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.

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.

Described herein is a calibration system (25) for a wavelength selective switch (1). The switch (1) is adapted for dynamically switching optical beams (5, 7) along respective trajectories between input and output ports disposed in an array (3) using a reconfigurable Liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulator device (17). The calibration system (25) includes a monitor (27) for projecting an optical monitor beam (29) through at least a portion of the switch (1) onto the LCOS (17) and detecting the monitor beam (29) reflected from the LCOS (17). In response, system (25) provides a calibration signal (33) to an active correction unit (35) for applying a correction to one or more of the trajectories while maintaining a constant switching state in the LCOS (17).

The present disclosure is to provide a branch ratio measuring device, a branch ratio measuring method, and an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit manufacturing method that do not require any optical sources for measurement.

A branch ratio measuring device according to the present disclosure includes: an optical waveguide that has a cladding polished to the core or to the vicinity of the core; a first optical intensity measurement unit that is connected to one end of the core of the optical waveguide, and measures an optical intensity; and a second optical intensity measurement unit that is connected to the other end of the core of the optical waveguide, and measures an optical intensity.

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.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously employ a flexible resource sharing that balances sending distance requirements and route requirements. Such flexibility is achieved by including an ultra-fast 1×N optical switch with a DFOS interrogator and N fiber optic sensor routes. Synchronous control provides for real-time configuration/reconfiguration of the DFOS system.

An optical filter system, preferably including an optical input, one or more sets of filters, and/or a control module. A method for optical filter operation, preferably including operating an optical filter system in a normal mode, assessing filter alignment, and/or shifting filter assignments.

The present disclosure provides an improved method of parking a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror in an array of MEMS mirrors, wherein the method protects against single high voltage channel failures in a driver. Two separate voltages are applied to each MEMS mirror to move and park the mirror out of a camera sensor field of view in a servo system. For example, a first voltage may be applied in a positive X direction and a second voltage may be applied in a positive Y direction. This will then move the mirror in a diagonal direction. In the event one of the high voltage channels fail, the mirror will still be parked and outside of the camera sensor field of view. Using two voltages, every mirror will have 4 possible parking positions. In the event of a high voltage channel failure, the servo system can park a mirror affected by the failure in an opposite corner. Moreover, if 2-axis parking is not feasible, such as if both Y axes fail, the mirror can use single-voltage parking.

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.

Optical protection devices are provided for protecting client equipment in an optical communication system. According to one implementation, a protection device includes a passive optical coupler configured to combine optical signals from a plurality of input paths, where the passive optical coupler is further configured to provide the output signals along an optical output path. The exemplary protection device further includes one or more interrupters configured to allow at most one input from a plurality of optical inputs via the plurality of input paths to be provided to the passive optical coupler at one time.