input and to provide two branches. A phase tuner on a first branch includes a Mach-Zehnder phase shifter configured to shift a signal on the first branch by a selected phase. A loss compensator on a second branch is configured to match a loss incurred on the first branch. A second hybrid coupler is configured to recombine the two branches such that the phase shift generated by the phase tuner determines which output of the second hybrid coupler is used.

Described are various configurations of reduced crosstalk optical switches. Various embodiments can reduce or entirely eliminate crosstalk using a coupler that has a power-splitting ratio that compensates for amplitude imbalance caused by phase modulator attenuation. Some embodiments implement a plurality of phase modulators and couplers as part of a dilated switch network to increase overall bandwidth and further reduce potential for crosstalk.

A device (e.g., a photonic multiplexer) is provided that includes a plurality of first switches. Each first switch in the plurality of first switches includes a plurality of first channels. Each first switch is configured to shift photons in the plurality of first channels by zero or more channels, based on first configuration information provided to the first switch. The device further includes a plurality of second switches. Each second switch includes a plurality of second channels. Each second channel is coupled with a respective first channel from a distinct first switch of the plurality of first switches. Each second switch is configured to shift photons in the plurality of second channels by zero or more channels, based on second configuration information provided to the second switch.

There is provided an illumination device having: a laser; a waveguide including at least first and second transparent lamina; a first grating device for coupling light from the laser into a TIR path in the waveguide; a second grating device for coupling light from the TIR path out of the waveguide; and a third grating device for applying a variation of at least one of beam deflection, phase retardation or polarization rotation across the wavefronts of the TIR light. The first second and third grating devices are each sandwiched by transparent lamina.

Optical switches include a phase shifter on a first branch, a first heater on the first branch, and a second heater on a second branch. A hybrid coupler combines the first branch and the second branch. A first photodetector and a second photodetector are at outputs of the second hybrid coupler to measure crosstalk between the outputs of the second hybrid coupler. A controller is configured to activate the first heater or the second heater to reduce the measured crosstalk.

The invention relates to an optoelectronic switch comprising: a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (10); a switching device (20) comprising: at least two thermo-optical phase-shifters (21a, 21b), and a switching module (22) designed to apply a continuous signal, referred to as switching signal, of constant intensity to the thermo-optical phase-shifters (21a, 21b); at least two electro-refractive phase-shifters (23a, 23b), and a compensation module (24) designed to apply a transient signal, referred to as compensation signal, of variable intensity to the electro-refractive phase-shifters (23a, 23b).

An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar dielectric lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes an output coupler, such as a grating or photonic crystal, that guides the collimated beams in different directions out of the lens plane. A switch matrix controls which input port is illuminated and hence the in-plane propagation direction of the collimated beam. And a tunable light source changes the wavelength to control the angle at which the collimated beam leaves the plane of the substrate. The device is very efficient, in part because the input port (and thus in-plane propagation direction) can be changed by actuating only log.sub.2 N of the N switches in the switch matrix. It can also be much simpler, smaller, and cheaper because it needs fewer control lines than a conventional optical phased array with the same resolution.

An optical phase shifting arrangement and associated optical switching device and method are disclosed. The optical phase shifting arrangement comprises a first optical phase shifter configured to provide a first phase shift to an optical signal, and a second optical phase shifter configured to provide a second phase shift to the optical signal in addition to the first phase shift. During a predefined period, the first optical phase shifter and the second optical phase shifter are driven such that the second phase shift is substantially complementary to the first phase shift.

Optical switches include a phase shifter on a first branch, a first heater on the first branch, and a second heater on a second branch. A hybrid coupler combines the first branch and the second branch. A first photodetector and a second photodetector are at outputs of the second hybrid coupler to measure crosstalk between the outputs of the second hybrid coupler. A controller is configured to activate the first heater or the second heater to reduce the measured crosstalk.