An apparatus, comprising: a multi-clad fiber comprising a light-guiding core surrounded by at least a further cladding layer around the guiding core, an input interface comprising a first set of input channels in the core configured to receive at least a first optical fiber and a second set of input channels in the at least a guiding cladding layer configured to receive at least a second optical fiber. The apparatus further comprises: an optical switch module comprising an input port, a first and a second output port, a first optical path between the input port and the first input channel in the first set of input channels in the core via the first output port, and at least a second optical path between the input port and a second input channel in the second set of input channels in the at least one guiding cladding layer via the second output port, the optical switch module being controllable to switch between the first and the second optical paths, a set of laser modules comprising at least one first and second laser module, the laser modules configured to emit respective laser beams when in a respective power-on state, the first laser module being coupled to an input channel in the first set of input channels via the at least a first optical fiber, the second laser module being coupled to the optical switch module.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a movable portion and a fixed portion. The movable portion includes a carrier for carrying an optical member with a first optical axis. The fixed portion has a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The top surface extends in a direction that is parallel to the first optical axis. The first side surface and the second side surface extend in a direction that is not parallel to the first optical axis from the edge of the top surface and face different sides of the optical member. The shortest distance between the optical member and the first side surface is shorter than the shortest distance between the optical member and the second side surface.

An optical member driving mechanism is provided. The optical member driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, an electromagnetic driving assembly and an elastic member. The fixed portion has a base and a frame that is disposed on the base. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion, and includes a carrier for carrying an optical member with an incident optical axis. The carrier includes a body and a sidewall that extends along the edge of the body. The electromagnetic driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion via the elastic member, wherein as viewed along the incident optical axis, the sidewall and the elastic member at least partially overlap.

A periscope optical module is provided. The periscope optical module includes a first optical element, a second optical element, and a third optical element. The first optical element has a first optical axis. The second optical element corresponds to the first optical element and adjusts a forward direction of a light. The third optical element has a second optical axis. The third optical element corresponds to the second optical element. The light passes through the first optical element, the second optical element, and the third optical element consecutively. The first optical axis is not parallel to the second optical axis. A minimum size of the first optical element in a direction that is perpendicular to the first optical axis is larger than a maximum size of the third optical element in a direction of the first optical axis.

An optical member driving mechanism is provided, including a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, a light emitter, and a light receiver. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The light emitter emits light toward an object, and the light receiver receives the light reflected by the object.

A MEMS optical switch with micro optical filters using is disclosed. The optical switch provides any-to-any non-intrusive multi-layer optical switching using micro optical filters such as micromirrors and micro-lenses activated and deactivated using MEMS technology. 3-D optical switches using the same switching design can also be constructed by combining multiple MEMS optical switches together.

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring properties of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) oscillating structure. A system includes a MEMS oscillating structure configured as a non-linear resonator to oscillate about a rotation axis; a driver configured to generate a driving force for driving the MEMS oscillating structure about the rotation axis according to an operating response curve during which the MEMS oscillating structure is in resonance, the driver further configured to decrease the driving force when the MEMS oscillating structure is at a predefined tilt angle to induce an oscillation decay of the MEMS oscillating structure; a measurement circuit configured to measure an oscillation frequency and a tilt angle amplitude of the MEMS oscillating structure during a decay period; and processing circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the MEMS oscillating structure based on at least one of the measured oscillation frequency and the measured tilt angle amplitude.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first channel core in communication with a second channel core and a third channel core of a photonic waveguide, a splitter/coupler module movable relative to the channel cores to dynamically adjust a ratio of optical signals at two of the channel cores of the photonic waveguide, and an actuation device operable to move the splitter/coupler module based on input received during operation of the photonic waveguide.

A fiber selector includes: a plurality of first reflecting members corresponding to a plurality of focusing optical systems which focus a laser beam from a collimating optical system, and equipped with a reflecting surface capable of reflecting the laser beam towards the focusing optical system; a rotary motor that rotationally moves the first reflecting member between a first position at which the laser beam reflects and a second position which does not block the laser beam, in which the fiber selector rotationally moves the plurality of first reflecting members between the first position and second position so as to selectively switch the propagating direction of the laser beam to any of the plurality of focusing optical systems, in which the reflecting surface of the first reflecting member is a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the shaft to which this first reflecting member is fixed, and is arranged so as to face the direction of the rotary motor that causes the shaft to which this first reflecting member is fixed to rotate.

An optical fiber cable unit has an optical fiber cable obtained by binding a plurality of optical fibers and transmits a laser beam using transmission paths having the optical fibers, respectively. The optical fiber cable unit includes: an input-side connection unit that inputs the laser beam to the optical fibers; a one-end-side connection unit fixed to one end of the optical fiber cable and connected to the input-side connection unit; an other-end-side connection unit fixed to the other end of the optical fiber cable; and an output-side connection unit to which the other-end-side connection unit is connected and in which the laser beam from the optical fibers is output. The input-side connection unit has a switching mechanism that switches the transmission paths for transmitting the laser beam.