An optical network architecture can include a first pair of tapered mixing rods and a second pair of tapered mixing rods. The optical network architecture can also include a first plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to a first plurality of line replaceable units and a second plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the second pair of tapered mixing rods to a second plurality of line replaceable units. The optical network architecture can also include at least one plastic optical fiber communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to the second pair of tapered mixing rods.

An optical device includes an optical coupler that performs branching of the input light and outputs a first-type branched light and a second-type branched light; a polarization converter that changes the direction of polarization of the second-type branched light output from the optical coupler; and a polarization synthesizer that outputs a polarization multiplexed light by synthesizing the first-type branched light, which is output from the optical coupler, and the second-type branched light, which has the direction of polarization changed by the polarization converter. The optical coupler has the wavelength characteristic that cancels out the wavelength characteristic of the polarization synthesizer regarding the second-type branched light included in the polarization multiplexed light.

An optical coupler array can include an elongated optical element having a coupler housing structure and at least one longitudinal waveguide embedded in said housing structure. The housing structure can have an outer cross sectional shape comprising a first side comprising one or more curved portions and a second side comprising one or more flat portions. The second side can be disposed at a distance from the at least one longitudinal waveguide such that waveguiding properties are preserved and not disturbed.

A compact, low-loss and wavelength insensitive Y-junction for submicron silicon waveguides. The design was performed using FDTD and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The device was fabricated in a 248 nm CMOS line. Measured average insertion loss is 0.280.02 dB across an 8-inch wafer. The device footprint is less than 1.2 m2 m, orders of magnitude smaller than MMI and directional couplers.

A mode-matched waveguide Y-junction with balanced or unbalanced splitting comprises an input waveguide, expanding from an input end to an output end, for expanding the input beam of light along a longitudinal axis; first and second output waveguides extending from the output end of the input waveguide separated by a gap. Ideally, each of the first and second output waveguides includes an initial section capable of supporting a fundamental super mode, and having an inner wall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a mode splitting section extending from the initial section at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

A photodetection device including: first optical fibers; a second optical fiber; an optical combiner having: an end face connected to an end face of each of the first optical fibers; and another end face connected to an end face of the second optical fiber; a first photodetector that detects an intensity of light propagating through at least one of the first optical fibers; a second photodetector that detects Rayleigh scattering of light propagating through the second optical fiber; and a calculator that calculates the intensity of light propagating in a predetermined direction through the first optical fibers or the second optical fiber, from a result of detection by the first photodetector and a result of detection by the second photodetector.

A substrate includes a first area in which a laser array chip is disposed. The substrate includes a second area in which a planar lightwave circuit is disposed. The second area is elevated relative to the first area. A trench is formed in the substrate between the first area and the second area. The substrate includes a third area in which an optical fiber alignment device is disposed. The third area is located next to and at a lower elevation than the second area within the substrate. The planar lightwave circuit has optical inputs facing toward and aligned with respective optical outputs of the laser array chip. The planar lightwave circuit has optical outputs facing toward the third area. The optical fiber alignment device is configured to receive optical fibers such that optical cores of the optical fibers respectively align with the optical outputs of the planar lightwave circuit.

Configurations for an optical splitter are disclosed. The optical splitter may include an input waveguide, a free propagation region, and an array of output waveguides. The input waveguide may be sufficiently narrow that the light in the free propagation region may diffract and provide the same optical intensity at far field angles across a wide wavelength range. The input waveguide may have a high V number in a vertical dimension and a low V number in a horizontal dimension. Because all of the wavelengths of light diffract at the same angle in the free propagation region, once the light reaches the output waveguides, the light may have similar optical power at each of the output waveguides. Additionally, the output waveguides may vary in width and spacing to mitigate the non-uniform optical power distribution of the phase front of light.

A laser energy managing device comprises: a laser beam splitting device, at least one micro-bending device, and a controller. The laser beam splitting device is configured to split an input laser beam from a laser generator into a plurality of split laser beams, and comprises a plurality of split transmission channels configured to transmit the plurality of split laser beams respectively. The at least one micro-bending device is configured to micro-bend the split transmission channels to attenuate corresponding split laser beams transmitted thereby and thus obtain a plurality of output laser beams. The controller is configured to control a micro-bending degree of each split transmission channel.

An optical device includes an optical coupler that performs branching of the input light and outputs a first-type branched light and a second-type branched light; a polarization converter that changes the direction of polarization of the second-type branched light output from the optical coupler; and a polarization synthesizer that outputs a polarization multiplexed light by synthesizing the first-type branched light, which is output from the optical coupler, and the second-type branched light, which has the direction of polarization changed by the polarization converter. The optical coupler has the wavelength characteristic that cancels out the wavelength characteristic of the polarization synthesizer regarding the second-type branched light included in the polarization multiplexed light.