Disclosed herein are configurations for fiber optic endoscopes employing fixed distal optics and multicore optical fiber.

There is provided an NN optical switch configured by connection between output ports of input side optical switches and input ports of output side optical switches by using optical waveguides on the same substrate and capable of reducing the crossing loss in a port connected to an optical waveguide having a maximum number of crossings and a higher crossing loss. In a 44 optical switch (10) having four input side 14 optical switches (SW11-SW14) each having four output ports (P1-P4), four output side 41 optical switches (SW21-SW24) each having four input ports (Q1-Q4), and connection optical waveguides (OW) connecting the output ports and the input ports, part of the connection optical waveguides OW are allowed to cross two or more of the other connection optical waveguides OW in one point.

A steerable optical transmit and receive terminal includes a MEMS-based N1 optical switch network. Each optical switch in the optical switch network uses an electrostatic MEMS structure to selectively position a translatable optical grating close to or far from an optical waveguide. In the close (ON) position, light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide, whereas in the far (OFF) position, no appreciable light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide. The translatable optical grating is disposed at or near a surface of the optical switch network. Thus, the translatable optical grating emits light into, or receives light from, free space. The steerable optical transmit and receive terminal also includes a lens and can steer a free space optical beam in a direction determined by which port of the N1 optical switch network is ON.

An integrated photonic device comprises: an input waveguide configured to extend in an input plane, and an output waveguide configured to extend in an output plane, wherein the output plane is parallel to or contained within the input plane; an input coupler optically coupled to the input waveguide, wherein the input coupler is configured to redirect a light signal out of the input waveguide and the input plane; a light property modifier configured to receive the light signal from the input coupler and reflect the light signal towards the output plane, wherein the light property modifier is configured to selectively adjust an optical path length of the light signal; and an output coupler optically coupled to the output waveguide, wherein the output coupler is configured to receive the reflected light signal from the light property modifier and redirect the light signal into the output waveguide and the output plane.

An aspect of the disclosure provides for an optical-phased array (OPA) comprising a star coupler coupled to a plurality of grating couplers, wherein the star coupler comprises multiple inputs and multiple outputs. In some embodiments, each output of the star coupler is coupled to a grating coupler of the plurality of grating couplers. In some embodiments, the star coupler is coupled to the plurality of grating couplers by a plurality of optical delay lines. In some embodiments each output of the star coupler is coupled to a grating coupler of the plurality of grating couplers via an optical delay line of the plurality of optical delay lines. In some embodiments, the OPA further includes an optical switch coupled to the multiple inputs of the star coupler, and at least one tunable laser. Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for steering light using the OPA.

A steerable optical transmit and receive terminal includes a MEMS-based N1 optical switch network. Each optical switch in the optical switch network uses an electrostatic MEMS structure to selectively position a translatable optical grating close to or far from an optical waveguide. In the close (ON) position, light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide, whereas in the far (OFF) position, no appreciable light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide. The translatable optical grating is disposed at or near a surface of the optical switch network. Thus, the translatable optical grating emits light into, or receives light from, free space. The steerable optical transmit and receive terminal also includes a lens and can steer a free space optical beam in a direction determined by which port of the N1 optical switch network is ON.

A steerable optical transmit and receive terminal includes a MEMS-based N1 optical switching network. Each optical switch in the switching network uses an electrostatic MEMS structure to selectively position a translatable optical grating close to or far from an optical waveguide. In the close (ON) position, light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide, whereas in the far (OFF) position, no appreciable light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide. The translatable optical grating is disposed at or near a surface of the optical switching network. Thus, the translatable optical grating emits light into, or receives light from, free space. The steerable optical transmit and receive terminal also includes a lens and can steer a free space optical beam in a direction determined by which port of the N1 optical switching network is ON.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe large scale steerable optical switched arrays that may be fabricated on a common substrate including many thousands or more emitters that may be arranged in a curved pattern at the focal plane of a lens thereby allowing the directional control of emitted light and selective reception of reflected light suitable for use in imaging, ranging, and sensing applications including accident avoidance.

A lens-based integrated two-dimensional beam steering device comprising a substrate, an input waveguide, a connecting waveguide, a 1N optical switch, an electrical interface for the switch, N output waveguides of the switch, N transmitting units, a lens and a controller. The device of the present invention realizes two-dimensional beam steering and has the characteristics of large power capacity, low control complexity, and low electric power consumption.

Integrated optical component combine the functions of a Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA), a tap coupler, and a photo-detector, reducing the size, cost, and complexity of these functions. In other embodiments, the integrated optical component combines the functions of an optical switch, a tap coupler, and a photo-detector. A rotatable mirror is used to adjust the coupling of light from an input port or ports to one or more output ports. A pin hole with a surrounding reflective surface is used at the core end face of one or more output fibers, such that a portion of the output optical signal is reflected to a photodiode chip. The photo-detector provides an indication of the optical power that is being coupled to the output fiber. With appropriate electronic control circuitry, the integrated optical component can be used to set the output optical power at a desired or required level.