A steerable optical transmit and receive terminal includes a MEMS-based N?1 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 N?1 optical switch network is ON.

Disclosed is an optical coupler device, especially for monitoring purposes in an optical point-to-point transmission link, which includes a first, a second and a third optical port and is configured to transmit a first optical signal received at the first optical port to the second optical port and to transmit a second optical signal received at the second optical port to the first and third optical port according to a monitoring split ratio with respect to the optical power of the second optical signal, the first and second optical signal having a wavelength lying in a first optical band. The device is further configured to transmit a third and a fourth optical signal received at the third and the second optical port to the respective other optical port, the third and fourth optical signal having a wavelength lying in a second optical band. The device is controllable with respect to the monitoring split ratio and includes a control means adapted to receive a control signal. The control means controls the optical coupler device with respect to the monitoring split ratio such that in a first work the second optical signal is transmitted to the first optical port, only, and in a second work mode a major portion of the optical power of the second signal is transmitted to the first optical port and a minor portion of the optical power of the second signal is transmitted to the third optical port.

Optical inputs to photonic switches may incorporate a polarization controller in order to change the polarization of the input signal to a pre-determined polarization for operation with the silicon photonics. A last stage of components of the polarization controller may overlap with a first input switching stage. A polarization controller that overlaps with the first stage of the switch input may provide lower insertion loss and power consumption for the photonic switch.

The present invention is based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which are inserted, in a controlled manner, defects that originate the waveguides and the resonant cavity that integrate the device. Its main function is to provide the control of the passage of an electromagnetic signal over a communications channel, blocking (state off) or allowing (state on) the passage of the signal. It also has the function of changing the propagation direction of an electromagnetic signal by an angle of 60 degrees, offering greater flexibility in the design of integrated optical systems. The operating principle of the device is associated with the excitation of dipole modes in the resonant cavity, which is based on a magneto-optical material. When the switch is under the influence of an external DC magnetic field H.sub.0, a rotating dipole mode excited in the cavity allows the passage of the input signal to the output (state on), whereas without the application of H.sub.0, a stationary dipole mode excited in the cavity, with the nodes aligned to the output waveguide, prevents the passage of the input signal to the output (state off).

A passive optical fiber switch includes: a housing defining a plurality of ports configured to receive fiber optic connectors; a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths; and an arm positioned relative to one of the plurality of ports such that the arm moves as a fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port, movement of the arm causing the waveguide paths to shift to break a normal through configuration.

An optical device is an optical device that is formed on a wafer. The optical device includes an optical circuit, a grating coupler, and an optical switch that includes a first port that is connected to the grating coupler, a second port that is connected to the optical circuit, and a third port that is connected to a loop mirror by way of a phase shifter.

Light streams are routed. A transparent plate can be provided in which at least 2 waveguides converge on an active region, wherein the active region comprises a switching element, which can be utilized to extract a portion of the light stream or combine two or more wavelength portions for form a subsequent light stream. Cladding material constrains a light stream to a waveguide. Ion bombardment can be utilized to form micropores in the cladding material, and subsequent etching can enlarge the micropores to form larger diameter pores (of nanometer scale) in the switching element. The pores can be filled with liquid crystal, which can be in a passive state with a first refractive (RI) index, and a second active state (electrical voltage applied) with a second RI. By adjusting the RI. the light stream can be diverted by operations of refraction, diffraction, reflection, etc.

The present invention is based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which are inserted, in a controlled manner, defects that originate the waveguides and the resonant cavity that integrate the device. Its main function is to provide the control of the passage of an electromagnetic signal over a communications channel, blocking (state off) or allowing (state on) the passage of the signal. It also has the function of changing the propagation direction of an electromagnetic signal by an angle of 60 degrees, offering greater flexibility in the design of integrated optical systems. The operating principle of the device is associated with the excitation of dipole modes in the resonant cavity, which is based on a magneto-optical material. When the switch is under the influence of an external DC magnetic field H.sub.0, a rotating dipole mode excited in the cavity allows the passage of the input signal to the output (state on), whereas without the application of H.sub.0, a stationary dipole mode excited in the cavity, with the nodes aligned to the output waveguide, prevents the passage of the input signal to the output (state off).

Various designs of optical switch are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical switch uses wedges to hold up a collimator and secure the wedges and collimator to a substrate with a type of adhesive, thus avoiding high temperature in soldering process. There are at least two assemblies bonded to the substrate using the adhesive. Each of the assemblies includes a collimator and two wedges, where the wedges are provided to physically hold up the collimator in position. The assemblies are glued directly to the substrate after an optical alignment is performed.

A passive optical fiber switch includes: a housing defining a plurality of ports configured to receive fiber optic connectors; a substrate positioned within the housing, the substrate defining a plurality of waveguide paths; and an arm positioned relative to one of the plurality of ports such that the arm moves as a fiber optic connector is positioned in the one port, movement of the arm causing the waveguide paths to shift to break a normal through configuration.