An optical device includes an optical circuit and a test circuit optically connected to the optical circuit. The test circuit includes a first grating coupler configured to receive test light, a second grating coupler configured to output, as reference light, the test light passed through the first grating coupler, and a first branch coupler connected to an output of the first grating coupler. The first branch coupler includes first output connected to an input of the optical circuit and configured to branch and output the test light from the first grating coupler to the optical circuit. Further, the first branch coupler includes a second output connected to an input of the second grating coupler and configured to branch and output the test light from the first grating coupler to the second grating coupler.

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 three-dimensional photonic integrated structure includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. The first substrate incorporates a first waveguide and the second semiconductor substrate incorporates a second waveguide. An intermediate region located between the two substrates is formed by a one dielectric layer. The second substrate further includes an optical coupler configured for receiving a light signal. The first substrate and dielectric layer form a reflective element located below and opposite the grating coupler in order to reflect at least one part of the light signal.

A system can include a splitter configured to receive a first optical signal carrying first data and generate a first optical signal copy and second optical signal copy. Also included is at least one optical processing path includes at least one optical encoder configured to transform the first optical signal copy into a second optical signal carrying the first data and an additional optical feature not present in the first optical signal, at least one optical modulator configured to optically modulate the second optical signal according to a compare data to generate an optical match signal that indicates matches between the compare data and the first data, and at least one photodetector configured to generate an electrical match signal in response to the optical match signal. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

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.

A ring resonator electro-optical device includes a first silicon nitride waveguide and a second annular silicon waveguide that comprises a first section running under a second section of the first waveguide. The second waveguide also includes an annular silicon strip having a cross-section increasing in the first section from a minimum cross-section located under the second section.

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.

Systems and methods described herein are directed to polarization separation of laser signals and/or incoming light signals associated with an imaging system, such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system. Example embodiments describe a system configured to direct incoming light signals to a polarization separator and capturing the two polarization states of the incoming light signals. In some instances, the laser signal may be converted into two different polarization states. The system may individually process the two polarization states of the incoming light signals along with the corresponding polarization state of the laser reference signal to extract information associated with reflecting objects within the field-of-view of the imaging system. The polarization separator may be a birefringent crystal positioned adjacent to an edge of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that is used for processing outgoing and incoming light signals associated with the imaging system.

A wavelength converter includes a polarization beam splitter configured to separate input light into a first polarization and a second polarization that are orthogonal to each other a non-linear optical medium configured to include a first incident end on which the first polarization separated by the polarization beam splitter is incident and a second incident end on which the second polarization separated by the polarization beam splitter is incident at a position different from a position of the first incident end, an optical multiplexer configured to multiplex the first polarization that has passed through the non-linear optical medium and the second polarization that has passed through the non-linear optical medium, and an optical element arranged between the non-linear optical medium and the optical multiplexer, and configured to correct a polarization axis of at least one of the first polarization and the second polarization incident on the optical multiplexer.

A polarization rotator structure includes: a first core structure formed at a first layer, extending from the first end to a second end, and a second core structure formed at a second layer that is at a different depth than the first layer and formed in proximity to the first core structure. The first core structure and the second core structure provide mode hybridization between at least two orthogonally polarized waveguide modes of the PRS. An optical splitter structure is optically coupled at a first end to the second end of the PRS, and optically coupled at a second end to at least two optical waveguides, and includes: a first core structure that is contiguous with at least one of the first or second core structures of the PRS, and a second core structure that is separate from both of the first and second core structures of the PRS.