In some examples, a mechanical transfer ferrule based optical switch may include an optical fiber tube unit connectable to an end of an optical fiber. The optical fiber tube unit may include a lens to transmit light through the optical fiber. An optical fiber tube unit positioning assembly may include an optical fiber tube unit support detachably connectable to the optical fiber tube unit, and an optical fiber tube unit guide to operatively position the optical fiber tube unit support relative to a multi-fiber connector. The optical fiber tube unit guide may align the optical fiber tube unit and the lens to a specified lens of the multi-fiber connector, and connect the optical fiber to a specified optical fiber channel.

A projective MEMS device, including: a fixed supporting structure made at least in part of semiconductor material; and a number of projective modules. Each projective module includes an optical source, fixed to the fixed supporting structure, and a microelectromechanical actuator, which includes a mobile structure and varies the position of the mobile structure with respect to the fixed supporting structure. Each projective module further includes an initial optical fiber, which is mechanically coupled to the mobile structure and optically couples to the optical source according to the position of the mobile structure.

A digital microscope (1) includes an optical fiber bundle (17) that supplies bright field light, an optical fiber bundle (18) that supplies dark field light, an optical fiber bundle (19) for causing light from a light source to enter the optical fiber bundle (17) (18) and a mechanism for changing a mixture ratio of the bright field light and the dark field light according to operation in an operating section (26). A light entry end of the optical fiber bundle (17) and a light entry end of the optical fiber bundle (18) are arranged adjacent to each other to face in the same direction. A light exit end of the optical fiber (19) is arranged to be opposed to both of the light entry ends.

Disclosed are an optical phased array chip and a method of manufacturing the same. The optical phased array chip includes a plurality of optical switches and a plurality of optical phased arrays implemented on a single integrated circuit, wherein the single integrated circuit includes a silicon substrate, a lower layer formed on an upper portion of the silicon substrate, a silicon layer formed on an upper portion of the lower layer, a first upper layer, a second upper layer and a third upper layer sequentially arranged on the silicon layer, and an electrode that penetrates through the first upper layer while being grounded to the silicon layer and is formed on an upper portion of the first upper layer.

A large-scale single-photonics-based optical switching system that occupies an area larger than the maximum area of a standard step-and-repeat lithography reticle is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of identical switch blocks, each of is formed in a different reticle field that no larger than the maximum reticle size. Bus waveguides of laterally adjacent switch blocks are stitched together at lateral interfaces that include a second arrangement of waveguide ports that is common to all lateral interfaces. Bus waveguides of vertically adjacent switch blocks are stitched together at vertical interfaces that include a first arrangement of waveguide ports that is common to all vertical interfaces. In some embodiments, the lateral and vertical interfaces include waveguide ports having waveguide coupling regions that are configured to mitigate optical loss due to stitching error.

Methods and systems for generating a laser beam with different beam profile characteristics are provided. In one aspect, a method includes coupling an input laser beam into one fiber end of a multi-clad fiber, in particular a double-clad fiber and emitting an output laser beam from the other fiber end of the multi-clad fiber. To generate different beam profile characteristics of the output laser beam, the input laser beam is electively coupled either at least into the inner fiber core of the multi-clad fiber or at least into at least one outer ring core of the multi-clad fiber, or a first sub-beam of the input laser beam is coupled into at least into the inner fiber core of the multi-clad fiber and a second, different sub-beam of the input laser beam is coupled at least into the at least one outer ring core of the multi-clad fiber.

An apparatus includes a plurality of connector track elements, each extending substantially perpendicularly from a coupling plane, wherein a particular connector track element of the plurality of connector track elements includes a distribution of at least two magnets adjacent unattached end thereof, a polarity of the magnets on the particular connector track element being selected to provide magnetic repulsion as to at least one adjacent connector track element.

In some examples, a mechanical transfer ferrule based optical switch may include an optical fiber tube unit connectable to an end of an optical fiber. The optical fiber tube unit may include a lens to transmit light through the optical fiber. An optical fiber tube unit positioning assembly may include an optical fiber tube unit support detachably connectable to the optical fiber tube unit, and an optical fiber tube unit guide to operatively position the optical fiber tube unit support relative to a multi-fiber connector. The optical fiber tube unit guide may align the optical fiber tube unit and the lens to a specified lens of the multi-fiber connector, and connect the optical fiber to a specified optical fiber channel.

A fiber-optic switching system is provided which includes an optical fiber switch having first and second optical fiber portions and an electrically-controlled actuator. The first and second optical fiber portions are spaced apart with a gap between the portions that is sized to allow for light signal coupling between the optical fiber portions in a signal-passing state of the switch. The electrically-controlled actuator is coupled to transition the switch between the signal-passing state, where the light signal is allowed to pass between the optical fiber portions, and a signal-non-passing state, where the light signal is prevented from passing between the optical fiber portions. The electrically-controlled actuator includes an electroactive material exhibiting a physical change with change in an applied electrical field, where the physical change facilitates transitioning the optical fiber switch between the signal-passing and the signal-non-passing states.

An optical assembly includes a connector assembly, a plurality of port assemblies, and a frame assembly. The connector assembly includes an optical fiber connector. The plurality of port assemblies is fixed in position relative to each other. The frame assembly includes a frame directly attached to the connector assembly or directly attached to the plurality of port assemblies. The frame is moveable to align the connector with each of the port assemblies. The connector is insertable into each of the port assemblies when the connector is aligned with a respective one of the port assemblies by moving the connector or the respective port assembly aligned with the connector along a single axis and into the respective port assembly.