An MPO switch device that includes a first input/output port and a second input/output port, a MPO port, a plurality of switches disposed between the first input/output port and the second input/output port, and a switch control for controlling the position of each of the switches to direct light through a desired return path. The plurality of switches are arranged and connected together by non-blocking connections that allow simultaneous testing of all common 1 GB, 10 GB, and 40 GB transmit and receive fiber pair paths.

A vehicle lighting fixture is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, a high-beam (driving) light distribution pattern and a low-beam (passing) light distribution pattern) by superimposing N partial light distribution patterns wherein N is a natural number of 2 or more. The vehicle lighting fixture can include a light intensity changing unit configured to change a light intensity of at least one partial light distribution pattern out of the N partial light distribution patterns.

In an optical circuit using a Mach-Zehnder-type element, it is difficult to obtain an optical circuit which has a less wavelength dependence and is suitable for achieving high integration. Accordingly, an optical circuit according to the present invention includes: a first Mach-Zehnder-type element including a first branch waveguide, a first branching/combining unit connected to one end of the first branch waveguide, and a second branching/combining unit connected to another end of the first branch waveguide and having a branch configuration different from that of the first branching/combining unit; and a second Mach-Zehnder-type element including a second branch waveguide, a third branching/combining unit connected to one end of the second branch waveguide, and a fourth branching/combining unit connected to another end of the second branch waveguide and having a branch configuration different from that of the third branching/combining unit. The first branch waveguide and the second branch waveguide each include a phase difference adjustment means. In the second branching/combining unit and the third branching/combining unit, light coupling between two basic modes with a phase inverted and a higher-order mode, is smaller than that in the first branching/combining unit and the fourth branching/combining unit. The first Mach-Zehnder-type element and the second Mach-Zehnder-type element are connected with each other through the second branching/combining unit and the third branching/combining unit.

Completed modular optical switch architecture comprises a number of modular components. The components can be combined in various manners in order to provide different sized switches with different characteristics to meet particular requirements.

A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprises an optical switch, a plurality of input edge couplers comprising a first input edge coupler and coupled to the optical switch, a plurality of input surface grating couplers (SGCs) comprising a first input SGC and coupled to the optical switch, a plurality of output edge couplers comprising a first output edge coupler and coupled to the optical switch, and a plurality of output SGCs comprising a first output SGC and coupled to the optical switch. A method of fabricating a PIC comprises patterning and etching a silicon substrate to produce a first optical switch, a first surface grating coupler (SGC) coupled to the first optical switch, and a first edge coupler coupled to the first optical switch.

An aggregator for interconnecting a hydra with an breakout box, said aggregator comprising: (a) a bottom wall, two sides walls, and at least one faceplate; (b) adapters for multi-conductor connectors arranged in at least one column on said faceplate; and (c) wherein at least two adapters of each column are secure adapters.

A macro-switch is described. This macro-switch includes facing integrated circuits, one of which implements optical waveguides that convey optical signals, and the other which implements control logic, electrical switches and memory buffers at each of multiple switch sites. Moreover, the macro-switch has a fully connected topology between the switch sites. Furthermore, the memory buffers at each switch site provide packet buffering and congestion relief without causing undue scheduling/routing complexity. Consequently, the macro-switch can be scaled to an arbitrarily large switching matrix (i.e., an arbitrary number of switch sites and/or switching stages).

A non-blocking NN photonic switch may be augmented with additional inputs and outputs to make use of the excess switch capacity. An augmented photonic switch comprises an NN non-blocking switching core connected between 2N inputs and 2N outputs.

Completed modular optical switch architecture comprises a number of modular components. The components can be combined in various manners in order to provide different sized switches with different characteristics to meet particular requirements.

In one embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a chassis; (b) one or more cards mounted in the chassis, each card having a plurality of switch ports, the plurality of switch ports being aligned in one or more columns; (c) an aggregator mounted adjacent the chassis, the aggregator having a plurality of bays, each bay being aligned with a card in the chassis, at least one of the bays having a faceplate comprising at least first and second aggregator ports aligned in a column; (d) at least first and second hydras, wherein each hydra comprises at least (i) a first connector; (ii) a plurality of second connectors; (iii) a plurality of conductors, each conductor connecting the first connector to one of the second connectors, the plurality of conductors being bundled together to form a trunk portion from the first connector to a breakout point, the plurality of conductors being separated into breakout portions from the breakout point to the second connectors; (iv) wherein the trunk portion of the first cable is longer than that of the second cable; and (e) wherein the first connector of the first hydra is connected to the first aggregator port and the second connectors of the first hydra are connected to a first set of switch ports, and the first connector of the second hydra is connected to the second aggregator port and the second connectors of the second hydra are connected to a second set of switch ports, wherein the first set of switch ports are further away from the aggregator than the second set of switch ports.